Chapter 94 Taking actions
AMELIA
The morning light warmed my face through the window. I'd barely slept.
The memories from last night kept circling. Jeremy at Crimson, drunk and still somehow angry. The drive home was in tense silence.
And then—what he'd said when we'd arrived.
I'd helped him out of the car. I guided him towards the east wing entrance. His weight was heavy against my shoulder. His breath was sharp with whisky.
"I can manage from here," he'd said, his speech slurred unsteadily.
"Let me help you inside," I offered.
"I said I can manage." He'd pulled away. He moved so swiftly that he staggered. He leaned against the doorframe. "Just—leave me alone."
"Jeremy, please."
"Others." The word came out garbled. "Following. Others are following you."
I'd frozen. "What?"
"Not just Vincent. Someone else. Watching. 'Follow you.'" His hand had gripped my arm. Tight enough to bruise. "Why? Why are they watching you?"
Then Luca had appeared. Taken Jeremy's other arm. Helped him inside.
"I've got him. You should get some rest, Amelia."
And that was it. Jeremy disappeared into his room. The door closed. His disappearance left me filled with questions, fear, and words that defied comprehension.
Others are following you.
What did that mean?
I found Luca in the security room at nine that morning. I knocked on the doorframe.
"Can I talk to you?"
He looked up from the monitors. Gestured to a chair. "Sure. What's up?"
"Last night. When I brought Jeremy home. He said something—something about others following me. "Not just Vincent, but someone else." I sat down. "What did he mean?"
Luca was quiet for a moment. Then he sighed and went to close the door.
"Alright. Yeah. There's been—we've noticed some surveillance."
"Surveillance?"
"Someone's been tracking your movements. We don't know who yet. Vincent spotted him a few days ago. A male, mid-forties, professional. Not one of ours. Not Santoro. Not someone we recognise."
My stomach dropped. "Someone's following me? Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Boss wanted to identify the threat before worrying you. Figure out who hired them. What they want. He paused. "We didn't want to scare you unnecessarily."
"Unnecessarily?" My voice rose. "Someone's watching me and you think telling me is unnecessary?"
"That came out wrong. I meant—we wanted facts before speculation. We didn't want you to panic over a potentially insignificant matter.
But it is something, isn't it?
His silence was confirming.
"We don't know yet," Luca said carefully. "It could be someone who is employed by a rival family." It could be connected to the Volkovs—Alexei might have reported back about you, and they're keeping tabs. It could be something else entirely."
"Am I in danger?" I asked with a shaky voice.
"We don't know," he said, meeting my eyes—or would have if I could see them. "Vincent's trying to identify the guy." Track him back to whoever hired him. Once we know that, we'll know how serious the threat is."
"And until then?" I pressed him further.
"Until then, you stay on the estate. Don't leave without security. "Don't go anywhere alone." His voice firmed. "Boss is taking your safety seriously, Amelia. Even if he's pissed at you right now, he's not letting anyone hurt you."
I nodded slowly. Processing everything.
Someone was watching me. Had been for days. Following my movements. Tracking where I went.
And I'd had no idea.
"Thank you for telling me," I said quietly. "I appreciate the honesty."
"Be careful, okay? And Amelia—" He hesitated. "Whatever's going on between you and the boss, work it out. You two are stronger together than apart. And right now, with unknown threats circling, you need to be united."
"I know." I stood. "I'll talk to him. Soon."
"Good."
I went to my room. Closed the door. Sat on my bed.
Someone was following me. Watching me. For unknown reasons.
And Jeremy's response was to lock me down. Keep me on the estate. Protect me the way he always did.
Which meant waiting. He patiently waited while others conducted their investigations. While Vincent tracked the surveillance. While Jeremy made decisions about my safety, he did not consult me.
The old pattern. The one that had driven me to Alex in the first place.
Jeremy protecting me. Controlling my movements. Jeremy treated me as if I were fragile, requiring constant supervision.
Except this time—this time there might actually be danger. Real threat. It's not just Jeremy's overprotectiveness.
Still, the instinct to act warred with the knowledge that I should wait. Trust Jeremy. Trust his people. Let them handle it.
My hand moved to my closet. To the bag hidden in the back. The gun that Alex had sold me was inside the bag.
I pulled it out. Felt the weight of it. The cold metal. The power it represented.
Jeremy would be furious if he knew I had this. Would demand I hand it over? He would secure it in a location that was safe and out of my reach.
But he didn't know. And I wasn't telling him. Not yet.
This was due to someone keeping a close eye on me. Following me. Waiting for—what? An opportunity? A moment of vulnerability?
And I'd be damned if I'd be helpless when it came.
I loaded the gun. Carefully. I proceeded as Alex had instructed. Magazine inserted. Safety on. I have left the chamber empty for the time being as it is a safer option.
Then I fitted the ankle holster. I secured it under my jeans. The gun settled against my calf. Heavy. Uncomfortable. But there.
I practised drawing it. Once. Twice. Making sure I could reach it quickly if needed.
Then I stood. Walked around my room. Testing the weight. The feel. The way the holster rubbed against my leg was a satisfying experience.
Not perfect. But functional.
Jeremy wouldn't approve. Wouldn't want me armed. He didn't want me to take any risks.
But Jeremy wasn't the one being followed. Jeremy wasn't the target of unknown threats hovering around him. He wasn't the one who had been left helpless and dependent for eighteen years.
I knew he'd be angry when he found out. Knew this was exactly the kind of rash decision he'd warned me against.
But I wasn't waiting anymore. I refused to remain passive while others determined my destiny. I was no longer a helpless victim in need of rescue.
I had skills now. And I had acquired the capability to protect myself.
And I was going to use them. Regardless of Jeremy's approval, I was determined to use them.
Someone was watching me? Fine. Let them watch.
They'd find I wasn't as helpless as I looked.
Even though I have enough skills now, I still need more, especially being involved with the mafia family. Then a thought came to my mind. I put the gun back to where I had hidden it. I took my phone and dialled Elena's number. She picked it up on the first ring.
Elena; Hi Amelia, are you okay?
Amelia: Yes, when do you have time off? I need a favour from you. I will come to your house; just let me know the day.