Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 26760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
The typically serene street was now cluttered with Enforcer vehicles, unmistakable with their stark emblems. They let Nefertari's SUV pass without a single question, increasing my unease. Parked alongside them were two flashier cars that clearly belonged to the Triad. The very sight had my heart rate spiking.
“Tara, stay in the car,” I managed to say, my voice shaking.
Without waiting for her response, I jumped out and ran. Enforcers stood on either side of the driveway, but none moved to block my path. I pushed the front door open and raced through the house. I could hear the frenzied sounds of Amalthea. She’d been shut in the utility room and was franticly scrabbling against the door. From the distressed noises she was making, it was clear she’d been trapped there for a while.
I couldn’t risk letting her out. If she tried to attack any of these men, she’d be killed, and if it came to that, I would be next. My steps faltered as I entered the living room. The sight before me was like a scene from some grim movie.
My parents, Ophelia, who had only a towel wrapped around her, and our neighbor, were all on their knees with guns trained on them. Standing arrogantly in the center of the disarray was Aidoneus and the ever-present Jae-Hee. The chaos and terror of the scene around me faded for a moment as I locked eyes with him.
“Korinna,” he greeted, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. “So glad you could join us. I was beginning to think you’d stood me up.”
“What the hell is going on? Why are you here?”
His chuckle, low and almost melodic, sent chills down my spine. “Always straight to the point. I quite like that about you,” he mused as he stepped closer. His fingers slid beneath my chin, gently tilting my face upward, forcing me to meet his gaze. The same magnetic pull I felt the last time resurfaced, drawing me to him despite my better judgment. It was as if an invisible thread connected us, tugging at something deep within me. My pulse quickened, and I struggled to keep my composure.
“You feel it, don’t you? It’s inevitable.” His words were cryptic. I couldn’t focus enough on them to decipher their meaning when my family was down on their knees a few feet away.
“What did we do? Why are you doing this?”
He leaned in, close enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath against my lips. “Because business is business, princess, and you've always been mine.” He abruptly released me, taking a step back. “I didn’t just come for you, though,” he added, looking away from me to stare at my mom. “Your mother baked her infamous lemon cake. I thought about trying a slice.”
How did he know about that?
Mom just made it last night for dessert. A cold realization washed over me. We’d been being watched, maybe for longer than I dared to think, and in ways that violated any semblance of privacy. This couldn't be related to the incident years ago in the woods. The raw hostility in the room didn't fit the narrative of what happened back then.
My thoughts jumped wildly, grasping at any logical explanation. Had my parents or Ophelia done something unknowingly? Dad did work for the city's grid, after all. But would that draw the wrath of someone like Aidoneus? The Triad wasn't known for playing small games. There were people that diligently served them to handle any transgressions. I thought of Ezra again, trying to connect the dots to him. A sinking feeling in my stomach told me that the answer was far more complex than I was currently able to fathom.
“You've got four minutes, Vasira.”
Vasira? That was Vercretan. I had no way of knowing what it meant. “Four minutes to do what?”
“Say your goodbyes. You’re losing seconds already. I suggest you don’t go into overtime.”
A fresh wave of panic settled in my chest, and I cast a quick glance at my family. Their expressions were stricken, especially Ophelia’s tear-filled eyes. Our neighbor hadn’t lifted his head since I’d stepped into the room and was trembling violently.
It was clear to me then: they were hostages, and I was the intended prize. My father, overwhelmed with terror, abruptly cut in. “Please, take anything. Take me. Just leave my family be.”
Aidoneus turned his head, gaze slicing into my father. “A man begging while on his knees? How distasteful.”
“Please,” my father repeated. He sank even lower, trying to become one with the floor. “Please, don’t take my girl,” he murmured, the weight of his words tinged with terror. His once proud posture, the backbone of our family, now lay crumpled and humbled. It was soul-crushing to see him in such a state, any pride he had vanished, all to shield us—me—from this looming catastrophe.