Alyssa’s POV
The warehouse was cold and empty, the shadows thick and heavy, as if the walls themselves were conspiring to keep secrets.
Ethan paced back and forth, his jaw tight, his body coiled with tension. Isabella leaned against the rusted metal desk, arms crossed, her eyes sharp as they darted between the two of us.
I stood in the center, caught between them, the weight of the plan-and the weight of their distrust-pressing down on me like a vice.
“This isn’t going to work if we can’t trust each other,” I said, breaking the silence that had stretched too long. My voice sounded steadier than I felt, but I clung to that shred of control.
Ethan stopped pacing, turning to face me. His eyes burned with frustration, and something deeper-something raw. “Trust? That’s rich coming from you,” he said. “You’ve been making side deals with Isabella, haven’t you?”
My stomach twisted. “That’s not what this is about-”
“Isn’t it?” His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. “You think I don’t notice the whispers, the phone calls you don’t explain? You’re hedging your bets, Alyssa. Playing both sides.”
I took a step toward him, anger flaring. “I’m trying to survive, Ethan. Or did you forget that my father and Xavier both have kill orders on me?”
Isabella’s laugh was low and bitter. “She’s not wrong. You might want to think twice before throwing accusations around, Ethan. You’re not exactly a model of transparency yourself.”
Ethan’s head snapped toward her, his eyes narrowing. “Stay out of this.”
“Oh, but I’m very much in this,” Isabella said smoothly, pushing off the desk and stepping forward. Her heels clicked against the concrete, echoing in the cavernous space. “I’ve risked just as much as you have. Don’t forget that.”
The tension between them was a live wire, sparking dangerously. I raised my hands, trying to defuse the situation. “Enough. This isn’t helping.”
Ethan’s gaze swung back to me, his expression hard. “Then maybe you should start helping by telling us the truth. What exactly is your plan, Alyssa? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re setting us up to fail.”
My heart pounded. “You really think I’d do that? After everything we’ve been through?”
Ethan didn’t answer right away. His silence was louder than any accusation, and it cut deep.
“I don’t know what to think anymore,” he said finally, his voice low. “All I know is that we’re running out of time, and every second we spend arguing is another second Xavier and your father are getting ahead of us.”
“He’s right,” Isabella said, surprising me. She gave me a pointed look. “Whatever this is-whatever doubts you have-you need to put them aside. Now. Because if you hesitate, even for a second, they’ll crush us.”
I swallowed hard, the weight of their words sinking in. They were right. We didn’t have time for this. But how could I ignore the gnawing doubt in the pit of my stomach? The feeling that I was being pulled in too many directions, that I was standing on a bridge that could collapse at any moment?
Before I could say anything, my phone buzzed in my pocket. The sound was jarring in the tense silence, and all three of us froze.
I pulled it out with trembling hands, my heart sinking as I saw the name on the screen. Father.
“What is it?” Ethan asked, his voice sharp with suspicion.
I didn’t answer. My fingers felt heavy as I swiped to open the message. The words that appeared on the screen made my blood run cold.
I know everything, Alyssa. Your little plan, your alliances. Did you really think I wouldn’t see through you? Enjoy your last night of freedom, darling. The trap is already set.
The phone slipped from my hands, clattering to the ground.
“Alyssa?” Ethan’s voice was urgent now, but it sounded far away, drowned out by the roar in my ears.
I couldn’t move, couldn’t think. All I could do was stare at the words on the screen, the evidence that my father was always one step ahead.
“What does it say?” Isabella demanded, stepping closer.
I finally found my voice, though it came out as a whisper. “He knows.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “Knows what?”
“Everything.” The word felt like a death knell. “Our plan. The alliances. He… he says the trap is already set.”
For a moment, the room was silent. Then Ethan cursed under his breath, his hands balling into fists. “Damn it. I knew this was too easy.”
Isabella didn’t look surprised, though her lips tightened. “Of course he knows. Men like your father don’t leave anything to chance. He’s always three moves ahead.”
“Then why the hell didn’t you say something sooner?” Ethan snapped.
“Because it doesn’t matter,” Isabella shot back. “Whether he knows or not, the plan doesn’t change. We keep moving forward.”
“She’s right,” I said, though my voice felt hollow. I couldn’t let the fear take over. Not now. “We can’t stop now. If we do, he wins.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he turned to me, his eyes burning with determination. “Then we adapt. Whatever trap he’s set, we’ll spring it on our terms. But we need to move fast.”
I nodded, though my mind was racing. The plan had already been dangerous, but now it felt like we were walking into a minefield blindfolded.
“Isabella,” I said, turning to her. “Can you still get us access to Xavier’s compound?”
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Yes. But it’s going to be risky. If your father’s already anticipating our moves…”
“I know,” I said quickly. “But it’s the only chance we have.”
Ethan stepped closer, his gaze intense. “Are you sure about this, Alyssa? Once we start, there’s no turning back.”
I met his eyes, my resolve hardening. “I’m sure. This ends tonight.”
But even as I said the words, a chill ran down my spine. My father’s message was a stark reminder of just how dangerous this game had become. And as much as I wanted to believe we could outmaneuver him, a part of me couldn’t shake the feeling that we were already too late.
Still, there was no turning back now. The final act was about to begin, and one way or another, it was going to end in blood.
As we gathered our gear and prepared to leave, another message came through. This time, it wasn’t from my father-it was from Xavier.
“See you soon, Alyssa. Bring your friends. The more, the merrier.”