Chapter 6: An Unwelcome Visitor
The minutes ticked by with excruciating slowness. Aria sat on the edge of her bed, gripping her phone tightly as if it could shield her from the creeping unease. Every small sound—the creak of the floorboards, the faint hum of her fridge—set her nerves on edge.
Fifteen minutes after her call to Lucas, a knock at the door startled her.
"Who is it?" she called out, her voice trembling.
"Security," a deep voice replied. "Mr. Blackwell sent us."
Aria peered through the peephole, relief washing over her at the sight of two men in black suits standing outside. Their presence was intimidating, but at least it wasn't another intruder.
She opened the door cautiously.
One of the men stepped forward, his expression neutral but professional. "Miss Sinclair, I'm Mr. Novak. Mr. Blackwell asked us to secure the premises and ensure your safety. May we come in?"
Aria nodded and stepped aside, watching as the two men entered and began a thorough sweep of her apartment.
As they worked, she couldn't help but wonder why Lucas would go to such lengths. It wasn't as if she was indispensable to him—or was she?
After a few minutes, Mr. Novak returned to her side. "The apartment appears secure, but it's clear someone has been inside. Do you have any enemies, Miss Sinclair?"
"Enemies?" she echoed, shaking her head. "No. I'm just a struggling artist, not someone important enough for that."
The man's expression didn't change, but he made a note in his phone. "We'll be stationing someone outside your apartment for the next few nights. If you notice anything unusual, contact us immediately."
"Thank you," she said, though her voice betrayed her unease.
As the men left, Aria sank onto her couch, her thoughts swirling. She didn't have enemies, but Lucas certainly might. Was she being dragged into his world in ways she hadn't anticipated?
Later That Night
Sleep eluded her. Every creak and groan of the building set her on edge. Around midnight, her phone buzzed with a message.
Lucas Blackwell: Are you safe?
She stared at the screen, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. The fact that he'd taken the time to check in unsettled her almost as much as the break-in itself.
Aria Sinclair: I'm fine. Your security team is thorough.
His reply came almost instantly.
Lucas Blackwell: Good. If anything else happens, call me directly.
She frowned. This wasn't the cold, detached Lucas she was used to. Was this concern, or just another form of control?
Before she could dwell on it further, a sharp knock at the door shattered the silence.
Her heart leapt into her throat. She grabbed the nearest object—a heavy ceramic vase—and crept toward the door.
"Who's there?" she demanded, her voice shaky but firm.
"It's me," came Lucas's unmistakable voice.
Aria froze. "Lucas?"
"Open the door, Aria," he said, his tone commanding but not unkind.
She set the vase down and unlocked the door, finding Lucas standing there, his suit slightly rumpled as if he'd rushed over.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, bewildered.
"I couldn't trust anyone else to ensure your safety," he said simply, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.
Aria blinked. "You sent your security team—"
"And now I'm here," he cut her off, his gaze scanning the room. "They reported everything was clear, but I needed to see for myself."
"Why?" she demanded, crossing her arms. "Why do you care so much?"
Lucas turned to face her, his gray eyes darker than she'd ever seen them. For a moment, she thought he might actually answer her. But instead, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"It doesn't matter," he said finally. "Just consider it part of our agreement."
Her frustration boiled over. "No, this isn't part of the agreement! You're treating me like...like some pawn in whatever game you're playing. I deserve to know what's going on."
Lucas took a step closer, his presence overwhelming in the small space. "You deserve to stay alive, Aria. That's all that matters right now."
His words sent a chill down her spine, but before she could respond, he turned toward the door.
"I'll stay in the building tonight," he said over his shoulder. "Call me if you need anything."
And just like that, he was gone, leaving Aria with more questions than answers.