Elena sat in silence, the weight of Dominic's words pressing down on her. The city, normally so vibrant and alive in the early morning light, now felt suffocating, its beauty overshadowed by the danger lurking beneath the surface.
Victor Harrington. Even the thought of his name sent a chill down her spine. She had heard the stories about him—how he operated in the shadows, how he destroyed anyone who stood in his way. If he was targeting her brother, that meant things were far worse than she'd imagined. Her family's name, their reputation, everything they had built, was hanging by a thread.
But the part that unsettled her the most was Dominic. She couldn't figure him out. One minute, he was cold and calculating, a man with his own agenda, and the next, he seemed almost protective. There was no doubt in her mind that he was dangerous—dangerous in ways she couldn't yet comprehend.
And yet, despite all of that, she couldn't deny the pull he had on her. Elena stood up, pacing the room, trying to clear her head. She needed to focus on what mattered—finding Liam, getting him out of whatever mess he was caught up in, and staying one step ahead of Harrington.
She grabbed her phone and dialed Liam's number again, for what felt like the hundredth time. It went straight to voicemail. Again. Her frustration boiled over, and she threw the phone onto the couch, running a hand through her hair.
She needed to do something, but she didn't know where to start. Dominic had said he'd handle the meeting with Harrington, but Elena couldn't just sit around and wait. She had never been one to rely on anyone, especially not a man like him.
A knock at the door startled her out of her thoughts. Her heart leapt into her throat as she approached it cautiously. Maybe it was Dominic, back to pull her deeper into his world. Or worse—it could be someone sent by Harrington.
She swallowed hard and opened the door, ready for whatever came next. But it wasn't Dominic. It was Sophia Grant. Sophia stood there, her face pale and drawn, her usual confident demeanor completely gone. Elena blinked, shocked to see her brother's ex-girlfriend on her doorstep. "Sophia?" Elena asked, her voice laced with confusion.
"What are you doing here?" "I had nowhere else to go," Sophia said, her voice trembling. She glanced over her shoulder nervously, as if someone might be watching her. "Please, Elena. I need your help." Elena hesitated for a moment. She had never particularly liked Sophia.
The woman had always been too polished, too perfect, and too good at getting what she wanted. But seeing her now, so visibly shaken, something in Elena softened. "Come in," she said, stepping aside to let her in.
Sophia hurried inside, her movements jittery and unsteady. She clutched her designer purse as if it were a lifeline and sat down on the edge of the couch, her eyes darting around the room like a hunted animal.
Elena crossed her arms, watching her carefully. "What's going on? Why are you here?" Sophia looked up at her, and for the first time, Elena saw real fear in her eyes. "It's Liam," she whispered. "He's in trouble. Serious trouble." Elena's stomach twisted. "What kind of trouble?" "I don't know all the details," Sophia admitted, her voice shaking. "But it's bad."