I sit across from Ethan’s most trusted lieutenant, Daniel Holt, nursing a drink and wearing the kind of smile that promises secrets but delivers only silence. The game begins here-planting seeds where they’ll take root the fastest.
Holt leans back in his seat, watching me with that calculating gaze every man in Ethan’s circle seems to develop. They’re all the same-smart enough to stay alive, but predictable when their ambition blinds them.
Alyssa: “You ever wonder how long Ethan will keep you around?” I ask casually, tracing the rim of my glass with my finger.
Holt raises an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I offer him a slow, knowing smile. “Ethan has a way of outgrowing his allies. When someone stops being useful…” I trail off, letting the weight of the unspoken threat hang between us.
Holt: “That a warning?”
I lean in, lowering my voice just enough to make it sound intimate, conspiratorial. “No, Daniel. It’s an opportunity.”
His lips press into a thin line, but I catch the flicker of hesitation in his eyes. That’s all I need-a flicker, a moment of doubt.
Alyssa: “You’ve been loyal, but loyalty doesn’t mean safety in Ethan’s world. If I were you, I’d start thinking about my next move.”
I watch as Holt drains the rest of his whiskey, the gears turning behind his eyes. I know exactly how to play him-feed his insecurities, fan the flames of mistrust. Ethan is slipping, and his men can feel it.
Holt: (gruffly) “What’s your game, Alyssa? You trying to get me to switch sides?”
I shrug, keeping my expression neutral. “I’m just saying… Ethan isn’t as invincible as he likes people to believe. And Xavier? He’s not the only threat out there.”
His gaze sharpens, suspicion swirling in the brown depths. “What do you know that I don’t?”
I flash him a smile and stand. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Leave them guessing. It’s the best way to make sure they start questioning everything-and, more importantly, everyone.
Later that night, I feel Xavier’s presence before I even see him. His aura is oppressive, wrapping around me like smoke, dense and suffocating.
He corners me in the hallway outside my apartment, his eyes dark with something dangerously close to obsession.
Xavier: “You’ve been busy.”
I cross my arms. “Keeping tabs on me, Xavier?”
He smirks, but there’s no humor in it. It’s the smile of a man who thinks he owns you, and for a second, I want to claw it off his face.
Xavier: “You have a habit of attracting the wrong kind of attention.”
Alyssa: (coolly) “That’s funny coming from the guy who just ambushed me and my friend.”
His expression hardens, and he steps closer. “You can’t play both sides, Alyssa. You’re either with me-or you’re in my way.”
I meet his gaze head-on, refusing to flinch. I won’t let him see the fear he wants so badly to provoke.
Alyssa: “If you think you can control me, Xavier, you’ve already lost.”
For a moment, we just stare at each other, the tension thick and crackling. I know Xavier well enough to recognize the signs-he’s unraveling, inch by inch, every time I slip out of his grasp.
But obsession makes people dangerous. Xavier isn’t just after power-he’s after me.
Over the next few days, I move carefully, quietly spreading rumors and misdirection within Ethan’s ranks. A suggestion here, a whispered warning there-just enough to make them look over their shoulders.
Every crack I create in Ethan’s organization weakens him, and I savor each one like a small victory. He thinks I’m helping him, but really, I’m watching him unravel.
Isabella: (on a burner phone) “You’re playing a dangerous game, Alyssa.”
Alyssa: “Every game worth winning is dangerous.”
She sighs, but there’s admiration in her voice. She knows I won’t stop-not until I’ve torn Ethan and Xavier apart, piece by piece.
It’s late when the text arrives. The burner phone vibrates against the table, and I glance down at the screen.
Unknown Number: “The time has come for a choice. Join me, or be destroyed.”
My stomach drops, and I stare at the message, dread curling through me. The third player-the one pulling the strings behind the scenes-has finally revealed their hand.
Another message follows: “Meet me. Midnight. Alone.”
I sit back, my mind racing. The third player wants me on their side, but I know what that means-giving up control. Becoming a pawn in someone else’s game.
But what if I refuse? What if I fight back?
There’s no telling what will happen if I don’t show up. But one thing is clear: The war isn’t just between Ethan and Xavier anymore. I’m in the middle of it, and the third player is ready to make their move.
This is the crossroads.
And whatever choice I make… there’s no turning back.