Alyssa’s POV
The silence in the car was deafening. Isabella sat next to me, her expression a mask of calculated focus as she checked the timer on her devices. In the backseat, Leon cleaned his pistol, his movements precise and mechanical. The air was thick with tension, the kind that clawed at your throat and made your pulse race.
I broke the silence first. “You know this plan is insane, right?”
Isabella didn’t look up. “It’s not insane. It’s necessary.”
Leon smirked. “I’ve seen worse plans. At least this one doesn’t involve jumping out of a plane.”
I shot him a glare. “Not helping.”
He shrugged, leaning back against the seat. “Relax, princess. We’ll get in, grab your boyfriend, and blow the place to hell. Simple.”
Simple. Right. Because infiltrating the headquarters of a shadowy syndicate and pretending to ally with my estranged, not-dead mother was as easy as baking cookies.
“I still don’t trust her,” Isabella said, her tone sharp.
“You think I do?” I snapped. “But she’s my only way in. If I don’t play along, Ethan’s dead.”
Isabella’s gaze softened for a moment, but only for a moment. “Just don’t let her get in your head, Alyssa. She’s had years to perfect her game. She’ll play you like a fiddle if you’re not careful.”
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I know. That’s why I need you to stick to the plan.”
“Don’t worry,” Isabella said, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. “I’ll be your shadow. The second things go south, I’ll light this place up.”
Leon chuckled darkly. “Remind me not to get on her bad side.”
“Smart move,” Isabella quipped, sliding a detonator into her jacket.
The car came to a stop outside a sprawling mansion surrounded by high walls and armed guards. My mother’s lair. A chill ran down my spine as I stepped out of the car, trying to ignore the way my stomach churned.
“Showtime,” Leon muttered, pulling a cap low over his face.
Isabella gave me a nod, her expression hard. “You’ve got this.”
I nodded back, forcing my legs to move toward the gates. Two guards stopped me, their eyes cold and assessing.
“Invitation?” one of them barked.
I held up the artifact, the weight of it heavy in my hands. “This is my invitation.”
The guards exchanged a glance before stepping aside. One of them pressed a button, and the massive gates swung open.
I stepped inside, my heart pounding. The mansion loomed ahead, its shadow swallowing me whole.
My mother was waiting for me in the grand foyer, her expression serene. “Alyssa. I’m glad you came.”
“Do I really have a choice?” I asked, keeping my voice steady.
She tilted her head, her smile faint. “There’s always a choice. But you’ve made the right one.”
I followed her through the mansion, my eyes darting to every corner, every shadow. Guards were stationed everywhere, their eyes tracking my every move. My mother led me down a spiral staircase into the depths of the mansion, where the air grew colder and the walls tighter.
“This way,” she said, her voice echoing in the narrow hallway.
We reached a heavy metal door, and my mother paused, her hand resting on the handle. She turned to me, her eyes searching mine. “Are you ready for this?”
“Are you?” I shot back, my defiance masking my fear.
Her lips twitched, but she said nothing. She pushed the door open, revealing a dimly lit room lined with cells.
And there he was. Ethan.
My heart leapt at the sight of him, slumped against the back wall of his cell, his shirt torn, and his face bruised. But he was alive.
“Ethan!” I rushed forward, my hands gripping the bars.
He looked up, his eyes dazed but alive. “Alyssa? What are you-”
“I’m here to get you out,” I said, my voice trembling.
“Touching,” my mother said, her tone icy.
I spun around to see her standing by the door, her expression unreadable. Something in her eyes made my stomach drop.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Her smile was slow, cruel. “Did you really think it would be that easy?”
The door slammed shut, the sound echoing like a gunshot.
“What are you doing?” I demanded, rushing toward her.
Her gaze hardened, her voice cold. “You were never here to save him, Alyssa. You were the target all along.”
My blood turned to ice. “What are you talking about?”
She stepped closer, her presence overwhelming. “The Circle has been watching you for years. You’re the key to something far greater than you can imagine. And now, you’re exactly where you need to be.”
I backed away, my mind racing. “You’re lying.”
“Am I?” she asked, her voice soft but deadly. “You’ve always been so much more than you realized, Alyssa. And now, it’s time you embraced your destiny.”
“Destiny?” I spat. “This isn’t destiny. This is madness.”
She shrugged, her smile chilling. “Call it what you want. But you won’t leave this place until you accept your role.”
I clenched my fists, my heart hammering in my chest. “And Ethan?”
Her smile faded. “He was never part of the plan. But if you cooperate, I might consider sparing him.”
Rage and despair warred within me as I stared at her, this woman who was supposed to protect me, who had betrayed me in the worst way.
“Let him go,” I said, my voice shaking.
Her expression didn’t change. “The choice is yours, Alyssa. But make it wisely. Time is running out.”
I turned back to Ethan, his eyes wide with fear and confusion. Behind me, my mother’s words echoed like a death knell.
Time was running out, and I was trapped in a game I didn’t understand.
And the worst part?
I had no idea how to win.