The morning passed in a haze, each second dragging like an eternity. Ryan's announcement about heading into the city left me uneasy, though I couldn't pinpoint exactly why. There was something in his demeanor that unsettled me a tension, a resolve that felt too final.
"I'll only be gone for a few hours," Ryan said as he slipped on his leather jacket, his movements deliberate and composed. "Lock the doors and don't answer for anyone you don't recognize. Promise me, Enisa."
His words were simple, but the intensity in his eyes made them feel like a lifeline. "I promise," I murmured, though my voice trembled slightly.
He leaned down, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Good girl," he whispered, before stepping out into the crisp morning air.
As the door closed behind him, an uneasy silence filled the house. The faint hum of the security system was the only sound accompanying me as I moved aimlessly through the rooms. The stillness wasn't peaceful it was heavy, oppressive.
I tried to distract myself, flipping through the channels on the TV and scrolling absentmindedly on my phone, but the growing sense of dread gnawed at me. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that Ryan wasn't telling me everything.
Hours passed with no word from him, and my unease grew. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the room. I was about to call him when I heard it a faint noise outside, like the crunch of gravel underfoot.
My breath caught in my throat. The house was supposed to be secure, the estate surrounded by gates and guards. No one should have been able to get this close.
Cautiously, I crept to the window, peering through the curtains. My stomach dropped.
Men in dark clothing, their faces obscured by masks, were approaching the house. Their movements were calculated, their intent clear.
I backed away from the window, my heart racing. Stay calm, Enisa. Ryan's voice echoed in my mind. Lock the doors. I moved quickly, bolting the doors and windows and double checking the locks. My hands trembled as I grabbed my phone and dialed Ryan's number.
"Come on, pick up," I whispered, but the line went straight to voicemail.
The sound of glass shattering in another part of the house made me freeze. They were inside.
Adrenaline surged through me as I looked around for a weapon anything I could use to defend myself. Grabbing a heavy vase, I positioned myself behind the kitchen counter, my heart pounding in my chest.
The intruders' footsteps echoed through the house, growing louder with each passing second. My mind raced with fear and questions. Who were they? What did they want?
Before I could think of a plan, the sound of gunfire erupted outside, followed by shouting. My stomach twisted in terror, but the commotion outside gave me a glimmer of hope.
Suddenly, the kitchen door burst open. I swung the vase instinctively, but a strong hand caught it mid-air.
"Enisa, it's me!"
I looked up and saw one of the men from the SUVs the night before, his tattooed hands gripping the vase. His suit was impeccable, but the hard look in his eyes sent a chill down my spine.
"Boss sent us," he said gruffly, releasing my hand. "You're not safe here."
"Boss?" I whispered, confused.
"No time to explain. Stay close to me."
Before I could respond, he turned, gesturing for someone behind him. More men flooded into the kitchen, their movements swift and coordinated.
"What's happening? Where's Ryan?" I demanded, but no one answered me.
The men formed a protective circle around me as we moved through the house. Outside, more gunfire echoed in the distance, followed by the roar of engines.
As we stepped into the driveway, I froze. Black SUVs were parked in a defensive formation, their headlights cutting through the growing darkness. Dozens of men stood guard, their tattoos visible even under the dim light.
"Get her in the car," one of them barked, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Wait!" I shouted, pulling back. "I'm not going anywhere until someone tells me what's going on!"
The man nearest to me hesitated, glancing at another who seemed to be in charge.
"Ma'am," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle, "the boss will explain everything. For now, we need to get you out of here."
Before I could protest further, the sound of tires screeching made everyone tense. Another SUV pulled into the driveway, and the door flew open.
Ryan stepped out, his face hard and unforgiving. His usual polished CEO demeanor was gone, replaced by something darker, something lethal.
"Stand down," he ordered, his voice cold and commanding.
The men immediately stepped aside, and Ryan approached me. His eyes softened slightly as they met mine, but the tension in his body remained.
"What's going on, Ryan?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
He reached for my hand, his grip firm but reassuring. "I told you I'd protect you," he said quietly. "But to do that, you need to trust me."
"Trust you?" I repeated, my voice rising. "Ryan, who are these people? What is going on?"
He hesitated, his jaw clenching. "There's a lot I haven't told you, Enisa. A lot I wanted to keep from you. But after tonight, there's no hiding it anymore."
My heart pounded as his words sank in.
"I'm not just a CEO," he admitted, his voice low. "I'm the head of an organization a syndicate. These men… they're my family. And now, they're here to protect you."
I stared at him, the weight of his confession threatening to crush me. Everything I thought I knew about him, about our life together, was unraveling before my eyes.
"What does that mean for us?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
"It means," he said, his tone firm, "that you're under my protection now. And no one touches what's mine."
His words sent a shiver down my spine, but I couldn't deny the truth in them. As I looked around at the men surrounding us, their loyalty to Ryan unmistakable, I realized that my life had just been irrevocably changed.
I was no longer just a wife. I was part of his world now a world I barely understood, but one I could no longer escape.