The note from the night before sat on my coffee table, staring back at me like a ghost I couldn’t shake. I’d read it at least a dozen times, each word carving deeper into my growing paranoia. The words played in my head on a loop: “You will burn just like your house.”
Every creak of the apartment, every shadow outside the window, made my heart race. I had locked the doors, checked the windows, and even shoved a chair under the doorknob, but none of it helped. The feeling of being watched clung to me like a second skin.
Was Victor behind this? Or someone else?
The thought made my stomach churn. I sat on the couch, clutching a mug of tea I couldn’t bring myself to drink, trying to convince myself I was safe.
But I didn’t feel safe. Not here, not anywhere.
A sharp knock at the door startled me, nearly causing the mug to slip from my hands. I froze, my eyes darting to the door.
“Lila? It’s me. Open up.”
The voice was familiar, but not one I wanted to hear. Tessa.
My pulse quickened as I set the mug down and approached the door cautiously. Peeking through the peephole, I saw her standing there, arms crossed and looking impatient.
“What do you want, Tessa?” I called through the door, my voice shaky.
“Just let me in,” she said, her tone urgent. “I’m not here to fight. I just need to talk.”
I hesitated, weighing my options. I didn’t trust her—how could I, after everything she’d done? But curiosity got the better of me.
I unlocked the door, opening it just enough to glare at her. “You have five minutes.”
Tessa pushed her way inside, her expression serious. “Thanks,” she said, brushing past me and plopping down on the couch like she owned the place.
I shut the door and crossed my arms, keeping my distance. “What do you want, Tessa? Because I don’t have time for your games.”
She looked up at me, her usual smugness replaced with something I rarely saw—desperation. “I had nothing to do with the fire,” she said quickly. “You have to believe me.”
I scoffed, leaning against the wall. “Why should I? You’ve lied to me before. And you’ve been working with Victor.”
“That’s different,” she snapped, her eyes narrowing. “Victor’s dangerous, Lila. You have no idea what he’s capable of.”
“I know enough,” I said, my voice cold. “And I know you helped him. You spied on me, Tessa. Don’t stand there and act like you’re innocent.”
She flinched at my words, her lips pressing into a thin line. “I didn’t have a choice,” she muttered. “Victor made it clear what would happen if I didn’t do what he wanted.”
“Then why are you here?” I demanded. “What do you want from me?”
Tessa sighed, running a hand through her hair. “To warn you. Victor won’t stop until you’re out of the picture. He sees you as a threat, Lila. And trust me, when Victor sees someone as a threat, he doesn’t hold back.”
Her words sent a chill down my spine, but I refused to let her see how scared I was. “Why are you telling me this now?”
“Because I don’t want to see you end up like Evelyn,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
The mention of Evelyn’s name made my chest tighten. “What do you know about Evelyn, Tessa? What really happened to her?”
Tessa hesitated, glancing down at her hands. “Not as much as you think. But I do know Victor had something to do with her disappearance. And if you’re not careful, you’ll end up just like her.”
The room fell silent, her words hanging heavily in the air.
“You always leave cryptic remark about the Cross brothers, but you don’t really tell me anything,” I said, my voice breaking.
“Lila, I’m the only one telling you the truth,” she said, meeting my gaze. “And because Victor’s already making his next move. He’s going to use Grayson to get to you.”
I froze, my stomach sinking. “What are you talking about?”
Tessa stood, crossing the room until she was standing inches from me. “Grayson is loyal to Victor, whether he admits it or not. He’s been groomed to follow his father’s orders since he was a kid. If Victor tells him to turn on you, he will.”
“That’s not true,” I said, my voice shaking. “Grayson cares about me.”
“Does he?” Tessa asked, raising an eyebrow. “Or is he just doing what Victor tells him to do? Think about it, Lila. Has he ever gone against his father for you?”
Her words cut deeper than I wanted to admit.
“I’m not here to hurt you,” Tessa said softly. “I just don’t want to see you make the same mistakes Evelyn did. Trusting the wrong people will get you killed.”
Before I could respond, she turned and walked to the door. “Just… be careful, Lila,” she said over her shoulder. “Victor’s playing a game, and you’re his favorite pawn right now.”