CHAPTER 11

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a soft glow over the city that never slept. Bay City seemed alive with an energy that pulsated through the streets, but Fiona’s mind was far from the vibrant lights and sounds. Her world had narrowed down to a singular thought: they were running out of time.

She sat at her desk, the once-organized piles of paperwork scattered in front of her, untouched. Her phone lay next to her, its silence almost as loud as the chaos she was feeling inside. Darwin had been distant since their last conversation, but that was understandable. There was little time for pleasantries when the stakes were this high. They had both been walking on the edge for too long, and one misstep could send them tumbling into the abyss.

The message from her mysterious contact still echoed in her mind: They know. It wasn’t just an idle warning—it was a declaration of war. Fiona had thought she could outsmart William, could play him the same way she had played others, but William Newton wasn’t like the others. He was cold, calculating, and ruthlessly intelligent. She had underestimated him, and now she was in danger of losing everything.

As much as Fiona hated to admit it, she was scared. She had been so focused on protecting her secret and keeping her distance from Darwin that she hadn’t considered how quickly everything could spiral out of control. But now, it was too late for regret. She had made her choice, and there was no going back.

Suddenly, the door to her office creaked open. Fiona looked up, startled, but quickly composed herself. Her gaze softened when she saw Thalassa standing in the doorway, her eyes filled with concern.

“I thought you might be here,” Thalassa said, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her. “You’ve been in here for hours.”

Fiona leaned back in her chair and sighed. “I can’t stop thinking about everything. The lies, the secrets… and now, William knows. I don’t know what to do anymore.”

Thalassa walked over and sat across from her, her expression hardening. “What do you mean, he knows? How?”

Fiona ran a hand through her hair, frustrated. “I don’t know. He’s been playing me this whole time, Thalassa. I thought I could outsmart him, but he’s always been two steps ahead. And now he knows everything.”

Thalassa crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. “What about Darwin? What’s his plan?”

Fiona paused, her mind briefly drifting to Darwin. The tension between them had been palpable ever since she had left him that night, but now she had to focus on the bigger picture. Darwin was a part of this mess, but right now, he wasn’t her biggest concern.

“I don’t know what Darwin’s plan is. We haven’t spoken since yesterday. I’ve been trying to figure out how to deal with William on my own, but it’s getting too dangerous.”

Thalassa’s eyes softened with sympathy. “You can’t do this alone, Fiona. You never have before, and you don’t need to start now.”

Fiona smiled weakly but didn’t respond. Thalassa was right. She hadn’t gotten this far on her own. It had always been a team effort. But the more she thought about the situation, the more she realized that they were playing a game with no rules. William Newton was a force of nature, and he wasn’t going to stop until he got what he wanted.

“I need to find out what William’s next move is,” Fiona said suddenly, her voice firm. “I can’t let him beat me at this game.”

Thalassa leaned forward, her brow furrowing. “Are you sure? What if it’s too dangerous? You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”

“I have to try,” Fiona said, standing up and pacing. “If I don’t, everything will fall apart. We’ll be left with nothing.”

Thalassa watched her for a moment before standing up as well. “Alright. But we do this my way. We need a plan.”

Fiona stopped pacing and looked at her best friend, her heart lifting a little. Thalassa had always been the practical one, the voice of reason when Fiona’s emotions threatened to overwhelm her. She could always count on her.

“Alright,” Fiona said, nodding. “What’s the plan?”

Thalassa smiled. “We’ll get close to William, but we’ll do it carefully. No more rushing in blindly. If we’re going to survive this, we need to think two steps ahead of him.”

Fiona’s mind started to race as Thalassa continued to outline their plan. It wasn’t going to be easy, and there was a good chance they would be walking straight into the lion’s den. But for the first time in days, Fiona felt a glimmer of hope. With Thalassa by her side, maybe they had a fighting chance.

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Later that evening, Fiona and Thalassa sat at a small, quiet café on the outskirts of Bay City. The dim lighting and soft hum of conversation around them created an almost surreal atmosphere, a stark contrast to the tension that simmered beneath the surface.

Fiona sipped her coffee absently, her mind still on the plans they had made. They would need to meet with a few key players in the city, individuals who might be able to provide them with crucial information about William and his next move. Fiona knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but it was their only chance.

As she looked across the table at Thalassa, she could sense the unease that had crept into her best friend’s expression. It was hard to ignore. Fiona knew Thalassa was worried—she could see it in her eyes—but there was something else. A subtle shift in the way she was holding herself, as though she, too, felt the weight of the moment pressing down on them.

“What is it?” Fiona asked, her voice low.

Thalassa hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice barely above a whisper. “Fiona… there’s something you need to know.”

Fiona’s heart skipped a beat as she leaned forward, her eyes narrowing in concern. “What is it? What’s going on?”

Thalassa swallowed hard, her gaze flickering to the door of the café, as if to make sure no one was listening. “I don’t know how to say this, but I’ve been hearing rumors. About William. About what he’s planning.”

Fiona’s stomach twisted with unease. “What kind of rumors?”

Thalassa looked at her seriously, her face pale. “I think William’s more dangerous than we realized. And I don’t think he’s just after revenge anymore. He’s trying to destroy everything you’ve worked for.”

Fiona’s mind raced. Destroy everything I’ve worked for? She had suspected William’s obsession with taking down Darwin was personal, but this went beyond that. If what Thalassa was saying was true, they were about to face a much bigger threat than they could have ever imagined.

Before Fiona could respond, her phone buzzed again, cutting through the tense silence. She glanced down at the screen and felt her breath catch in her throat. The message was brief, but its implications were far-reaching.

I know what you’re planning. And I’m coming for you.

Fiona’s heart sank. The war had just escalated.