The devil's Vow

Chapter Six: Seventy-Two Hours

The room was silent.

Ariana couldn't take her eyes off the photographs spread across the table.

Someone had followed her.

To work.

To the grocery store.

Even to the café where she met her best friend every Friday afternoon.

She hadn't noticed.

Not once.

Her hands shook as she gathered the pictures.

"I've been living my life..."

She swallowed hard.

"...while someone was watching me."

Lucien remained still.

"They weren't waiting for the right moment."

His voice was calm.

"They were waiting for your father to die."

Ariana closed her eyes.

The realization hit harder than the funeral itself.

Everything had been planned.

Every move.

Every attack.

Every death.

She looked at the marriage contract again.

"I still won't marry you."

Lucien gave a slow nod.

"I expected that."

Relief washed over her.

Then he reached into his pocket.

He removed a silver pocket watch and placed it on the table.

It clicked open.

"You have seventy-two hours."

She frowned.

"For what?"

"To decide."

She stared at him.

"You think giving me a deadline will change my mind?"

"No."

"It will change your chances of surviving."

The words hung heavily between them.

"What happens in seventy-two hours?"

Lucien looked toward the window.

"The agreement expires."

"And?"

"If you reject it..."

His jaw tightened.

"...I lose the legal authority to place my men around you."

"I don't need bodyguards."

"You do."

"I can protect myself."

A faint smile crossed his lips.

"You believe that because you've never met the people hunting you."

Before Ariana could answer, one of the guards entered hurriedly.

"Boss."

Lucien turned immediately.

"What is it?"

"We found another message."

The guard handed him a black envelope.

There was no address.

No stamp.

Only a crimson serpent painted across the front.

Lucien opened it.

His expression darkened.

"What does it say?" Ariana asked.

He didn't answer.

Instead, he handed her the note.

Her stomach twisted as she read the single sentence.

Tick... Tock... Seventy-Two Hours.

Her blood ran cold.

"They know."

Lucien nodded.

"They always know."

The room fell silent again.

The consigliere walked in, his face unusually tense.

"The council has called an emergency meeting."

Lucien looked up.

"I'm not leaving."

"You have no choice."

"They'll question your decision."

"I don't care."

"You should."

The old man lowered his voice.

"They're already saying you're risking the family for one woman."

Lucien's eyes hardened.

"They can say whatever they want."

"They're demanding proof."

"Proof of what?"

"That you'll go through with the marriage."

Ariana looked between them.

"So this isn't just about me."

"No," the consigliere admitted.

"It affects the De Luca family too."

She laughed bitterly.

"Wonderful."

"So I'm everyone's problem."

Lucien stepped closer.

"No."

He looked directly into her eyes.

"You're my responsibility."

She searched his face.

For arrogance.

For manipulation.

For cruelty.

Instead...

She saw exhaustion.

As though he had been carrying this burden long before she knew it existed.

"I need air," she whispered.

Without waiting for permission, she walked out onto the balcony.

Rain had stopped.

The city lights shimmered below.

For a few precious seconds, everything felt normal.

Then...

She noticed movement.

Across the street.

A man stood beside a black car.

He wore a dark suit.

His face was hidden beneath a cap.

But there was one thing she saw clearly.

He was smiling.

Slowly...

He raised his hand.

Not to wave.

To point directly at her.

Then he drew one finger across his throat.

A death threat.

Ariana gasped and stumbled backward.

The man climbed into the car.

Within seconds, it disappeared into traffic.

Lucien was beside her instantly.

"What happened?"

She pointed toward the empty street.

"He was there."

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"He looked at me..."

Her voice cracked.

"...like he already knew I was dead."

Lucien's face became frighteningly calm.

He turned to his men.

"Lock this building down."

"No one enters."

"No one leaves."

The guards rushed into action.

Ariana looked at Lucien.

Fear finally replacing anger.

"They're really coming for me..."

He held her gaze.

"I told you."

For the first time since meeting him...

She didn't argue.

She simply whispered,

"What do I do now?"

Lucien answered without hesitation.

"Stay alive."