CHAPTER 29

The storm outside had abated by morning, but the tension within the Moretti estate had not. Maya woke to find Zane already gone, his side of the bed cold and undisturbed. She sat up, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach as she tried to calm the persistent knot of anxiety that had taken residence there.

She knew the safe house arrangements for her father were already in motion. Zane was meticulous, and Alex’s efficiency was unmatched. Still, a part of her couldn’t shake the image of Charles’s pale, drawn face from the night before.

“Everything’s falling apart,” she whispered to herself.

Maya hesitated before joining breakfast in the grand dining hall. As she stepped inside, she was greeted by the sight of Helena seated at the head of the table, her expression as cold and composed as ever. Luca sat nearby, casually sipping his coffee with an air of disinterest.

“Maya,” Helena said with a thin smile. “You look well-rested.”

Maya ignored the comment, taking a seat at the far end of the table. Luca’s eyes lingered on her a moment too long, his smirk sharp and knowing.

“I hear there was quite the commotion last night,” Helena continued, her tone deceptively light. “Your father was here, wasn’t he?”

Maya’s grip on her fork tightened, but she forced herself to remain calm. “Yes. He needed help.”

Helena’s smile didn’t falter. “How touching. Family should always come first; don’t you think?”

Luca chuckled softly, his gaze flicking between them. “You might want to be careful, Maya. Loyalty to the wrong people can be… costly.”

Her stomach churned, but she met his gaze head-on. “I think I’ll take my chances.”

Helena exchanged a glance with Luca, the silent communication between them making Maya’s skin crawl.

After breakfast, Maya retreated to the library, desperate for a moment of solitude. The room’s towering shelves and soft lighting offered a brief respite from the suffocating atmosphere of the estate.

She was halfway through a book when something fell from between the pages—a small, folded piece of paper.

Her heart pounded as she opened it, revealing a single line written in bold, precise handwriting:

“Your father isn’t safe, even in the safe house.”

Maya’s blood ran cold. Her hands trembled as she reread the words, her mind racing.

How did they know?

She quickly tucked the note into her pocket and left the library, her footsteps quickening as she made her way to the security wing.

Alex was seated at a desk surrounded by monitors, his sharp eyes scanning the security feeds. He looked up as Maya entered, his expression immediately concerned.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Maya handed him the note, her voice trembling. “This was in the library. They know about the safe house.”

Alex’s jaw tightened as he read the message, his gaze darkening. “This isn’t possible. Only a handful of people know its location.”

“Then one of them is a traitor,” Maya said, her voice steadier now. “We need to move him. Immediately.”

Alex nodded, already reaching for his phone. “I’ll arrange for a secondary location. We’ll increase the security detail as well.”

As he made the call, Maya’s mind raced. The safe house was supposed to be their trump card, a haven where her father could stay hidden. If even that wasn’t safe, what else could Donovan and Luca have up their sleeves?

Maya was making her way back to the suite when she heard a voice she didn’t expect to hear again so soon.

“Darling, you look positively stressed.”

She turned to see Isabella leaning against the banister of the grand staircase, her perfectly styled hair and designer dress giving her the appearance of someone completely unbothered by the chaos unfolding around them.

“What do you want, Isabella?” Maya asked, her tone sharp.

Isabella’s smile widened. “To talk, of course. You seem to have a knack for finding yourself in trouble, and I thought I’d offer a bit of advice.”

“I don’t need your advice,” Maya snapped, turning to leave.

Isabella’s next words stopped her in her tracks.

“Are you sure? Because if you don’t start playing smarter, you might not make it out of this alive.”

Maya turned back slowly, her eyes narrowing. “What are you talking about?”

Isabella stepped closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “You think Zane can protect you from everything? Donovan isn’t just some petty rival. He’s methodical, ruthless, and he doesn’t make idle threats. If I were you, I’d start considering an exit strategy.”

Maya’s heart raced, but she forced herself to remain calm. “Why do you care what happens to me?”

Isabella’s smile faltered for the briefest moment before she recovered. “Let’s just say I don’t want to see history repeat itself.”

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Maya more unsettled than ever.

The Discovery in the Garden

Maya decided to clear her head by taking a walk in the gardens. The air was cool and crisp, and the distant sound of birdsong offered a momentary sense of calm.

As she passed by the fountain, something caught her eye—a small, folded piece of paper tucked under a stone.

She hesitated before picking it up, her hands trembling as she unfolded it. The handwriting was the same as the note from the library, but this message was even more chilling:

“You can’t save everyone. Choose wisely.”

Maya’s chest tightened as the weight of the message settled over her. This wasn’t just a threat—it was a warning.

They were planning something, and it was coming soon.

Zane’s Plan

Maya didn’t wait to share the latest note with Zane. She found him in his study, deep in conversation with Alex. The two men looked up as she entered, their expressions immediately turning serious when they saw her face.

“They left another note,” Maya said, handing it to Zane.

His silver eyes scanned the words, his jaw tightening. He passed the note to Alex, who muttered a curse under his breath.

“They’re escalating,” Zane said, his voice cold. “They’re trying to force us into making a mistake.”

“What do we do?” Maya asked, her voice trembling despite her efforts to stay composed.

“We don’t play their game,” Zane said firmly. “Alex, double the security on Maya and her father. I want eyes on every entrance and exit of this estate. If anyone breathes so much in her direction, I want to know about it.”

Alex nodded, already making notes on his phone.

“And what about Donovan?” Maya pressed. “He’s not going to stop, Zane. You know that.”

Zane’s gaze darkened. “I’m working on it. But this ends soon, Maya. I promise you that.”

That night, as Maya lay in bed beside Zane, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming. The threats, the notes, the veiled warnings—it all pointed to a confrontation that was inevitable.

She glanced at Zane, his face calm and unyielding even in sleep. She knew he would do everything in his power to protect her, but she couldn’t ignore the nagging thought in the back of her mind.

What if it’s not enough?

As the estate fell silent, Maya resolved to be ready for whatever came next.

She wouldn’t let fear consume her. Not now. Not ever.