Shadows of deceit

There was something about Luca that unsettled me, something in the wa

omething darker in it. "Jack is not the only one who can control you. You think you

ay? Was this his attempt to sway me, to pull me away from

d, my voice steady but my heart pounding

ith mine. "I can offer you something Jack never wil

what I wanted? Freedom? Power? The very things Ja

back of my mind. But I also knew that the cost of making a deal w

d, my voice quiet but firm. "You

who was trying to charm me. It was the smile of

ly. "Jack's hold on you is only as strong as you let it be. But

s palpable, and the decision I had to make seemed impossible. Was I willing to turn

closing in, and I did no

to my core. Could I really trust him? Did I even want to? Jack's coldness, his absolute control over m

to hide it. His mind worked faster than mine, and I was already aware of how easily I co

echoed in my mind: Jack's hold on you is only as strong as you let it be. What did that mean for me

o make a decision. The silence from Jack had grown uncomfortable. He was waiting for me to make a mis

d not ignore. It was more than just the power he wielded. It was the way he seemed to understand

e sound sharp in the quiet ro

t the ware

words sent a shiver through me. Was this a t

ut, knowing that once I stepped into Jack's world again, I

etal and oil, a sterile, industrial scent that always made my skin crawl. The fluorescent lights flickered overhead, castin

om the far corner. He did not speak immediately, just watched me with those col

e said, his voice

ickly, my voice trembli

rupted sharply. "Do you thin

here, in this cold, sterile space, that made everything feel even more oppressive.

er leaving mine. "I have been watching y

made mistakes? Or was this just another one of his m