The wind outside Tory’s house shifted... cold, sharp, carrying the distant sound of n moving through the yard.
Ryan tightened his grip on Aec, pulling him closer, guiding Maxie deeper into the shadows behind the house. His senses were razor-sharp, watching every flicker of movent.
Inside, Victor Langley stepped into the living room like he owned it.
Tory stood completely still, hands raised slightly, face unnervingly calm.
"Woah, Dad," he said carefully, "you’re... in my house."
Victor didn’t spare him a glance at first. His eyes scanned the room like a predator cataloguing its prey... calculating, patient.
"Where is he?" Victor asked, voice quiet but slicing through the silence.
Tory blinked. "Who?"
Victor lifted his gaze, danger crackling in the air.
"Aec," he said slowly. "He ca here. I know he did. My n tracked him to this street."
Tory swallowed, but his voice remained steady. "I haven’t seen him, apart from the ti I dropped him at the hospital."
Victor stepped closer. His presence alone felt suffocating. "Are you lying to , boy?"
Tory’s jaw tightened. "I’m not lying. Check the house. You won’t find anyone here except ."
Victor stared at him for a long mont, long enough for Tory’s palms to begin sweating but he refused to show any flicker of fear
"Search it," Victor commanded.
His n scattere instantly. Footsteps thundered, doors slamd open, cupboards, rooms, closets searched with brutal thoroughness.
Victor didn’t move neither did Tory...
The only thing that moved was the cold slipping deeper into the house.
Finally the bulky man returned.
"Nothing. House is clean."
Victor’s jaw ticked, the slightest twitch of irritation crossing his otherwise calm expression.
He stepped forward until he was inches from Tory.
Too close.
"Do not involve yourself in matters above your head," Victor said quietly. "Next ti... I won’t knock."
He turned sharply and walked out. His n followed.
The cars drove away.
Only then did he release the breath he’d been holding.
Outside the house, Ryan waited, stiff and ready to fight, until the last engine faded.
He guided Maxie and Aec out of the narrow path behind the house.
"Let’s go," Ryan said. "We move now."
Maxie nodded, wiping tears she didn’t realize were there. Aec groaned faintly in Ryan’s arms, not fully conscious.
"Ryan..." Maxie whispered, panic still clawing her voice. "Is he okay?"
"We’re taking him to my house," Ryan said without hesitation. "It’s safer. And I can treat him better there."
Maxie swallowed hard. "Okay. Okay."
They moved fast, sticking to dark corners until Ryan’s car ca into sight. He placed Aec gently in the back seat, buckling him in.
Ryan got in. Maxie followed.
He drove like the road belonged to him.
The mont they were clear of the street, Maxie burst into tears... quiet, painful ones she couldn’t hold anymore.
Ryan reached over, his hand steady on her trembling knee.
"We’re okay," he murmured. "You’re okay."
But her heart refused to slow.
Her mind was still stuck on Victor’s voice echoing in the room.
- - -
Diana turned the last lamp off and stepped into her hallway, trying to act as normal as possible, like she didn’t notice the person starring at her from outside her window earlier while she was talking on the phone with Beatrice.
She’d barely slept in days... Sharon’s shadow never left her mind.
As she reached the stairs, sothing flickered outside her window again...
The sa figure.
Standing perfectly still.
Watching the house. Her breath hitched painfully.
She swallowed and pulled out her phone instantly, fingers shaking.
Beatrice. Beatrice please pick. Please pick.
Beatrice didn’t answer.
Her stomach dropped.
She dialed another number... Trying to call Camila now.
No answer.
"No, no, God... soone please..."
The knock on her front door made her scream.
She grabbed the banister, heart thundering, breath collapsing in her throat.
Another knock.
Then a voice.
"Miss Diana?"
She froze.
"Your parents sent . They want to see you imdiately."
Diana’s knees weakened in relief so sharp it nearly hurt.
She cracked the door open.
A man in a formal black suit stood there, holding an envelope.
"Urgent ssage, ma’am."
Diana sagged against the doorway, shaking.
Just... a ssenger.
She exhaled shakily and stepped back into the light.
"I’ll... I’ll get my bag."
But as she closed the door, she didn’t shake the feeling.
That soone else had been watching before the ssenger arrived.
Soone who wasn’t supposed to be there.
- - -
RYAN’S HOUSE
Ryan carried Aec inside, laying him gently on a guest bed.
Maxie hovered, hands shaking.
"Is he breathing normally?" she asked.
Ryan checked his pulse. "Yes. Weak, but steady."
Aec’s lips twitched.
"Maxie," he croaked and she nearly broke again.
"I’m here," she whispered. "Do you know anything important about Sharon’s whereabouts?"."
A faint smirk lifted Aec’s mouth. "Sharon...."
She scoffed wetly. "Idiot."
Ryan stepped back. "Maxie, go wash your face. I’ll take care of him. You need a minute."
She hesitated.
"Go," Ryan repeated gently. "Marcus is safe. Aec is safe. For now, breathe."
Maxie nodded slowly and stepped into the bathroom.
Her reflection looked like she’d been dragged through fire.
She splashed water on her face, pressed both palms against the sink, and forced herself to inhale.
Her phone rang.
Her heart jumped but it was just the hospital.
She answered instantly.
"H-Hello?"
"Miss Maxie? Your brother... he’s awake."
Her knees nearly buckled.
"I... I’m coming now."
She turned to Ryan imdiately.
"Marcus is awake. I need to go."
Ryan nodded. "I’ll stay here with Aec."
Maxie hesitated. "Should I stay? Should I..."
"Go," Ryan said. "Your brother needs you. I’ve got this."
She nodded and left in a rush, barely feeling the ground under her feet.
- - -
HOSPITAL ... A FEW MINUTES LATER
Maxie ran through the hallway and reached Marcus’s room just as a nurse opened the door.
"Can I...?"
"You may go in," the nurse smiled.
Maxie pushed the door gently.
Marcus was awake. Pale. Weak. But awake.
His eyes lifted and softened instantly.
"Max..."
She inhaled sharply, tears blurring her vision again.
"You scared ," she whispered.
Marcus tried to smile. "You scare easily."
She sniffed, laughing through tears, and walked to him.
"Don’t do that again."
"No promises."
They stayed like that... quiet, relieved.
Then Maxie’s phone buzzed. A call from Tory.
She wiped her eyes and answered softly. "Hello?"
"Maxie," Tory said imdiately, breathless. "Are you okay? Where are you?"
"At a hospital," she whispered. "My brother, he was stabbed but he’s awake. I’m with him."
"I’m coming there," Tory said. "Don’t move."
She blinked. "Tory..."
But he’d already hung up.
Maxie pocketed her phone, sighing softly.
For the first ti in hours she could breathe properly.
She sat beside Marcus’s bed, holding his hand, exhaustion sinking into her bones.
Her phone vibrated again.
She glanced at the screen lazily... Then froze.
A new ssage...
No na.
No number.
Just one line.
"It’s Sharon."
Maxie’s breath stopped.
Her fingers went cold.
The phone nearly slipped from her hand while her heart slamd against her ribs...
Maxie stared at the glowing text on her screen, her lungs refusing to expand, her heartbeat thundering so violently it shook her whole chest.
It’s Sharon.
Her hand trembled.
Marcus slowly turned his head toward her.
"Max... what’s wrong?"
Maxie swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry.
"It’s..." She couldn’t finish the sentence. Couldn’t even breathe the na out loud. Her eyes remained locked on the ssage as if staring long enough would make the words change.
Marcus forced himself upright despite the pain twisting his face.
"Maxie. Hey. Look at ."
She lifted her gaze, tears gathering at the edges of her eyes.
"It’s Sharon," she whispered.
Marcus froze.
Color drained from his face faster than the blood soaking through his fresh bandage.
"No. No, Maxie, that’s not... she can’t..." He winced, clutching his side. "Sharon cant contact you. You said she was..."
He didn’t finish. He didn’t need to.
Maxie’s phone buzzed again. She flinched.
Marcus reached out weakly.
"Don’t open it. Max... don’t..."
But the notification slid across the screen on its own.
"I’m in the hospital too. Co outside."
A cold wave rolled down Maxie’s spine.
Her ears rang.
Her breath stuttered.
Marcus grabbed her wrist, grip weak but desperate.
"No. Maxie, listen to . Call Ryan. Now. Don’t go anywhere alone."
But her phone buzzed again... violent, insistent, like soone pounding on a locked door.
"Maxie please, help "
Maxie’s throat tightened.
Her eyes darted to Marcus... pale, weak, barely sitting upright. Helpless.
She stepped closer, lowering her voice to a whisper.
"Marcus... do you think she’s really in the building? Right now?"
She slipped out of Marcus’s room, phone clenched in her fist, the last ssage burning in her mind.
Every step down the hallway echoed too loudly, the fluorescent lights buzzing like they were warning her not to continue. But she pushed forward, her breath trembling as she reached the empty reception area.
No patients.
No nurses.
Just silence.
And the slow creak of the side-exit door drifting shut... as if soone had just gone through it.
Maxie hesitated only a second before pushing it open.
Cold night air slapped her face.
She stepped outside.
"Sharon...?" she whispered, voice barely audible.
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