Sophia took a shaky breath, her fingers nervously tapping the strap of her purse. "He's mixed up with some very dangerous people, Elena. I tried to warn him, but he wouldn't listen. And now... now I think they're after me too."
Elena felt her pulse quicken. "Who's after you? Is it Harrington?" The name felt like poison on her lips, heavy with all the dark power it carried. Sophia nodded, her face pale. "It's not just him. There's a whole network. Liam... he got involved with these people thinking he could make a quick deal, but it spiraled out of control. And now, Harrington wants payment. But it's not just about money anymore."
"What is it about then?" Elena demanded, her frustration building. "Why is my brother involved in any of this? He's not the type to get into this kind of mess." Sophia shook her head. "That's what I thought, too. But they used him, Elena. Harrington promised him an investment—something to grow his business. Liam didn't realize it was all a trap. By the time he figured it out, it was too late. He owes them more than he can ever repay."
Elena's mind raced. She couldn't believe how far Liam had fallen into this nightmare. "Where is he now? Have you seen him?" "I haven't seen him in days," Sophia whispered, her voice laced with guilt. "He said he was going to fix it, that he had a plan. But he stopped answering my calls, and now... now I'm scared they've already gotten to him."
Elena's heart sank. The more Sophia spoke, the more helpless she felt. She had spent her whole life protecting Liam, trying to keep him on the right path. And now, he was tangled up with one of the most dangerous men in the city, and she had no idea where to start looking for him. She sat down across from Sophia, trying to think clearly. "Why did you come to me? What do you want me to do?"
Sophia swallowed hard, her eyes pleading. "I don't know who else to trust. I think Harrington has people watching me. I'm afraid to go home. I thought... I thought maybe you could help me. You're the only one I know who's strong enough to stand up to him."
Elena bit her lip, her mind a swirl of emotions. She didn't trust Sophia, not fully. But she couldn't ignore the fear in her eyes. If Harrington was involved, the situation was far worse than she'd realized. And if her brother's life was on the line, she couldn't afford to hesitate. "I'll help you," Elena said finally, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.
"But I need to know everything. No more secrets, no more lies. If I'm going to protect Liam, I need to know exactly what I'm up against." Sophia nodded, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "I'll tell you everything I know."
Elena stood and grabbed her phone again, dialing Dominic's number without a second thought. It rang once before his deep voice answered on the other end. "Miss me already?" Dominic's tone was laced with that infuriating arrogance, but for once, Elena didn't bite back. "I need your help," she said, cutting straight to the point.
There was a brief pause on the other end. "What's going on?" "Sophia's here. She says Harrington's people are after her. And she thinks Liam's in more trouble than we thought."
Dominic's voice grew serious, the playful edge gone. "Where are you?" "My apartment. Can you come?" "I'm on my way," he said without hesitation. Elena hung up and turned back to Sophia. "Dominic will be here soon. We're going to figure this out, but you need to be honest with me, Sophia. No more holding back. If I'm going to save my brother, I can't afford any more surprises."
Sophia nodded, her expression solemn. "I promise, Elena. I'll tell you everything. Just... please help me. I'm terrified of what Harrington might do if he finds out I came to you." Elena's jaw tightened. She wasn't just fighting for her brother anymore—she was caught in a game far bigger than she had realized.
And now, with Dominic coming back into the fold, she was stepping even deeper into the lion's den. One thing was clear: this wasn't just a battle for Liam's life. It was a battle for all of theirs.