They dispersed, leaving Aurelia and me on the path. She stopped midway, turning to me, the moonlight silvering her dress. "Will you have another sleepless night tonight?"
I smiled, stepping closer. "Probably. Thinking of a swim to clear my head."
Her lips curved, her eyes catching the moonlight.
“I might wander near the pool later. Meet you there?” she said, almost casually, though the warmth in her voice betrayed her.
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
She walked away, heels clicking softly against the stone, leaving the air charged between us.
Back in my room, I shed my shirt, the dim lights casting shadows over the desk cluttered with blueprints and encrypted laptops.
The burner phone buzzed in my pocket, unknown number, no name, just an ominous string of digits.
A text lit the screen:
Unknown:The shadows are shifting.
Another came instantly, faster than I could process:
Unknown:We need to talk. Now.
A chill crawled up my spine.
Before I could reply, my phone vibrated again:
Unknown:Your father's latest shipment is intercepted again. The Butcher’s handiwork.
My jaw clenched.
A final message appeared, colder than the rest:
Unknown:And the girl? She’s tied to an old associate of Marcus’s.
The screen went dark, leaving those words burning in my mind.
I gripped the phone tighter, my knuckles whitening. Father’s trafficking operations, the Butcher sabotaging them. And now her name threaded into it? It couldn’t be. Someone knew. The more I tried to steady my breath, the more the doubt slipped in, curling like smoke.
Through the half-open window, I caught a glimpse of the pool shimmering under the moon, a single ripple disturbing its glassysurface. I closed my eyes for a beat. I slid the phone into my pocket and reached for the holster under the desk. The metal felt cool, almost reassuring. The night was no longer just sleepless. It was shifting, and I was stepping straight into its depths.
Chapter 10
Aurelia
The pool shimmered quietly beneath the moonlight, but I barely saw it. My heart was too loud, beating against my ribs like it was trying to escape. I paced along the edge, my heels clicking on the tiles—steady at first, then faltering as every second passed. 10:30 pm. He’d said he wouldn’t miss it. His voice had lingered in my mind all evening, that teasing promise laced with warmth that had no business making me feel the way it did.
11:15 p.m. No sign of him. The eerie sensation intensified, a prickling at the back of my neck, like eyes boring into me from the darkness beyond the pool lights. I scanned the shadows, but there was nothing, just the sway of palm fronds in the breeze and the faint hum of insects. My anxiety built a knot in my stomach. What if he wasn't coming? The thought stung more than it should.
By 11:45, I couldn't wait any longer. The disappointment settled like a weight on my shoulders. I stood, smoothing my dress again, and headed back toward the villas. The path was lit by soft lanterns, but the shadows between them seemed deeper tonight, almost alive. As I entered the main villa area, a figure approached. Victor! His crisp suit impeccable even at this hour.
"Ms. Sterling," he said, his voice neutral but polite. "Mr. Krogen left a message for you. He's had to depart for New York on urgent business. He apologizes for the short notice."
The words hit me like a splash of cold water. "New York? When did he leave?"
"About an hour ago. He said he'd be in touch regarding the project."
I nodded, forcing a smile that didn't reach my eyes. "Thank you, Victor."
