Shadow of Deception

her hands, the expensive paper a stark contrast to the threadbare sheets beneath her. The dim glow of the bedside lamp cast long, distorted shadows across the stark white pages, their

willing to pay for it, handsomely, offering no

igated. It wasn't just a payoff, a bribe to silence her. It was an offer of protection, a place at his side, a promise that if she accepted, she'd be untouchable, shielded from the very dangers she sought to expose. But at what cost? The numbers were staggering, far beyond an

il of a siren-each sound grounded her in the harsh reality of her situation, but her mind felt untethered, floating between two dangerous possibilities. A part of her, the part that clung to her integrity, wanted to rip the paper to shreds, t

the suffocating silence of her room. She didn't have to check to know it was Noah. She had ignored hi

th, trying to steady herself, be

ught you were dead

her throbbing temple, trying to ease the

ened last night? Yo

ite. The memory of Xander standing in her apartment, his presence filling ev

p inhale, a gasp of

es

a string of expletives that ec

idn't let him

ld, calculating gaze flashing before her. "He

ind of

elt heavier as they left her lips, like iron chains wrapping around her, tightening with every syllable, binding her to a fate she wasn't s

like an employment contract," he said

do

n't just want your s

dread, a cold, hard knot that settled

lpable even through the phone, a heavy, s

kno

ncy remained, a desperate plea. "Ava, you'

hanging between them, a testa

in, louder this time, his voice f

eople under his thumb, makes them think they h

the throbbing ache. "I don't have a choice, No

public before he can stop y

hat doesn

end, the silence a deafening testament to the gravity of

up straighter, pulse spiking, adrenaline surging through her

his time firmer,

sh carpet as she approached the door, her movements slow and deliberate. The peephole revea

meone who worked f

old, heavy feeling th

the door open, his voice devoid of emotion. "Mr.

of the door, her knuckles white

g. "Mr. Blackwood assumed you'd say that. He also assumed you'd w

ng that seeped into her bones. Xander was alw

l rewards. Then, without a word, she closed the door, undid the cha

get my

our

d, almost casual, watching her with something like amusement as she sat rigid in the leather chair, hands folded tightly in her lap, her body tense. The city

he finally said, breaking the s

er voice, refusing to let him see the

nd

why a man like you would offer som

most resembling a smirk, a hint of amu

into your past, trying

is posture relaxed but his gaze intense. "You're intelligent.

't answer m

f making a difficult decision. "I don't make offers lightly

d, creeping feeling that confirmed

ed, his voice low

it talent rather t

r uncovering things.

He wasn't just trying to buy her silence-he was trying to

e asked softly, her v

e in the room seemed to drop, the air growing thick w

his gaze, refusing to bac

tching between them, a heavy, suff

slow, shaky breath. "

nowledgment. "Take your time. But don'

g in her throat, her body

ice stopped her, a low, comman

re thin

ng her with an unreadable expressio

oice low and serious. "B

ation that made her blood run cold. And as she steppe

himself. She was left alone with the contract, and the grow