Erica stirred from a restless sleep, the bed felt soft against her skin.A familiar scent lingered on the sheets as she moved to sit up, her back slightly sore due to the bruises. Julian had kept his promise and brought her home her mind now at peace as she felt protected in their home. As she sat there, several thoughts ran through her mind, she had noticed the brooding changes in Julian's personality and her mind had already started analyzing. She soon realized that she wasn't alone, Julian was slumped in the chair next to her, his head resting awkwardly on his hand as he slept. Dark circles under his eyes betrayed the sleepless nights he had endured since the accident. He looked worn, yet still somehow steadfast, refusing to leave her side.A soft knock at the door made Erica glance up. The door opened slowly, and in stepped a woman Erica had never seen before. Dressed in a sharp black suit, her blonde hair pulled back into a neat bun, she carried herself with an air of authority
The night was silent, not even the usual hum of crickets dared break the quiet. Julian walked with purpose through the dark hallway of the old warehouse, the only sound being the echo of his footsteps against the cold cement floor. His steps were measured, deliberate, a man who knew the shadows well. This place—the warehouse—was more than just a building. It was his fortress, a carefully hidden place known to only a select few. Here, his empire was built, but more than that, it was where he orchestrated his darker dealings—the dirty work that no one could ever trace back to him.The air inside was thick, almost suffocating with the smell of oil, old wood, and the faint trace of smoke. It wasn't an environment most would find comfortable, but for Julian, it was familiar. It was control.Ahead, the sound of voices grew louder. Among them, King's voice rose above the rest, its deep and gravelly tone betraying a certain enjoyment. Julian wasn't surprised. King thrived in this environment
The house was eerily quiet as Erica sat propped up on the living room couch, a blanket draped over her lap. The nurse, Sophia, moved quietly around the room, checking on Erica’s medication and fluffing the pillows behind her. The air was filled with the soft scent of lavender, something meant to help her relax, though it didn’t seem to be working. Since she left the hospital, Erica had been restless. Her home should have been her refuge, a place of safety and warmth, but now it felt more like a cage. Each shadow in the corners seemed to hold secrets, and every sound outside her door made her frightened. Sophia hovered nearby, adjusting things here and there with her gentle hands, never asking too many questions but always offering a quiet sense of comfort. Erica appreciated it. “How are you feeling today?” Sophia asked, her voice soft as she handed Erica a glass of water. Erica forced a smile, though her thoughts were elsewhere. “A bit better,” she lied. The truth was, she felt
The next morning, Erica woke to the soft murmur of voices just outside her room. She sat up slowly, her muscles protesting the movement. Sophia appeared a moment later, pushing the door open with a gentle knock. “Good morning,” she greeted, her tone bright but professional as always. “How are you feeling today?”“A bit better,” Erica lied, forcing a smile.Sophia approached the bedside, checking her vitals with the efficiency of someone who had done this countless times. “Julian left early this morning,” she said offhandedly. “He said he’ll be back later this afternoon.”Erica nodded absently, her mind drifting. Julian’s absences had become more frequent, and his explanations more vague. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he was keeping something from her—something deadly. And the more she thought about his suggestion to leave town, the more uneasy she became. As Sophia finished checking her vitals, Erica’s phone buzzed on the nightstand. She glanced at the screen and saw her grand
The tension in the air was palpable as Erica sat alone in the dimly lit living room, her fingers curled around the blanket draped across her lap. Outside, the sky had darkened into a heavy, foreboding gray, and the wind howled like a distant warning. Sophia had left for the evening, leaving Erica alone in the house for the first time since she’d returned from the hospital. It should have felt peaceful, but instead, there was an unsettling silence that seemed to crawl under her skin.Her thoughts were restless, circling back to her conversation with Julian earlier that day. His insistence on leaving still weighed heavily on her mind, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. There was a secret he was keeping, and the more she tried to ignore it, the more it gnawed at her.Erica’s phone buzzed on the coffee table, pulling her out of her thoughts. She reached for it, hoping it was her grandfather with more information. Instead, the screen flashed with an unfa
The sun was setting, casting long shadows through the windows of Erica’s living room. She sat on the edge of the couch, her hands gripping the edge of the cushion as if it were the only thing keeping her tethered to reality. Every sound outside, every creak of the house, made her jump. Her mind raced through the conversation she’d had with her grandfather earlier that day, the eerie phone call. And then there was Julian. The man she thought she knew, the man she loved, was now an different person. Was he involved in whatever dark dealings surrounded his business? Was he protecting her or leading her into a trap?Her phone buzzed on the table, jolting her out of her thoughts. The screen lit up with a message from an unknown number. Her pulse quickened as she unlocked it and read the text:*We’re watching. Don’t leave the house.*Her breath caught in her throat. She scanned the room as if expecting to see someone lurking in the shadows. This was no coincidence. Someone was tracking he
Erica sat upright in her bed, staring at the darkness outside her window. The world felt colder since Sophia’s visit, every shadow a reminder that danger was closer than ever. Her home, once a sanctuary, now felt more like a prison. The nurse, once a source of comfort, had revealed her true intentions, and Erica couldn’t shake the sense of vulnerability that lingered. She glanced at the door of her room, the soft light from the hallway spilling under the crack. She knew the nurse, the new one Jonathan had arranged after Sophia’s departure, would be checking on her soon. But that did little to ease the restlessness gnawing at her. Someone was after her, and they weren’t going to stop until they succeeded.Her fingers fidgeted with her phone as she debated what to do next. Julian hadn’t come by in days, and part of her feared what that might mean. The more she thought about it, the less sure she was of where his loyalties lay. Was he being held back by something beyond his control? Or
Amanda hadn't called the police, despite the fear that coursed through her veins. Instead, she called Jonathan—Erica's grandfather—and Julian. The weight of the situation demanded action, but it wasn’t something law enforcement could easily handle, not with the complexities of Erica’s world now tangled with Julian’s.The car that pulled up to the gates wasn’t a police cruiser, but a sleek black sedan, its engine barely making a sound as it approached. The door swung open, and Julian stepped out. His movements were swift and purposeful, the kind of urgency that only came from someone whose entire life had been spent navigating crises. His face was a mask of concern, but beneath that, his thoughts were racing. He had known this moment would come eventually—the moment when his carefully constructed facade would crack and the truth would spill out. He had hoped to avoid it, but now it was inevitable.Julian hurried into the house, his eyes immediately scanning the room for Erica. When he