Celia sat at the kitchen island of Ezra's penthouse, staring out at the city skyline. The morning after Tessa's unceremonious arrival had left her feeling unsettled, despite the brief joy and intimacy she'd shared with Ezra. Tessa's words echoed in her mind, sowing seeds of doubt and fear that refused to leave her. She couldn't help but wonder if there was more to the chaos unfolding around her.
Ezra was in the adjoining room, on a business call, his voice low and controlled as he discussed details she couldn't quite make out. She heard him mention security, and her stomach clenched involuntarily. The threat of Ferrara, the other players involved, and Tessa's betrayal weighed heavily on her. This wasn't a simple situation, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something darker was brewing beneath the surface.
As if on cue, Ezra entered the kitchen, his expression unreadable. "We need to talk," he said, sitting down across from her.
Celia looked up, her heart picking up speed. "About what?"
"About what happened yesterday. And more than that… about what's coming." He ran a hand through his hair, his tension palpable.
Celia's breath hitched. "What do you mean? What's coming?"
"There's been movement from Ferrara's people. He knows you're here, Celia, and he's not happy. I'm guessing Tessa's appearance wasn't a coincidence."
Celia's chest tightened. She had known the danger was close, but hearing it from Ezra made it all too real. "What does that mean for us?"
Ezra's jaw clenched, his eyes darkening. "It means we have to be prepared. They're not going to stop, and Ferrara—he's ruthless. He wants you, and he's not going to give up easily."
Celia's pulse quickened, fear creeping into her veins. "What do you mean he wants me? Why me? It's not like I have anything to offer him."
Ezra's gaze softened, but there was an edge of guilt there, too. "You were supposed to be collateral for your father's debt. When I stepped in and married you, it wasn't just to save you from him—it was to break Ferrara's hold over your family. But now, with your father gone, Ferrara's shifted his focus onto you. To him, you're still a loose end that he wants to tie up."
Her heart pounded in her chest. The realization hit her hard. Her father's debts had been the source of all this chaos, but she hadn't realized the true depth of what was at stake.
"So, what do we do?" she asked, her voice quieter now, tinged with uncertainty.
Ezra leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers with fierce determination. "We fight back. I'm not going to let him touch you, Celia. I have people working on this, but you need to stay close, and you need to trust me."
Celia bit her lip, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on her. She wanted to trust Ezra, but after everything they'd been through—the divorce, the betrayal, the secrets—it wasn't so easy. But she knew one thing: despite the uncertainty and fear, she had no choice but to rely on him now.
Just as she was about to respond, Ezra's phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen, and his expression darkened.
"Stay here," he said, his voice suddenly sharp as he stood up, heading toward the door.
Celia frowned, watching him go. "Where are you going?"
"Security's outside. I need to check on something."
Before she could say anything else, he disappeared out the door, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Her mind raced, trying to piece together everything that was happening. The danger was real, closer than ever, and now, she was at the center of it all.
Minutes passed, and the silence in the penthouse became almost deafening. Celia stood up, pacing the floor, anxiety gnawing at her. She didn't want to be kept in the dark any longer. She needed answers, and she needed to know what was really going on outside these walls.
Unable to sit still any longer, she walked toward the front door, pressing her ear against it. She could hear faint voices—Ezra's and someone else's—but she couldn't make out what they were saying. Her heart pounded with both fear and curiosity.
Suddenly, the voices outside grew louder, and a loud crash reverberated through the hallway. Celia gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as fear surged through her. Something was happening, and it wasn't good.
Without thinking, she opened the door slightly, just enough to peek outside. What she saw made her blood run cold.
Two men—strangers—were standing in the hallway, guns drawn. Ezra was there too, facing them, his body tense, his expression hard. One of the men pointed his gun directly at Ezra, his voice low but menacing.
Celia's breath hitched in her throat, panic setting in. She knew she should stay hidden, but her legs moved on their own. Before she could stop herself, she stepped out into the hallway, her eyes wide with terror.
"Ezra!" she cried, her voice trembling.
The men turned toward her, surprise flashing in their eyes for a brief moment. But that was all the time Ezra needed. In a swift, fluid motion, he lunged at the nearest man, knocking the gun from his hand and sending him crashing into the wall.
The second man moved to retaliate, but Ezra was faster. He disarmed him in a heartbeat, shoving him to the ground with a grunt of effort. It was over in seconds, but to Celia, it felt like an eternity.
Ezra stood over the two men, breathing hard, his fists clenched at his sides. His eyes blazed with fury as he looked down at the would-be attackers. "You don't touch her," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Ever."
The men groaned in pain, but Ezra didn't take his eyes off them. He reached into his jacket, pulling out his phone and barking orders into it.
Within minutes, more of Ezra's men arrived, dragging the attackers away. Ezra finally turned to Celia, his expression softening just slightly as he approached her.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and gentle now.
Celia nodded, though her heart was still racing. "What just happened? Who were they?"
Ezra sighed, running a hand through his hair. "They were Ferrara's men. He's getting desperate, sending them after you like this."
Celia's knees wobbled, and she leaned against the wall for support. The reality of the danger she was in was hitting her hard. "I can't believe this is happening," she whispered.
Ezra stepped closer, his hand reaching out to gently touch her arm. "I won't let them hurt you, Celia. Not now, not ever. You're safe with me."
For the first time, despite everything swirling around them, Celia felt a flicker of hope. Ezra had always been a powerful force in her life, but now, she realized he wasn't just protecting her out of obligation. He truly cared for her—maybe more than he was willing to admit.
And as she looked into his eyes, she saw that same flicker of something deeper—something she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. But in that moment, it was enough.
Ezra nodded, his hand tightening around hers. "Let's go inside. We'll figure this out together."
As they walked back into the penthouse, Celia couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change. The stakes were higher than ever, but so was her determination to face whatever came next—with Ezra by her side.