CHAPTER 19

The grainy video replayed in Maya’s mind on a relentless loop, even as she sat in Zane’s suite, staring blankly at the ornate pattern on the rug beneath her feet. Zane’s words, faint but distinct, haunted her:

“If they think Maya’s a liability—”

A liability. The word sank like a stone in her chest. No matter how much Zane had assured her of her importance, his actions always seemed laced with contradictions. He was a protector, yes, but at what point would she become a burden too heavy to bear?

Her phone buzzed again, pulling her back to the present. Another message from the unknown number lit up the screen:

“Leave now. He can’t save you from what’s coming.”

Maya’s pulse quickened as the meaning of the message settled over her. She was trapped. Zane wanted her to trust him, but the shadows that lingered around him—and within the house—made that trust impossible.

The suite door opened, and Zane stepped inside. His sharp silver eyes immediately locked onto her, narrowing as he noticed her tense posture and the phone clutched tightly in her hand.

“What is it now?” he asked, his tone laced with frustration.

Maya hesitated, torn between confronting him and retreating further into her fears. Finally, she stood, holding the phone out to him.

“Another message,” she said quietly.

Zane’s jaw tightened as he scanned the words, his expression darkening. “It’s the same number,” he muttered, handing the phone back. “They’re trying to rattle you.”

“It’s working,” she admitted, her voice shaking despite her best efforts to stay composed.

Zane crossed the room in two long strides, his hands gripping her shoulders firmly. “Maya, listen to me. This is exactly what they want—to make you doubt me, to make you feel unsafe. But I won’t let them hurt you.”

She searched his eyes, looking for reassurance, but instead found an edge of desperation she hadn’t noticed before. “Who’s sending these, Zane? Is it Luca? Helena? Donovan?”

He exhaled sharply, stepping back. “I don’t know yet. But I will.”

“You don’t know?” she repeated, disbelief creeping into her voice. “Then how can you promise to protect me?”

His eyes flashed with something between anger and guilt. “Because I always keep my promises.”

Maya couldn’t sit still after their conversation. As night fell over the estate, she found herself wandering back into the gardens, the cool air biting at her skin. She followed the familiar path to the fountain, the same place where she’d found the hidden camera.

This time, her steps were deliberate, her eyes scanning every inch of the space for anything out of place. It wasn’t long before she spotted it—another camera, this one tucked carefully into the branches of a low-hanging tree.

Her hands shook as she plucked it free. Who was planting these, and how had they managed to stay hidden for so long?

Before she could dwell on the implications, a soft sound behind her made her whirl around.

“Couldn’t sleep?”

Luca’s voice was low and smooth, carrying a note of amusement. He stepped out of the shadows, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.

Maya’s heart pounded in her chest. “What are you doing out here?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” he replied, his dark eyes glinting. “But then again, this seems to be your favorite spot for midnight strolls.”

She narrowed her eyes, holding up the camera. “Do you know anything about this?”

Luca’s brows lifted in mock surprise. “Is that what I think it is? My, my, Maya. It seems you’ve stumbled onto quite the conspiracy.”

“Cut the act, Luca,” she snapped. “I’m not in the mood for games.”

He chuckled softly, taking a step closer. “You wound me. I’m only here to help.”

“Help?” she scoffed. “You’ve done nothing but plant doubt in my mind since the moment I arrived.”

“And for good reason,” he said, his smile fading. “You think Zane’s the hero in this story? Let me tell you something about my brother—he’s good at pretending to care, but at the end of the day, he’s just like the rest of us. Selfish. Ruthless. Dangerous.”

Maya’s stomach twisted, but she refused to let him see her fear. “And what about you, Luca? You expect me to believe you’re any different?”

“I don’t pretend to be,” he said, his tone turning serious. “But at least I’m honest about it.”

Before she could respond, Luca leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Be careful, Maya. You’re playing a game you don’t fully understand. And in this house, ignorance can get you killed.”

With that, he turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving her alone with the camera and a growing sense of dread.

The next morning, Maya found herself seated across from Helena in the drawing room, the older woman’s sharp eyes studying her like a hawk.

“You look pale,” Helena remarked, her tone deceptively polite. “Is everything alright?”

“Everything’s fine,” Maya replied tightly.

Helena’s lips curved into a faint smile. “You’ve always been a terrible liar, my dear.”

Maya’s fists clenched in her lap, but she forced herself to stay calm. “Why don’t you just say what you really mean, Helena?”

Helena leaned back in her chair, her gaze never wavering. “I mean that you’re in over your head. Zane’s world is not for the faint-hearted, and you… well, you don’t exactly strike me as resilient.”

Maya lifted her chin, meeting Helena’s gaze head-on. “Maybe you underestimate me.”

“Maybe,” Helena conceded, though her smile didn’t falter. “Or maybe I’ve seen enough women like you come and go to know how this story ends.”

The words cut deeper than Maya wanted to admit, but she refused to let Helena see it.

“Is that all?” Maya asked, rising from her seat.

Helena’s smile widened, though it held no warmth. “One more thing. Be careful who you trust. In this house, loyalty is a fleeting thing.”

Maya left the room without another word, but Helena’s warning lingered long after she was gone.

That evening, Alex approached Zane with a grim expression. Maya was nearby, seated on the couch in Zane’s suite, and her ears perked up as she caught snippets of their conversation.

“The number is untraceable,” Alex said, his tone frustrated. “Whoever’s sending these messages knows how to cover their tracks.”

“Then look deeper,” Zane replied coldly. “I don’t care how long it takes—find them.”

Alex hesitated. “There’s something else. We found another camera. This one… it was planted near Maya’s room.”

Zane’s posture stiffened, his silver eyes narrowing. “And you’re just telling me this now?”

“We didn’t want to alarm her,” Alex said, glancing briefly in Maya’s direction.

“She’s already alarmed,” Zane growled. “What else?”

Alex hesitated before handing Zane a photograph. Maya couldn’t see it clearly, but the look on Zane’s face was enough to send a chill down her spine.

“Get everyone in the house vetted again,” Zane said, his voice low and deadly. “No one gets a pass. Not even family.”

The Fear Deepens

Maya waited until Alex had left before approaching Zane. “What’s going on?”

He looked at her, his expression softening slightly. “Nothing you need to worry about.”

“Don’t do that,” she said, her voice trembling. “Don’t keep me in the dark.”

Zane hesitated, then sighed. “The cameras weren’t just watching you. They were watching both of us. Someone’s targeting us, Maya, and they’re getting closer.”

Her blood ran cold. “Who?”

“I don’t know yet,” he admitted. “But I will.”

Maya wanted to believe him, but the shadows around them felt thicker than ever.

And the deeper she looked, the harder it was to tell who was friend and who was foe.