Alex stared at the unconscious men sprawled on the warehouse floor, their labored breathing the only sound in the vast, empty space. The phone in his hand buzzed again, another message appearing on the screen:
*This is your last warning.*
His fingers curled around the device, fury burning in his chest. Whoever was pulling the strings was growing bolder, and Alex was done playing defense. He tossed the phone aside, the crack of it hitting the floor echoing in the cold stillness.
As he stepped over the men, his mind raced with questions. Helena's presence wasn't a coincidence; she had orchestrated this meeting to rattle him, to remind him how deeply she and Declan were embedded in his life. But what scared him more than her threats was the truth she had hinted at—there were more enemies in the shadows.
Alex needed answers, and he knew exactly where to start.
Back at the penthouse, the city glittered outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, its false serenity mocking him. Victor was already there, leaning against the kitchen counter, his sharp eyes watching Alex's every move.
"What the hell happened at the warehouse?" Victor asked.
"Helena," Alex said curtly, pouring himself a drink. "She's in this up to her neck. She brought muscle, tried to intimidate me."
Victor's jaw tightened. "She's playing a dangerous game. Did she give anything away?"
Alex shook his head. "Only more riddles. But I'm done waiting for them to make the next move. We're going on the offensive."
Victor nodded slowly. "I like the sound of that. What's the plan?"
"Start with Helena," Alex said. "She's the weak link. Declan will protect himself, but Helena's ambition will make her reckless. We find her vulnerabilities, and we use them."
Victor grinned. "Now you're talking. I'll dig into her background—see what skeletons are hiding in her closet."
"And Emilia?" Alex asked, his tone hardening.
Victor hesitated. "Still nothing concrete, but I have a tail on her. If she's hiding something, we'll find it."
Alex nodded, though his chest tightened at the mention of her name. Emilia was a wildcard, and the closer he got to the truth, the harder it became to separate his emotions from his logic.
Later that night, Alex sat in his office, staring at his laptop. Victor had sent over preliminary information on Helena—a detailed dossier that painted a picture of a ruthless businesswoman with a penchant for manipulation.
As he scrolled through the files, something caught his eye: a scanned photograph of Helena with a man he didn't recognize. The man was tall, with dark eyes and an imposing presence, his arm slung casually around her shoulders.
Alex clicked on the image, enlarging it. There was something unsettling about the man's expression—a cold, calculating look that sent a chill down his spine.
Victor's voice crackled through the phone. "You seeing what I'm seeing?"
"Who is he?" Alex asked.
"Name's Gabriel Cross," Victor said. "Ex-military turned mercenary. He's been linked to a dozen high-profile cases—most of them unsolved."
Alex's grip tightened on the phone. "And what's his connection to Helena?"
"They've worked together before," Victor said. "Word is, he handles the dirty work while she keeps her hands clean. If Helena's involved in this mess, there's a good chance Gabriel is too."
Alex's mind raced. Gabriel was more than just a hired gun; he was a ghost, someone who operated in the shadows and left no trace. If he was part of Declan's operation, things were worse than Alex had imagined.
"We need to find him," Alex said. "If he's working with Helena, he's a liability."
Victor's tone turned serious. "Finding him won't be easy. He's like smoke—one minute he's there, the next he's gone. But I'll see what I can do."
The hours dragged on, and Alex felt the weight of exhaustion settling in. He was about to shut down his laptop when an alert popped up on the screen—a notification from his private security system.
Someone had breached the penthouse perimeter.
Alex's pulse quickened as he reached for the gun hidden in his desk drawer. He moved silently through the darkened apartment, his ears straining for any sound.
A faint noise came from the living room—a soft shuffle, like someone trying to move unnoticed.
Alex pressed his back against the wall, his grip steady on the weapon. Whoever was here had made a mistake.
As he turned the corner, his eyes locked onto a figure standing near the window. It was Emilia.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Alex demanded, lowering the gun but keeping his stance defensive.
She turned to face him, her expression a mixture of fear and desperation. "I had to see you," she said, her voice trembling. "You're in danger, Alex."
"Tell me something I don't know," he said coldly. "What are you really doing here, Emilia? Spying for Declan?"
Her eyes widened, and she shook her head vehemently. "No! I swear, I'm not working with him anymore. I… I overheard something tonight. Something you need to know."
Alex's gaze hardened. "I'm listening."
Emilia hesitated, then stepped closer, lowering her voice as if the walls themselves were listening. "Helena and Declan are planning something big. They're meeting tomorrow night at the Langston Hotel. If you want to stop them, that's your chance."
Alex studied her, his mind racing. It could be a trap—a carefully laid plan to lure him into their clutches. But if she was telling the truth, it was the lead he needed.
"And why should I trust you?" he asked, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Tears glistened in her eyes, but she didn't falter. "Because I love you, Alex. And I'm trying to make this right."
Before he could respond, the sound of glass shattering erupted from the kitchen. Both of them turned, their bodies tensing as heavy footsteps echoed down the hall.
"Stay behind me," Alex whispered, raising his gun as the shadows shifted in the doorway.
A man stepped into view, his face obscured by a mask, a gun glinting in his hand.
"Drop it," the intruder growled, his voice cold and commanding.
Alex didn't move, his eyes locked on the man. "Who sent you?"
The man smirked beneath the mask. "You'll find out soon enough."
The tension was suffocating, the room charged with unspoken threats.
Then, without warning, Emilia screamed as the man lunged forward, his weapon aimed at Alex.
A single gunshot rang out, and the world exploded into chaos.
**To Be Continued...**