Chapter 13
610 Words
Chapter Thirteen
Sophie sat in Lucas’s office, her pulse still thrumming from the anonymous threat. The sleek, glass-walled space felt too pristine, too controlled—a stark contrast to the storm raging inside her.
Across from her, Lucas leaned back against his desk, whiskey glass in hand, his expression unreadable. His jaw was set, tension coiled beneath his composed exterior.
She had the unsettling feeling that he wasn’t just thinking through the problem—he was calculating his next move.
And that scared her more than the phone call.
Because Lucas Blackwell wasn’t the kind of man who backed down.
He was the kind of man who fought back.
A Dangerous Truth
“I need to know exactly what they said,” Lucas said finally, his voice low and controlled.
Sophie exhaled, trying to steady herself. “It was a man. His voice was distorted—like he used some kind of filter. He said, ‘Stop digging, Miller.’ And then he hung up.”
Lucas’s gaze darkened. “That’s it?”
“That’s it.” She frowned. “But it was enough, wasn’t it?”
Lucas ran a hand through his hair, pacing slightly. “It means someone’s watching you.”
The words sent a fresh wave of unease down her spine. “Or they’re watching you.”
He stopped pacing. Their eyes met, and something unspoken passed between them.
This wasn’t just about her story anymore.
She had stepped into something bigger.
Something dangerous.
The Game Changes
Lucas set down his drink with a sharp clink. “You’re staying here tonight.”
Sophie blinked. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “You’re not going back to your apartment. Not until I know who made that call.”
She let out a short laugh, more out of shock than amusement. “You don’t get to decide that.”
He stepped closer, his presence commanding. “You don’t get to argue when someone just threatened you.”
“I’m a journalist, Lucas. If I backed down every time someone tried to intimidate me, I wouldn’t have a career.”
He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “Damn it, Sophie. This isn’t just intimidation. This is a warning. And I don’t take threats lightly.”
She narrowed her eyes. “And why do I get the feeling this isn’t the first time you’ve dealt with something like this?”
Lucas didn’t answer right away. His jaw tightened, his gaze shifting away for the briefest moment.
Then, quietly, he said, “Because it’s not.”
The admission was like a punch to the gut.
Sophie swallowed. “How deep does this go, Lucas?”
His gaze snapped back to hers. “Deeper than you think.”
Her heart pounded. Had she been chasing the wrong story all along?
Because this wasn’t just about construction projects anymore.
This was about power. Control. Secrets buried beneath steel and concrete.
And she was right in the middle of it.
Lines Begin to Blur
Sophie crossed her arms, trying to steady herself. “So what now? You keep me locked in your penthouse until this blows over?”
Lucas’s lips twitched, but there was no amusement in his eyes. “I don’t do cages, Sophie. But I do protect what’s mine.”
A slow shiver ran down her spine.
She hated that his words sent heat curling in her stomach.
She hated that, despite everything, a part of her wanted to trust him.
But trust was dangerous.
And she wasn’t sure if Lucas Blackwell was her enemy, her story—
Or something else entirely.
- Writer
