CHAPTER 60
CHAPTER 60
RAUL'S POV
I stood beside Marissa, my eyes darkening as I took in the scene. Her small room was dimly lit, and the sight on the table made my blood run cold. I stepped forward, shielding her with my body as I carefully approached the table.
“Stay back,” I ordered, my voice tight with anger.
A crude, handmade doll lay on the table, a knife stabbed through its chest. It was meant to be a grotesque mimicry of a person, with her picture twisted, sinister smile sewn onto its face. I examined the doll closely, my jaw clenched.
"It's a threat," I said grimly. “Someone is trying to scare you.”
I could feel my fist tightened the more I gazed at the table. Jayden seemed to be pissed also as I could feel him growling in my head.
I gazed at Marissa and I saw that her face was pale, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched the edge of my shirt. “But who could do this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I don't know,” I admitted, my eyes narrowing. I had no idea who could dare to do this, but I would find out, and I wouldn't spare them. “I’m going to find out who it is. No one threatens you and gets away with it,” I said, a low growl escaping my lips.
I turned to her, trying to calm my nerves. “Are you okay?” I asked, realizing I hadn't asked her yet.
She nodded at me, but her eyes betrayed her fear. “I just don’t understand why anyone would do this.”
I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer. “We'll figure it out together,” I promised. She nodded, resting her head against my chest. “But for now, we need to get rid of this.”
I pulled away and walked to the table. I was about to pull the knife from the doll when I noticed an envelope beside it. I picked it up and showed Marissa, whose eyes widened in surprise. She urged me to open it, and I did.
As I carefully opened the envelope, a single sheet of paper slipped out. I unfolded it, the tension in the room thickening. The message was simple, yet chilling:
“You think your power makes you untouchable, but you're wrong. Secrets lie in the shadows, and someone is always watching you. Don’t think you can dismantle what’s been built. Give up now, or you’ll suffer the same fate as your mother.”
My heart pounded in my chest as I read the words aloud. Marissa gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
“Uncle Damien,” she whispered, her eyes widening with a mixture of fear and anger. “It must be him. He must have found out that I know his whereabouts.”
“Uncle Damien? Who is that?” I asked, gazing at her. She hesitated for a moment but began to talk.
“Uncle Damien is a very close friend of my parents and I have known him since I was a child. I found out recently that he had a hand in my mother's death, and I started to look for him to get answers. When I went on the mission the other time, I met someone who knows him very well and threatened him for Uncle Damien's whereabouts, and he told me. I think Uncle Damien has found out that I know where he is and he's trying to threaten or scare me,” she explained, and I stared at her, trying to process the information she just shared with me.
I clenched my fist, the urge to protect her overwhelming. “If your hunch is correct and it’s this Damien guy, he's playing a dangerous game. If he thinks this would intimidate you, then he is wrong.”
The thought of anyone daring to enter her room and threaten her made my blood boil. “We need to increase security around here. I'll have Benjamin and the others on high alert. No one comes or goes without our knowledge.”
“Agreed,” she said, her voice steady despite the fear I knew she must be feeling. “But we also need to find out who delivered this. Someone had to bring it into the house,” She continued, I couldn't help but agree with her words
I nodded, already formulating a plan. “We’ll start by checking the CCTV footage around the house and questioning everyone who has access to the house. Someone must have seen something,” I responded, and she nodded in agreement.
I could see her eyes still glancing at the table, and I carefully picked up the bloody figure, taking it out of the room. I disposed of it and returned to the room.
“I've disposed of it,” I said, my voice gentle.
“Thank you,” she mumbled, sighing loudly and running her hand through her hair.
I cupped her face in my hands, ready to assure her. “I won't let anything happen to you, Marissa. You're safe with me.”
“I know,” she whispered, leaning into my touch. “I just… I never expected something like this.”
“We'll get through this,” I assured her. “But for now, why don't you go ahead and freshen up? I'll be right here,” I suggested. I think a shower would relieve her a little.
“Alright, I won't be long,” she replied, managing to force a smile. As she entered the bathroom, I called Benjamin and asked him to meet me urgently. It didn't take long before I heard a knock on the door and stepped out quietly. Benjamin stood before me with concern etched on his face.
“Benjamin, we have a situation,” I said and began explaining the threat and what we had found in Marissa's room. He listened without uttering a word. I also told him about Marissa's suspicion about her uncle Damien as well.
“We need to find out who delivered it and how they got inside,” I finished. “I want a full sweep of the CCTV footage around the house and interviews with all the staff.”
“Understood, Alpha,” Benjamin said, moving to carry out my orders. I sighed and returned back into the room. I saw that Marissa was already out, changed into fresh clothes.
“Feel better?” I asked, my eyes watching her carefully.
“Much,” she mumbled. She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes, and I knew the memory of earlier still haunted her. “What do we do now?” she asked, glancing at me.
“We keep an eye out for anything suspicious,” I replied. “And we make sure you’re never alone.”
“I don’t want to live in fear,” she admitted, her voice trembling slightly.
“And you won’t have to,” I promised. “I’ve already spoken to Benjamin, and we’ll find whoever did this and put an end to it,” I added, determined to protect her.