Alyssa’s POV
“Tick-tock,” I muttered, staring at the chilling message on Leon’s phone. My chest tightened, my mind racing with too many questions and not enough answers.
“Who sent this?” I demanded, shoving the phone back at Leon.
“Someone who wants you scared,” Leon replied calmly, slipping the phone into his pocket. “It’s how they operate. Fear keeps you pliable.”
“Stop talking like you know them so well,” I snapped, taking a step back. “What’s your angle, Leon? Why are you really here?”
He sighed, brushing a hand through his dark hair. “I told you. I’m hunting The Obsidian Circle. They’re the reason Xavier is dead. The reason half of my team is gone. The reason you’re looking over your shoulder every damn second.”
I crossed my arms, glaring at him. “And I’m supposed to believe you’re doing this out of the goodness of your heart?”
Leon chuckled darkly. “Oh, Alyssa, you should know by now that no one in this world does anything for free. I want them destroyed, and you need my help to survive. Call it a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
“Convenient,” I said. “So what do you want in return?”
His eyes locked onto mine, sharp and unyielding. “The artifact.”
My stomach dropped. “Absolutely not.”
“You don’t even know what it is,” he said, his voice calm but insistent. “I do. It’s not just some trinket, Alyssa. It’s a key-one that could unlock every secret The Obsidian Circle is hiding. If you want to save Ethan and take them down, you’ll need me to use it.”
I took a step back, gripping the artifact tighter. “And what happens when you use it? Do you plan to keep it? Sell it? Use it against me?”
Leon raised his hands, palms open. “You’ve got trust issues. I get it. But if I wanted to betray you, I’d have done it already.”
“That’s not reassuring,” Isabella’s voice cut in, sharp and clear. She stepped out of the shadows, her gun aimed squarely at Leon’s chest.
Leon smirked, his gaze flicking to her. “Ah, Isabella. Always the watchdog, aren’t you?”
“Keep talking, and I’ll give you something to smirk about,” Isabella said coldly.
“Is this really necessary?” Leon asked, gesturing to the gun. “We’re all on the same side here.”
“Funny,” Isabella said. “You expect us to believe you just happened to show up, armed with insider knowledge and no ulterior motives? Give me a break, Leon.”
He shrugged. “Believe what you want. But if you’re serious about stopping The Obsidian Circle, you’ll need me.”
I looked between them, my mind spinning. Leon’s calm confidence unnerved me, but his words had a ring of truth I couldn’t ignore. Still, Isabella’s warning echoed in my mind.
“What do you know about the artifact?” I asked, my voice steady despite the chaos inside me.
Leon’s expression shifted, becoming more serious. “It’s part of a set. The Obsidian Circle has been hunting them for years. They’re ancient, powerful, and dangerous in the wrong hands. If they get their hands on it, it’s game over-for you, for Ethan, for everyone.”
“And you just want to help out of the kindness of your heart?” Isabella asked, her finger hovering over the trigger.
“Kindness?” Leon repeated, laughing softly. “Hardly. I want revenge. The Circle tore my life apart. Helping you take them down serves my interests as much as yours.”
“And you expect us to just trust you?” I asked, still clutching the artifact.
Leon’s gaze softened, and for a moment, he looked almost human. “No, Alyssa. I don’t expect trust. I expect necessity. Right now, I’m your best shot at staying alive.”
The air between us was thick with tension. I could feel Isabella’s impatience, her finger twitching on the trigger.
“Give me the artifact,” Leon said, his voice low. “Let me show you I can help.”
I hesitated, my grip tightening. Every instinct screamed not to trust him, but his words gnawed at my defenses. Could I afford to take the risk?
Before I could answer, Isabella moved.
It happened so fast I barely had time to process it. She shifted her aim, slammed the butt of her gun into Leon’s temple, and he crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
“What the hell, Isabella?” I shouted, stepping back.
She turned to me, her expression unreadable. “You were about to make a mistake.”
“You don’t know that!” I snapped. “He could have helped us!”
“Or he could’ve killed us the second we turned our backs,” she countered. “Leon’s not a hero, Alyssa. He’s a snake, and you don’t give a snake the key to the kingdom.”
I stared at her, my chest heaving. “And what if you’re wrong?”
She sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly. “I’m not. Leon doesn’t care about us or Ethan. He’s after the artifact for himself. I’ve seen his kind before. Trust me on this.”
I wanted to argue, to scream, but the words wouldn’t come. Deep down, I knew she might be right. But that didn’t make it any easier to accept.
“What do we do with him?” I asked, gesturing to Leon’s unconscious form.
Isabella smirked. “We leave him. Let him wake up and wonder what the hell happened. He won’t be a problem for now.”
I nodded reluctantly, the weight of the artifact in my hands feeling heavier than ever.
“Come on,” Isabella said, her tone softening. “We need to keep moving.”
I followed her, my mind spinning with doubt and questions. As we disappeared into the shadows, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was far from over.