Chapter 39 High Tension
Anna's POV
I froze, my brain refused to process what I was seeing.
My eyes widened before I could stop myself, and instinctively, I turned my head sharply to the side.
“Jesus—Lucas!” I snapped, my voice coming out sharper than I intended. “Do you not lock your door?!”
Behind me, I heard him curse under his breath, followed by hurried movement.
“Anna—I didn’t know it was you,” he said quickly. “I thought it was one of the guys.”
“Well, it’s not,” I shot back. “Next time, maybe confirm before telling someone to come in.”
There was a brief silence. Then— “You can turn now.”
I hesitated for a second before glancing back.
He had thrown on a pair of trousers, still shirtless, his hair slightly damp like he had just come out of the shower.
I folded my arms, raising a brow. “You always welcome guests like that?”
He huffed a small laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Didn’t expect you as a guest.”
I stepped further into the room, closing the door behind me. “I came to talk,” I said.
His expression shifted slightly. More serious now. “About last night?”
I nodded. “And this morning.”
He leaned against the edge of the table, watching me carefully. “What about it?”
I exhaled slowly. “Xavier isn’t selling me anymore.”
Lucas stilled. For a brief moment, I saw something in his eyes. Not relief, not completely.
Something more complicated. “…He told you that himself?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Lucas looked away for a second, jaw tightening slightly before he nodded. “Of course he did,” he muttered.
I narrowed my eyes slightly. “You don’t sound happy about it.”
He looked back at me quickly. “No—that’s not it.”
“Then what is it?”
He hesitated. That hesitation again.
That same thing I’ve been noticing. Lucas always had something he wasn’t saying.
“It just means things are changing,” he said finally. “Xavier doesn’t keep people around without a reason.”
I tilted my head slightly. “So now I’m… what? A pet? An asset? A shield?”
Lucas pushed off the table, stepping closer.
“You’re alive,” he said quietly. “That’s what matters.”
I let out a soft scoff. “That’s not comforting.”
“It should be,” he replied.
Silence fell between us for a moment. Then I crossed my arms tighter. “He also asked about you.”
Lucas’ brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“He thinks something is going on between us.”
Lucas didn’t respond immediately. “And what did you tell him?” he asked.
“That there’s nothing going on.”
His jaw clenched slightly. “And is there?”
I met his gaze. “This isn’t the time for that, Lucas.”
“That’s not an answer.”
I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “And this isn’t a safe conversation.”
His eyes searched mine like he was trying to read something deeper.
“Xavier is watching everything,” I continued. “You know that.”
“I don’t care,” he said.
I shook my head immediately. “You should.”
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “Fine,” he said. “We’ll drop it.”
Good. Because this… whatever this tension was—it was dangerous, more dangerous than bullets.
I shifted the topic. “What’s going on in the house?” I asked. “It feels… off.”
Lucas nodded slightly. “It is.”
“How bad?”
“Bad enough that Xavier went out early this morning.”
My brows pulled together. “That’s not normal?”
“No,” he said. “Not after a night like that.”
Something tightened in my chest. “What do you think it means?”
Lucas looked at me for a moment before answering. “It means Zack didn’t just attack Xavier,” he said slowly. “There's a bigger plan involved.”
I leaned against the wall slightly, my mind already spinning. Zack was wounded.
“I need to find Zack,” I muttered under my breath.
Lucas heard it. Of course he did. His eyes sharpened immediately. “Why?”
I straightened quickly. “Nothing.”
“Anna—”
“I said nothing.”
He stared at me. “You’re hiding something.”
I forced a small smile. “Aren’t we all?”
That didn’t convince him. Not even close. But before he could press further, a knock sounded on the door.
Lucas’ attention snapped toward it instantly. “Yeah?” he called.
The door opened slightly, one of the guards stepping in. “Sir, we have a situation.”
Lucas’ expression hardened immediately. “What happened?”
The guard hesitated… then said— “Xavier has been attacked.”
My heart stopped. Then it slammed back to life faster.
“What?” Lucas snapped, already moving.
“Where?” I asked at the same time.
The guard looked between us. “At one of the outer properties,” he said. “We just got word.”
Lucas grabbed his shirt quickly, pulling it on as he moved toward the door. “Is he alive?”
“Yes—but—”
But what? No one finished it.
Lucas turned to me. “Stay here.”
I stepped forward immediately. “Not happening.”
“Anna—”
“I’m coming.”
His eyes flashed with frustration. “We don’t know what we’re walking into,” he said. "Staying here is safer."
“I don't care, I have already seen worse,” I replied.
He exhaled sharply. “Fine,” he muttered. “But you don't do anything without my permission.”
I didn’t argue, because my heart was already racing again.