Chapter 28 Chapter 28
Marcus’s eyes locked on mine and I could not breathe. His voice was low but sharp as he said, “Why were you in my room, Lisa?” The weight in his tone made the walls close in. I wanted to look away but I forced myself to meet his stare. “I left something there earlier,” I said quietly, praying the lie would sound believable. He studied me for a long time and the silence stretched so tight that I thought I would break under it. Then he stepped closer and said, “You are not a good liar. Be careful who you lie to.”
His words chilled me more than any shout could have. Marcus leaned against the wall, arms folded across his chest. “You have been asking too many questions,” he said. “Stay out of things that do not concern you.” I tried to sound calm as I replied, “If it affects my life, it concerns me.” His jaw twitched and for a moment I saw something uncertain in his eyes. “You think Damien will save you if you choose the wrong side?” he asked. “He cannot save himself.” I held my breath, unsure whether that was a threat or a confession.
I wanted to ask what he meant but Marcus took a step back and his calm expression hardened. “If you want to survive, stay away from rooms that are not yours,” he said. The warning felt personal, as if he was trying to protect me and threaten me at the same time. I nodded slowly and whispered, “I am not your enemy, Marcus.” He gave a strange half-smile and said, “You will be if you keep walking in the dark.” Then he turned and left, his steps fading until only my heartbeat filled the corridor. I stood still for a long time before daring to move again.
When I finally returned to my room, my hands shook. I shut the door and pressed my forehead against it. My chest burned with panic as I realized I was trapped between two men who could both destroy me. Damien had his suspicions about everyone, and Marcus had just shown me that his loyalty was not clear either. I whispered to myself that I had to stay invisible, but invisibility was impossible in this house. Every camera, every guard, every whisper carried back to Damien. I collapsed into the chair by the window and tried to steady my breathing.
The following morning felt quiet but tense. The air around the estate buzzed with unspoken energy. Damien’s men rushed through the hallways with new orders. The walls that had once felt cold now felt alive with fear. When Damien called me to his office, I already knew that something terrible had happened. The room was darker than usual and the map on his table was covered with fresh marks. He did not look up immediately. “They moved on the shipment from the east docks,” he said. “We caught them before they reached the supply boats. It was Victor’s men.”
I hesitated by the door, unsure if he wanted me to speak. “Did you lose anyone?” I asked quietly. He looked up at me and I saw exhaustion written across his face. “Not this time,” he said. “But it will not stop there.” He poured himself a glass of water and sat down. “You know what I think, Lisa?” he asked. “I think someone told Victor about that route.” My stomach tightened because I understood what that meant. “Do you still believe it was me?” I asked. His eyes softened for a brief second before turning cold again. “I believe danger always finds you somehow.”
His words hurt more than I expected. I walked closer, meeting his stare. “If you stopped treating everyone around you like a suspect, maybe you would see who the real enemy is.” He leaned back in his chair and studied me. “And who is that?” he asked. I swallowed hard. “The one who makes you doubt everyone else.” For a moment, the silence between us felt like electricity. He stood slowly and walked toward me until I could feel his breath against my cheek. “Tell me,” he said. “If I had to choose between protecting you and winning this war, which side would you want me to stand on?”
I looked at him and felt the old pull of what we used to be. “I want you to be human again,” I said. He stared at me as if I had spoken a foreign language. Then he turned away and said, “Humans die in this world, Lisa. You taught me that.” The words stung deeply because I knew he was right. Our story had begun with hope but now it lingered somewhere between love and survival. He picked up a file from his desk and flipped it open before saying, “Victor will not stop until he has burned this house to the ground.”
That night, the atmosphere grew colder. Gunfire was heard in the valley beyond the walls, and flashes of light split the distance for seconds before fading. Everyone moved faster and spoke quieter. I stayed in my room, replaying everything Marcus had said. He was hiding something, and if Damien discovered that I had gone to him, I would lose the little trust I had left. I sat on the floor, hugging my knees, trying to find the thin line between safety and betrayal. I knew I had to pick a side soon because waiting would only make me an easy target.
Near midnight, the door opened without warning. Damien stood in the doorway. His expression was colder than I had ever seen. “Get up,” he said. My heart jumped because his tone had none of the softness that once slipped into his voice. I stood quickly, trying to hide the fear in my eyes. “What happened?” I asked. He closed the door behind him and crossed the room slowly. “You want honesty?” he said. “Then listen carefully.” The heaviness of his words made my skin prickle. Whatever he was about to say would change everything again.
He stopped near the window and looked out into the darkness outside. “Tonight my men found something,” he said. “A coded message sent from Victor’s network.” I waited, but he did not turn around. “What message?” I asked, barely above a whisper. He looked over his shoulder, and his eyes caught mine. “It had your name on it.” My breath caught, and I felt the world tilt under my feet. “That cannot be true,” I said quickly. “You think I—” He raised his hand and stopped me. “It was not from you. It was about you.” My heart pounded so hard that I thought it would crack my ribs.
Damien walked closer and lowered his voice until it was almost a whisper. “Victor has decided you are not just in the way anymore,” he said. “He wants to use you to break me.” My mouth went dry. “I do not understand,” I whispered. He looked at me then, really looked at me, and I saw real fear behind his control. “You need to understand, Lisa,” he said. “He has placed a bounty on you. Every man who works for him is hunting you now.” My body went still as the words settled like ice in my chest.