Desperate Measures

had passed leaving the night wet and calm, but Liya's heart was anything but still. The scene repeatedly played in her m

ad never felt so uncomfortable, so totally exposed. The lavishness of the mansion, with its pri

eath stopped. "We don't have a lot of time," he said in a low but firm voice."Damian w

mian sends his greetings, weighing heavily on her and suffocating her mind. "Why would Damian decide to attack you

neficial to him, so don't put too much faith in him. The marriage

er piece in this game of hi

edicted. "But you are not a puppet anymore, you're something more, Liya.

alarm bells ringing in her h

Melinda, standing silently with her hand fixed on the gun hid

said, evading her question. "Right now, you need to st

child who could barely comprehend the entire situation, she couldn't overlook the fact that he had just saved her li

the kinds displayed in museums, fancy woodworks that must have taken so long to design but Liya couldn't take a moment to deeply admire them. The squeak

ce with an expansive underground room loaded with a range of advanced tech equipment; monitors, weapons, and maps draped out on the

demanded, his voice slicing thro

We've guarded the surroundings, but the attack shows somebody from within supplied Damian w

room drop. "A rat," he whispered. "Find them immediately. I don'

Liya hovered around the door, her anxiety building as the seconds passed by. She had believed the

piercing. "Stay here, don't leave un

ver her. "No! You can't...you can't

ving no room for an argument. "This room is hi

e thought of staying back while Aldo faced the danger lurking in the shadows made her chest constrict. "I don

red for, trust me." His voice held an edge to it as he stepped closer to her, his presence

---

went by. Melinda just stood by the monitors with a heavy expression as

a muttered, not being able to

linda asked, he

e can't rely on anyone but hims

is like a poison that kills you slowly. He is

forced to marry, but before she could open her mouth, the screen

e tinted windows made it impossible. A chill ran down her spine as she turned to Melinda, "Tell

n," she equally whispered as she reached for her earpiece. "Aldo, ther

h the earpiece. "Maintain

faced Liya. "Stay h

ce hysterical. "You can't leave me

impossible Liya, this room is like a fort, no

the doors locking behind her, leaving her with th

---

nuckles turned white, her posture stiff, and her ears on alert for any sound. The mo

exited first, then a tall wide-shouldered man in a suit followed. His face was parti

couldn't hear them, she could tell they wer

gulped, fear gripping her, but Aldo was faster than

lickered and

, wondering what had happened. Her mind ra

ompanied by gunshots. Her breath caught in her throat

o her rescue. The handle twisted and the door cracked open, a silhouette appearing in the

asn't Melinda. It wa

ag