Amelia had barely recovered from the terrifying moment at the safehouse when the door opened. She could still hear the voice echoing in her mind: "We know you're here." The weight of the words pressed down on her, and she held her breath as the man who had been guarding them stepped into action, moving swiftly towards the door.
Lucas stood next to her, his hand gripping hers, his face tight with concern. He was always calm under pressure, but even he couldn't hide the fear that flashed in his eyes. Who could it be? Amelia wondered. Who knows we're here?
The man at the door remained still, his hand resting on the knob. He didn't seem nervous, but there was a certain caution in his posture, a readiness to react. After a few long seconds, he pushed the door open wider, revealing a familiar face standing in the dim light of the hallway.
"Robert?" Amelia breathed in disbelief.
The man standing before them was none other than Robert, Lucas's old ally, someone Amelia had thought was long out of their lives. She had always known he played a significant role in Lucas's world, but seeing him now, after everything that had happened, felt like a slap in the face.
"I thought you were done with this, Robert," Lucas said, his voice low but filled with a mix of relief and frustration. "What are you doing here?"
Robert didn't immediately respond. His eyes moved from Lucas to Amelia, then back to the man at the door. He took a slow, deliberate step inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click. His expression was serious, almost grim.
"I never left," Robert finally said. "I've been watching from the shadows, waiting for the right time to step in. The family needs all the help it can get right now."
Amelia was still trying to wrap her head around the situation. "Why didn't you contact us? We could have used your help earlier."
Robert sighed, clearly uncomfortable with the question. "I couldn't risk it. The people after you are more dangerous than you realize. They've infiltrated every level of power. But now that I know where you are, I had to act."
Lucas was silent for a moment, trying to process Robert's words. Amelia could see the tension in his body, the way his shoulders stiffened. He trusted Robert, but he also knew how complicated their relationship had been in the past. They'd had their disagreements, and it wasn't easy for Lucas to simply let Robert back into their world.
"So, you're here to help us?" Lucas asked, his tone skeptical but hopeful.
Robert nodded, his gaze intense. "I am. But it won't be easy. The people who are after you… they won't stop until they get what they want. And you're not just a target, Amelia." His eyes flickered towards her. "They're going after everything connected to you."
Amelia's stomach dropped at his words. Everything connected to me? She glanced at Lucas, whose face had gone pale. The reality of the situation was starting to sink in. This wasn't just about her and Lucas anymore. This was about the people they loved, their families, their friends. If they want everything connected to me, what will they do next?
"Why me?" she whispered, unable to stop herself from asking.
Robert looked at her thoughtfully. "It's not just you. It's your family. The legacy that comes with you. There's more at play here than you realize."
Amelia's thoughts raced. Her family? She had always known her family had connections, but she had never understood just how deep those connections ran. Now, with Robert's cryptic words, she felt like she was on the edge of a vast mystery—one that went far beyond what she had ever imagined.
"Your family has enemies," Robert continued, his voice steady but heavy with the weight of truth. "And those enemies aren't just after you. They want to erase the entire legacy. Your father, your grandfather, your entire bloodline—they're all targets."
The words hung in the air, thick with meaning. Amelia felt like the ground had shifted beneath her feet. The family legacy? She had always known her family had a long history, but she never realized it could be a source of danger. The idea that her bloodline was under attack made her stomach churn.
"What are you saying?" she asked, struggling to keep her voice calm. "That this has something to do with my family's past?"
Robert met her gaze, his eyes filled with regret. "Exactly. And I'm sorry to say, but you're caught in the middle of it all."
The room was silent for a long moment. Amelia felt the weight of the situation pressing down on her like a heavy fog. They had been running for so long, trying to escape the shadows, but now it felt like the shadows were closing in, tighter than ever before.
"Are you saying that my family has been involved in something illegal?" Lucas asked, his voice harsh. "That all of this… all the danger we're in, is because of their mistakes?"
Robert shook his head. "Not mistakes. It's bigger than that. It's about power. Control. And your family has always been at the center of it."
Amelia's head spun. She had never known the full story about her family's past. She had heard whispers, rumors, but nothing concrete. Now, it seemed like everything she thought she knew about her own life was a lie.
"We need to find out who's behind all of this," Lucas said, his voice growing firmer. "We can't just keep hiding. We need to confront them, face this head-on."
Robert nodded. "I agree. But you'll need to be careful. Whoever is pulling the strings is powerful. They won't hesitate to take down anyone who stands in their way."
Amelia took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She was scared, more scared than she had ever been, but she knew they couldn't keep running forever. It was time to take control, to figure out who was behind everything and put an end to it.
"We'll need to plan carefully," she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. "We can't afford any mistakes."
Lucas squeezed her hand, his eyes filled with determination. "We won't make any."
Just as Amelia was about to say something else, a loud crash sounded from the other side of the house, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. Her heart leaped into her throat.
"Stay down," Robert hissed, pulling out a gun and motioning for them to move quickly. "We've been compromised. They're here."
Amelia's mind raced. No… it can't be happening. Not now. But there was no time to think. They had to act.
As Robert led them towards a back exit, Amelia's thoughts flashed to one terrifying idea. If they're already here, it means they know we're on to them. And they're ready to do whatever it takes to silence us.
They reached the door, and Robert opened it carefully, peeking through the crack. Then, his eyes widened in alarm.
"They've got someone with them," he muttered. "Someone who knows us."
Amelia's heart skipped a beat. Who?
Then, as the door creaked open wider, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the dim light someone she never thought she'd see again.
It was her brother, Michael.
How had he gotten involved? And more importantly, was he on their side… or against them?