Alyssa’s POV
“Isabella, we need to talk,” I said, my voice sharp as the SUV bounced over the cracked asphalt. My nerves were shot, and the adrenaline pumping through my veins left me on edge.
Isabella leaned forward, clutching the edge of the seat like it was her lifeline. “What now, Alyssa? We barely made it out alive, and Ethan’s men are probably hunting us down as we speak!”
“That’s exactly what we need to talk about,” I shot back. “This chaos-this mess-it isn’t sustainable. If we don’t figure out our next move now, we’re as good as dead.”
“Figuring out our next move?” Isabella snapped, her eyes wild. “How about not getting shot? How about staying out of prison? Or maybe, I don’t know, not ending up on Xavier’s hit list?”
The driver, one of the third player’s associates, cut in. “If you two don’t calm down, this car might be the last safe place you have.” His voice was gravelly, no-nonsense.
“Safe? There’s no such thing anymore,” I muttered, rubbing my temples.
The SUV swerved sharply as we turned into an alley, the screech of tires echoing in the narrow space. Isabella grabbed my arm to steady herself.
“Where the hell are we going?” she demanded.
The driver didn’t answer, his jaw set. I reached for my phone, the weight of it a reminder of the unknown horrors waiting for me.
As if on cue, it buzzed in my hand. The caller ID was blocked. My stomach dropped.
“Don’t answer that,” Isabella said, her voice low.
“I have to,” I whispered.
With a shaky breath, I swiped to answer. “Who is this?”
“Alyssa,” Xavier’s voice slithered through the line, cold and smug. My grip tightened on the phone.
“What do you want, Xavier?” I forced the words out, trying to keep the tremor from my voice.
“Straight to the point,” he mused. “I like that about you. You always were sharp. But today, it’s not about what I want. It’s about what you want.”
My heart pounded. “What are you talking about?”
“Someone you care about,” Xavier said, his tone dripping with malice. “They’re with me now. Let’s just say they’ve been… cooperative.”
“No,” I breathed, my chest tightening.
“Oh, yes,” he drawled. “But don’t worry. They’re still breathing-for now. Whether that continues is entirely up to you.”
“Damn it, Xavier!” My voice cracked as panic gripped me. “Who is it? Who do you have?”
“Think, Alyssa,” he said, his voice smooth as silk. “Who do you think I would take? Who matters enough to you that you’d risk everything to save them?”
My mind raced. It could be my brother, my mother, or… No, not them. Not now.
“You bastard,” I hissed.
“Tick-tock,” he said, ignoring my fury. “The clock is ticking. Meet me, Alyssa. Alone. You know where.”
The line went dead.
“Who was it?” Isabella asked, her voice tight with worry.
I stared at the phone, my knuckles white as I gripped it. “Xavier,” I said, my voice hollow. “He has someone. Someone I care about.”
Isabella’s face fell. “Alyssa, you can’t walk into his trap. That’s exactly what he wants.”
“I don’t have a choice!” I snapped. “If I don’t go, he’ll kill them.”
“And if you do go, he’ll kill you,” Isabella said, her voice rising.
The driver spoke up again, his tone calm but firm. “You’re not thinking clearly, Alyssa. Xavier’s trying to bait you. If you go in blind, you’ll lose everything.”
I glared at him through the rearview mirror. “Then what do you suggest? Because sitting here and doing nothing isn’t an option.”
The car came to a screeching halt. The driver turned to face us, his expression unreadable. “You need to contact the third player. They’ll have a plan.”
I shook my head. “The third player has their own agenda. I can’t trust them to put my priorities first.”
“They might be your only option,” Isabella said, her voice softening. “If we’re going to take Xavier down, we need resources, strategy… leverage.”
“And what happens if the third player decides I’m expendable?” I asked bitterly.
Isabella didn’t answer.
The driver’s phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen before passing it back to me. “It’s them,” he said simply.
I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the screen. Finally, I pressed it to my ear.
“You’re cutting it close,” the third player’s voice greeted me, calm and calculated.
“Xavier has someone I care about,” I said without preamble. “I need to know what you’re going to do about it.”
“Xavier is making his move earlier than anticipated,” they said. “That complicates things, but it also provides an opportunity.”
“What opportunity?” I demanded.
“If Xavier is focused on you, he’s vulnerable elsewhere,” they said. “We can use this distraction to strike at the heart of his operation.”
“While I do what?” I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Walk into his trap and hope for the best?”
“Not exactly,” they said. “We’ll guide you, but you’ll need to make a choice. Are you prepared to risk everything for this person?”
I closed my eyes, the weight of their words pressing down on me. “I don’t have a choice,” I said finally.
“Good,” they said. “Then here’s what you’re going to do…”
The plan was reckless, dangerous, and likely to get me killed. But it was all I had.
As the SUV sped toward the meeting point, Isabella leaned in close. “Alyssa, are you sure about this?”
“No,” I admitted. “But I don’t see another way.”
She nodded, her expression grim. “Then I’m coming with you.”
“Isabella-”
“Don’t argue,” she said, cutting me off. “You’ll need someone watching your back.”
I didn’t have the energy to fight her on it.
When we arrived, the air was thick with tension. The warehouse loomed in front of us, its dark windows like empty eyes staring into my soul.
“This is it,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
The driver handed me a small device. “If things go south, press this. We’ll handle the rest.”
I nodded, slipping the device into my pocket.
Isabella and I stepped out of the car, our footsteps echoing against the cracked pavement.
The door to the warehouse creaked open, and Xavier’s voice greeted us from the shadows. “Right on time, Alyssa.”
I stepped inside, my heart pounding. “Where are they, Xavier?”
He emerged from the darkness, a cruel smile on his face. “Patience, my dear. All in good time.”
My eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of the hostage.
“You wanted me,” I said, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at me. “I’m here. Now let them go.”
Xavier chuckled, shaking his head. “You still don’t get it, do you? This isn’t about them. It’s about you.”
“Then let’s end this,” I said, taking a step forward. “You and me. Right now.”
He smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Oh, Alyssa. You really think you’re in control here?”
Before I could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed through the warehouse.
My heart stopped as I saw who they were dragging toward us.
“No,” I whispered, my voice breaking.
Xavier’s smile widened. “Surprised?”
The person in front of me was battered but alive, their eyes pleading with me.
The trap was set, and I was out of time.