Elizabeth woke up to the sound of Xavier pacing in the penthouse living room. The early morning light filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting his silhouette in sharp relief. She watched him from the doorway, his phone pressed to his ear as he spoke in clipped tones.
"She shouldn't have to deal with this," Xavier said, his voice low but edged with frustration. "Find out how deep Thomas's reach goes and shut it down."
Elizabeth crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. "You've been at this all night, haven't you?"
Xavier turned, his expression softening when he saw her. He ended the call and slipped the phone into his pocket.
"I couldn't sleep," he admitted. "Not when he's pulling stunts like this."
She walked toward him, her hand brushing his arm. "You need to rest, Xavier. Running on fumes won't help us fight him."
Xavier took her hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "I'll rest when Thomas is out of our lives for good. But first, we need to address this. Whoever sent that photo has more, Elizabeth. This is just the beginning."
Elizabeth sighed, her chest tightening. "I've tried so hard to leave my past behind, Xavier. But if Thomas digs too deep…"
Xavier cupped her face, his touch firm but gentle. "Whatever he finds, we'll handle it. Together. You're not facing this alone."
Later that morning, Victoria called them into Xavier's office with updates on her investigation. The tension in the room was palpable as they settled into their seats, waiting for her to speak.
"I traced the message to a burner phone," Victoria began, flipping through a sleek tablet. "It was purchased in the same area as Crestfield's headquarters. Coincidence? I doubt it."
Xavier's jaw tightened. "So, it's Thomas."
"Most likely," Victoria confirmed. "But here's the twist. The man in the photo—Mario—he's not exactly an innocent bystander."
Elizabeth stomach churned. "What do you mean?"
Victoria glanced at her before continuing. "Mario has a criminal record. Petty theft, fraud, and one count of embezzlement. The charges were dropped years ago, but his name is still tied to a few ongoing investigations. If Thomas has brought him into this, it's because Mario has something to gain—or something to hide."
Elizabeth felt the blood drain from her face. She had known Mario had a troubled past, but she'd never imagined it could resurface like this.
Xavier leaned forward, his voice sharp. "Can you track Mario down?"
"I already have," Victoria said, sliding a piece of paper across the desk. "He's in the city. If you want to talk to him, now's the time."
An hour later, Xavier and Elizabeth found themselves outside a rundown bar on the outskirts of the city. The neon sign above the entrance flickered weakly, casting an eerie glow over the sidewalk.
"This is where he is?" Elizabeth asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
Victoria had provided them with Mario's last known location, and it didn't inspire much confidence.
Xavier glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"
Elizabeth nodded, even though her stomach was in knots. "If Thomas is using Mario against us, I need to know why. I need to face him."
Xavier squeezed her hand briefly before pushing open the door.
Inside, the bar was dimly lit and smelled of stale beer and cigarette smoke. A handful of patrons lingered at the counter, their eyes darting to Xavier and Elizabeth as they entered. It didn't take long to spot Mario. He was seated in a booth at the back, nursing a drink and scrolling through his phone.
Elizabeth's breath hitched as memories of their past flooded her mind. She hadn't seen Mario in years, but he looked much the same—rugged, with a devil-may-care smirk that had once drawn her in.
Xavier's presence beside her was a steadying force as they approached.
"Mario," Elizabeth said, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her.
Mario looked up, his eyes widening in surprise. "Well, if it isn't Elizabeth," he drawled, leaning back in his seat. "It's been a while."
Xavier stepped forward, his tone cold. "We're not here for pleasantries. You know why we're here."
Mario raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. "Ah, the husband. I've heard a lot about you."
Xavier ignored the jab. "Thomas Cole. What's your connection to him?"
Mario chuckled, swirling the liquid in his glass. "Straight to the point, huh? I like that. But I don't know what you're talking about."
Elizabeth leaned forward, her gaze piercing. "Don't lie to me, Mario. I got a message—a photo of us—sent to my phone. You're involved in this, and I need to know why."
Mario hesitated, the smirk slipping from his face. For a moment, something like guilt flickered in his eyes.
"I didn't want to drag you into this, Elizabeth," he said finally. "But I didn't have a choice."
Xavier's patience snapped. "What does Thomas have on you?"
Mario exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. "A lot. More than I care to admit. He approached me a few weeks ago, said he needed dirt on you two. He offered me enough money to pay off my debts—and made it clear that if I didn't cooperate, things would get worse for me."
Elizabeth stomach churned. "So, you sold me out?"
"It wasn't like that," Mario insisted, his voice rising. "I didn't give him anything he didn't already know. The photo—that wasn't from me. He had it before he even approached me."
Xavier narrowed his eyes. "What else does he know?"
Mario hesitated, glancing between Xavier and Elizabeth. "I don't know everything, but he's digging deep. Your past, Elizabeth—your family, your old friends. He's looking for anything he can use."
Elizabeth's hands clenched into fists. "Why didn't you come to me? Why didn't you warn me?"
Mario sighed, looking genuinely regretful. "Because I'm not a hero, Elizabeth. I'm just a guy trying to survive."
Xavier stepped closer, his voice low and menacing. "If you're smart, you'll tell us everything you know. Because if Thomas thinks he can use you to hurt Elizabeth, you'll be the one who pays for it."
Mario swallowed hard, nodding. "I'll tell you everything. Just... don't let him come after me."
As they left the bar, Elizabeth felt a mix of anger, sadness, and resolve. Thomas's reach was deeper than she'd thought, but now she had something she hadn't before: clarity.
"He's not going to stop," she said quietly as they climbed into Xavier's car.
Xavier glanced at her, his expression fierce. "Neither are we."
The battle with Thomas was far from over, but Elizabeth knew one thing for certain—she wasn't the same woman she'd been when she first entered Xavier's world. She was stronger now, and she wouldn't let her past define her future.