I felt the blood drain from my face as Lyka Stones entered the room, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. She stood there, poised and confident, her eyes briefly flicking to my father, who had yet to utter a word, and then to Rowan, who was now visibly tense, his hands clenched into fists. I couldn’t figure out whether her presence here was a coincidence or part of something far more dangerous.Lyka’s gaze landed on the journal in my hand, and I could almost feel the weight of her thoughts. She knew what was inside, or at least, she had an idea.“Pamela,” she greeted me with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It’s been a while.”“What are you doing here, Lyka?” My voice was sharper than I intended, a mix of confusion and growing suspicion. Her sudden appearance made my heart race. Was she part of whatever was going on with my father? Was she working with the Syndicate? Had she been playing me from the start?“Isn’t it obvious?” she said coolly, her lips curving
The room fell silent as Lillian’s words hung in the air. The shock on everyone’s faces was palpable, and I could feel my heart hammering in my chest. My eyes snapped from Lillian to Rowan, searching for any sign of what she meant. Was this part of the plan? Or had something gone terribly wrong?“We need to go, now!” Lillian urged again, her eyes wide with fear. She looked at me, as if somehow knowing that I was the one who would understand. “They’ve found us.”“Who?” Rowan’s voice was low, tense, but there was a flicker of panic behind his cold eyes. He was always so controlled, always so sure of himself. But now, for the first time since I had known him, I saw doubt in his expression. He was just as confused, just as trapped, as I felt.“The Syndicate,” Lillian answered, her voice shaking. “They’ve come for us. They’ve been watching, waiting, and now… they’re here.”The words hit me like a punch to the stomach. The Syndicate. The same group that had controlled my life, that had manip
The darkness enveloped us, pressing in from all sides. My heart raced, my breath shallow, and I could hear the rapid beat of my pulse in my ears. Rowan’s grip tightened around me, his body still shielding mine from whatever danger lurked in the shadows. The air was thick with tension, each breath I took feeling heavier than the last.“What the hell did you do?” Rowan’s voice broke through the silence, low and dangerous, as he reached out, clearly searching for something, anything to help us understand the sudden blackout. I could hear him moving, his footsteps slow and cautious, but I couldn’t see a thing.“I’m just getting started,” James’s voice echoed through the room, colder than I had ever heard it. His voice had always been calculated, but now there was a darkness in it that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. “You’ve had your chance, Rowan. Now, it’s my turn to take control.”“James…” Rowan’s voice was tight with frustration, his hand gripping mine harder, tryin
I could barely hear anything over the pounding of my heart. The world around me was a blur, the sounds of cracking walls and shifting debris filled my ears, mixing with the frantic gasps of breath from everyone in the room. My hand was still gripped tightly by Rowan’s, and I felt him pulling me forward, but the ground beneath us was shifting, slipping away with each passing second.“Rowan—what’s happening?!” I gasped, trying to make sense of the chaos that surrounded us.“We’re running out of time!” His voice was strained, barely audible over the noise. His grip tightened around my wrist as he pulled me along, his steps quick and purposeful. “We need to get out of here, now!”The entire villa felt as if it was crumbling around us. The walls groaned, the floor beneath us shaking violently, and I could feel the vibration of the tremors in the air, the oppressive weight of fear pressing down on my chest.I stumbled as we made our way through the darkened hallway, my legs trembling, my he
I woke to darkness. My head throbbed, and the metallic taste of blood lingered in my mouth. For a moment, I wasn’t sure if I was alive or dead. My arms were restrained behind me, the cold bite of metal cuffs cutting into my wrists. A faint glow from a single flickering bulb overhead cast eerie shadows on the walls."Pamela?" Rowan's voice, hoarse and laced with concern, cut through the haze of my thoughts. "I'm here," I croaked, trying to adjust my eyes to the dim light. "Are you okay?""Just barely," he said with a bitter chuckle. "They hit me pretty hard, but I’m in one piece."We were in what looked like an underground chamber. The walls were damp, the air thick with the smell of mildew and rust. My heart sank as I realized we had been captured. The escape tunnel had been a trap all along.A heavy door creaked open, and the sound of boots echoed against the stone floor. My stomach churned as James walked in, his silhouette framed by the blinding light of the corridor behind him. H
lMy head throbbed as I woke in yet another dimly lit room. The taste of blood lingered on my tongue, and my wrists burned from the cuffs that once again held me captive. The last thing I remembered was Joana’s trembling hands and the deafening roar of her gunshot echoing in the narrow corridor. "Pamela," Rowan's voice was weak, distant but unmistakably alive. "Rowan?" I croaked, forcing my eyes open. He was slumped against a wall a few feet away, his hands bound behind his back, his face pale but determined. Relief flooded through me; at least we were still together.Before I could respond, the metallic groan of a door being pushed open interrupted us. James stepped inside, his usual smugness replaced by a dangerous calm. Behind him, Joana hovered, her expression a mixture of regret and fear. “Well, aren’t you two resilient?” James began, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I was starting to think you were indestructible. But even the strongest foundations have cracks, don’t they?”
The air was thick with ash, the acrid smell of smoke stinging my nostrils as we stared at the silhouette emerging from the burning wreckage. James stood tall, his suit torn, his face streaked with soot and blood. He was like a specter of vengeance, his piercing eyes locked on us.Rowan shifted in front of me, positioning himself as a shield. Joana, trembling beside me, gripped my arm so tightly I could feel her nails digging into my skin.“You think you’ve escaped?” James’s voice cut through the roar of the flames, unnervingly steady despite the chaos around us. “You’ve merely postponed the inevitable.”“James,” Rowan said, his tone a dangerous growl. “Let this go. You’ve lost. Walk away before you destroy yourself.”James let out a harsh laugh. “Destroy myself? Oh, Rowan, you underestimate the depths of my resolve. You’re not leaving here alive.”From behind his back, James revealed a gun. The metal gleamed ominously in the flickering firelight, and my heart sank. Rowan tensed, his f
Pamela’s Point of ViewI step from the cab onto rain that comes down in sheets, soaking me to the bone the instant my feet hit pavement. My hair feels plastered on my face, my clothes are soaked, and I can feel the water squeaking in my shoes. None of that matters. My sister is in the hospital, fighting for her life, and I have no one else to turn to but him-my father.I push the heavy glass doors open to my father's building. As I do, I try to suppress the shiver that threatens to run through me. The lobby is as cold and uninviting as it ever was, a perfect reflection of the man who owns it. The receptionist gives me a once-over; her eyes widen slightly at my disheveled appearance, but I don't stop. I am unable to. I need to see him.My father is in a meeting, but quite frankly, I don't give a damn. I stomp toward the conference room, not allowing all the staring and whispered conversations to be a deterrent against me. With every step that brings me closer, my heart beats more rapid
The air was thick with ash, the acrid smell of smoke stinging my nostrils as we stared at the silhouette emerging from the burning wreckage. James stood tall, his suit torn, his face streaked with soot and blood. He was like a specter of vengeance, his piercing eyes locked on us.Rowan shifted in front of me, positioning himself as a shield. Joana, trembling beside me, gripped my arm so tightly I could feel her nails digging into my skin.“You think you’ve escaped?” James’s voice cut through the roar of the flames, unnervingly steady despite the chaos around us. “You’ve merely postponed the inevitable.”“James,” Rowan said, his tone a dangerous growl. “Let this go. You’ve lost. Walk away before you destroy yourself.”James let out a harsh laugh. “Destroy myself? Oh, Rowan, you underestimate the depths of my resolve. You’re not leaving here alive.”From behind his back, James revealed a gun. The metal gleamed ominously in the flickering firelight, and my heart sank. Rowan tensed, his f
lMy head throbbed as I woke in yet another dimly lit room. The taste of blood lingered on my tongue, and my wrists burned from the cuffs that once again held me captive. The last thing I remembered was Joana’s trembling hands and the deafening roar of her gunshot echoing in the narrow corridor. "Pamela," Rowan's voice was weak, distant but unmistakably alive. "Rowan?" I croaked, forcing my eyes open. He was slumped against a wall a few feet away, his hands bound behind his back, his face pale but determined. Relief flooded through me; at least we were still together.Before I could respond, the metallic groan of a door being pushed open interrupted us. James stepped inside, his usual smugness replaced by a dangerous calm. Behind him, Joana hovered, her expression a mixture of regret and fear. “Well, aren’t you two resilient?” James began, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I was starting to think you were indestructible. But even the strongest foundations have cracks, don’t they?”
I woke to darkness. My head throbbed, and the metallic taste of blood lingered in my mouth. For a moment, I wasn’t sure if I was alive or dead. My arms were restrained behind me, the cold bite of metal cuffs cutting into my wrists. A faint glow from a single flickering bulb overhead cast eerie shadows on the walls."Pamela?" Rowan's voice, hoarse and laced with concern, cut through the haze of my thoughts. "I'm here," I croaked, trying to adjust my eyes to the dim light. "Are you okay?""Just barely," he said with a bitter chuckle. "They hit me pretty hard, but I’m in one piece."We were in what looked like an underground chamber. The walls were damp, the air thick with the smell of mildew and rust. My heart sank as I realized we had been captured. The escape tunnel had been a trap all along.A heavy door creaked open, and the sound of boots echoed against the stone floor. My stomach churned as James walked in, his silhouette framed by the blinding light of the corridor behind him. H
I could barely hear anything over the pounding of my heart. The world around me was a blur, the sounds of cracking walls and shifting debris filled my ears, mixing with the frantic gasps of breath from everyone in the room. My hand was still gripped tightly by Rowan’s, and I felt him pulling me forward, but the ground beneath us was shifting, slipping away with each passing second.“Rowan—what’s happening?!” I gasped, trying to make sense of the chaos that surrounded us.“We’re running out of time!” His voice was strained, barely audible over the noise. His grip tightened around my wrist as he pulled me along, his steps quick and purposeful. “We need to get out of here, now!”The entire villa felt as if it was crumbling around us. The walls groaned, the floor beneath us shaking violently, and I could feel the vibration of the tremors in the air, the oppressive weight of fear pressing down on my chest.I stumbled as we made our way through the darkened hallway, my legs trembling, my he
The darkness enveloped us, pressing in from all sides. My heart raced, my breath shallow, and I could hear the rapid beat of my pulse in my ears. Rowan’s grip tightened around me, his body still shielding mine from whatever danger lurked in the shadows. The air was thick with tension, each breath I took feeling heavier than the last.“What the hell did you do?” Rowan’s voice broke through the silence, low and dangerous, as he reached out, clearly searching for something, anything to help us understand the sudden blackout. I could hear him moving, his footsteps slow and cautious, but I couldn’t see a thing.“I’m just getting started,” James’s voice echoed through the room, colder than I had ever heard it. His voice had always been calculated, but now there was a darkness in it that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. “You’ve had your chance, Rowan. Now, it’s my turn to take control.”“James…” Rowan’s voice was tight with frustration, his hand gripping mine harder, tryin
The room fell silent as Lillian’s words hung in the air. The shock on everyone’s faces was palpable, and I could feel my heart hammering in my chest. My eyes snapped from Lillian to Rowan, searching for any sign of what she meant. Was this part of the plan? Or had something gone terribly wrong?“We need to go, now!” Lillian urged again, her eyes wide with fear. She looked at me, as if somehow knowing that I was the one who would understand. “They’ve found us.”“Who?” Rowan’s voice was low, tense, but there was a flicker of panic behind his cold eyes. He was always so controlled, always so sure of himself. But now, for the first time since I had known him, I saw doubt in his expression. He was just as confused, just as trapped, as I felt.“The Syndicate,” Lillian answered, her voice shaking. “They’ve come for us. They’ve been watching, waiting, and now… they’re here.”The words hit me like a punch to the stomach. The Syndicate. The same group that had controlled my life, that had manip
I felt the blood drain from my face as Lyka Stones entered the room, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. She stood there, poised and confident, her eyes briefly flicking to my father, who had yet to utter a word, and then to Rowan, who was now visibly tense, his hands clenched into fists. I couldn’t figure out whether her presence here was a coincidence or part of something far more dangerous.Lyka’s gaze landed on the journal in my hand, and I could almost feel the weight of her thoughts. She knew what was inside, or at least, she had an idea.“Pamela,” she greeted me with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It’s been a while.”“What are you doing here, Lyka?” My voice was sharper than I intended, a mix of confusion and growing suspicion. Her sudden appearance made my heart race. Was she part of whatever was going on with my father? Was she working with the Syndicate? Had she been playing me from the start?“Isn’t it obvious?” she said coolly, her lips curving
The air seemed to freeze the moment my father stepped into the room, his figure casting a long shadow over the dimly lit space. My heart raced, the blood pounding in my ears as Rowan instinctively took a step forward, his hand brushing the gun beneath his jacket. I had never seen my father like this before. There was a coldness in his eyes, a weight in his posture that I couldn’t ignore.“Pamela,” he said, his voice smooth, almost too calm. “Joana. I see you’ve found something important.”The weight of his words hung in the air, suffocating me. For the first time, I wasn’t sure if I should be relieved to see him or terrified. The look in his eyes, the way he had entered without any warning—something wasn’t right.I tightened my grip on the journal, my fingers trembling. “What do you want, Father?” I asked, my voice a little sharper than I intended.He took a step closer, and I instinctively moved back, placing myself between Joana and him. Rowan remained vigilant behind me, his presen
The night air was thick with tension as Rowan, Joana, and I hurried out of the safe house, our footsteps echoing off the cold, stone floors. Every sound seemed amplified, every shadow a threat. My father had insisted on staying behind, claiming it would be too dangerous for him to accompany us, though I couldn’t help but wonder if his true motives lay in keeping us as far from his involvement as possible.Joana, despite her usual calm demeanor, was clearly shaken. Her hands trembled as she clutched a small, worn envelope in her palm. The letter inside was the key—at least that’s what she believed. It was something our mother had left behind, a final message, a piece of the puzzle that might unravel everything. But what if it was too late? What if the Syndicate had already found us?“Are you sure this is where you found it?” Rowan’s voice cut through the silence as he glanced around the darkened streets.“Yes,” Joana replied, her voice steady but strained. “It was in the box of Mom’s t