Chapter 048: Exposing Shadows

Ava's POV 

As I entered Eli's flat, which seemed to be a lonely, empty shell where memories persisted but warmth had long ago vanished. Knowing full well that anything I discovered may change everything, I came here seeking questions.

Unspoken words were in the air as Eli slammed the door behind me. His eyes looked to be inscrutable, a stronghold of secrets apparently indestructible. I was not, however, backing down this time.

Starting with "Ava," his voice a deep rumble, "I know what you're thinking."

"Do you?” I drew back, crossing my arms. "Because I'm not even sure I know what I'm thinking now. I doubt even what is genuine since you have kept me in the dark for so long.

He moved nearer, his face softening. "I never intended things to be this way. I reasoned I could hide it from you. I reasoned that would keep you secure.

Shaking my head, I battled the need to yell. Eli, safe from what? You still won't give me the truth; I already live in the center of whatever this is.

He simply stared at me for a long, anxious period, as though considering the ramifications of what he was going to say. Then he said, every syllable weighed with resignation. "I was trying to guard you from a side of my life darker than you could ever imagine."

Then let me picture it, my voice lower now, my will sharpened. Eli, I am not fleeing here. Whatever this is, I am not leaving you alone to deal with it.

He groaned and walked up to the window running a hand through his hair. He looked even more far away as the city lights spilled across his face creating shadows. "I never mentioned to you someone else. Someone from the start who has been observing us.

I felt a cold pass through me. "who?"

"Her name is Isabelle," he said, the name stinging on his mouth. "We... used to be involved long back. Not before you.

The bits began to click together, and I felt a feeling of envy mingled with terror. "This is an ex-girlfriend thing then? A lover who has been scorned?

"No," he answered rapidly, turning back to me with great emphasis. It is far more than that. Isabelle and I collaborated as well. She participated in an operation I joined years ago, one I abandoned when I discovered how twisted things had gotten. She wasn't really receptive to it.

I stepped back, attempting to make sense of this fresh bit of data. She is thus stalking you? Us"?

"More than that, he said. She is making sure I pay for walking away. Grudges exist between Isabelle and Ava. She is deadly and understands just how to reach me—through you.

The room went quiet, his words laying over me like a dense cloud. I had assumed all this time that Eli was simply hiding secrets from me, shielding me from some ill defined risk. But now our twisted past bound us together with a face and a name.

"Why wouldn't you have told me?" I said no more than a whisper.

"I felt I could manage it on my own," he continued, remorse clearly on his face. "I wanted you not to be dragged into the disaster I produced.

But, Eli. You have. I am in this right now. Sensing the stress pulsating through him, I stretched out and clasped his hand. "I have a right to know what we are confronting. What does she wish for?

He hesitated, looking down at the floor. She wants to break me and ruin my life. She has also been observing, poised for the ideal opportunity for attack. She won't stop until I give her what she wants now she finds you.

The idea twisted my gut uncomfortably. "Exactly what does she want from you?

His jaw tightened, and I could see his mental struggle raging. She wants me to cover for leaving her in the middle of something she wasn't ready to deal with alone. But Ava, it's not that easy either. Isabelle... She is not only from my past. She's strong and connected. She has those who owe her favors and others eager to perform as asked.

She is thus threatening you... us?

One nodded. She also understands how to hit where it hurts. She will come after you, after anybody close to me, if I refuse to follow along.

A shudder slid down my back. The actual state of affairs was worse than I had imagined. Then what are our next steps?

Eli stared at me, the smallest hint of optimism softening his cheeks. Though I have a strategy, I will need your assistance. We have to throw her off, make her believe we are vulnerable, that I am open to negotiating. It will get us some time.

I wrinkled, the idea seeming to be both dubious and dangerous. And then what happens when she finds out you are bluffing?

You come in here at this point. With a severe look, his hand tightened around mine. "We have to use great caution. She will see through one slip. She is brilliant, Ava, but together... We have a shot, in my opinion.

Though his confidence was encouraging, it nevertheless felt heavy on me all the same. This concerned survival in the present, not only Eli's history.

We discussed every conceivable aspect and strategized for the next three hours. Though my brain was whirling by the time we had gone over every choice, the plan was obvious. We would pretend to be Isabelle's hands, make her believe she was winning, just to yank the rug out from under her at the precise moment.

We were both tired as the first signals of morning started to break, but at last we had developed a strategy robust enough to meet whatever lay ahead. As we sat in the stillness of the early morning, Eli's palm brushed across mine, a hesitant trust building between us.

He whispered gently, his eyes locked with mine: "There's one more thing I need to tell you."

I braced myself and a lump developed in my throat. "What is it?"

He hesitated then, "If this goes wrong... if Isabelle finds out what we're doing, I need you to promise me something."

In my chest my heart hammered. “Anything”

"I need you to walk away if things go south. Leave me; leave me to manage things by myself. Ava, I cannot lose you—not because of my background.

I shook my head; his comments impacted more strongly than I had anticipated. “No, Eli. I am not going to go. Not with this time.

But he merely stared at me with that same, steady gaze; I knew he wouldn't let me in on this unless I consented. Reluctantly, I nodded knowing full well I would never keep that vow. For better or poorer, we were in this together.

A keen knock on the door cut off the moment. We stopped and exchanged a watchful, strained glance. The sun hadn't really risen, hence nobody was expected.

Eli signaled for me to keep back as he walked slowly toward the entrance. As he reached for the doorknob, my heart beat and I watched warily.

He opened the door with a tight, under control gesture. On the other side, covered in shade, a person stood whose face hardly caught the dawn light.

An icy, familiar voice answered, "Hello, Eli," sending chills down my spine. It was a voice full of poison, one that seemed to reverberate from Eli's worst memories.

Her name was Isabelle.

As she entered the room, her calculating stare fixed on me, the strategy we had spent hours developing felt flimsy and unclear. She grinned, the sort of cold-blooded smile.

She apologized, looked between the two of us with a syrupy tenderness. "Did I stop someone else from speaking?

Eli stood defensively in front of me, his voice calm and his jaw hard. "What are you here, Isabelle?

Her eyes turned to mine, and for a split second I could feel her hate weighing me. Her eyes narrowing, she added, "I came to see what all the fuss was about." "After all, I hardly get to see the woman who stole what was once mine every day."

And the last card had been turned over just like that. Isabelle was here; now everything seemed about to fall apart.