Chapter 10 – Lines That Shouldn’t Be Crossed
723 Words
Chapter 10 – Lines That Shouldn’t Be Crossed
Ethan Cole sat in his office, staring at the folder Daniel had handed him. The proof was right there—Lena was the leak.
His fingers tightened around the paper, but his mind refused to accept it. Not Lena.
She had warned him about Marcus. She had given him the evidence that led to his victory. Why would she betray him now?
The whiskey glass on his desk trembled as he set it down. He needed answers.
And he needed them now.
---
Confrontation
Lena didn’t look surprised when Ethan stormed into her apartment.
She stood by the window, arms crossed, watching the city lights like she had been expecting him. The air between them was heavy with unspoken words.
“You didn’t even deny it,” Ethan said, voice cold.
Lena turned, her expression unreadable. “Would it make a difference?”
Ethan clenched his jaw. “I need to hear you say it.”
She exhaled, finally looking at him. “Yes, Ethan. I talked to Marcus.”
Silence.
A sharp, cutting silence that made his chest tighten.
“You were helping me,” Ethan said, his voice quieter now. “You gave me the files that took him down.”
Lena nodded. “I did.”
“Then why?”
Lena’s jaw tightened. “Because you’re becoming him.”
Ethan let out a harsh laugh. “That’s bullshit.”
“No, it’s not,” she snapped. “Look at yourself, Ethan. You used DeLuca to bury Marcus. You’re making backroom deals, blackmailing, manipulating. Do you even recognize yourself anymore?”
Ethan took a step closer. “Everything I’ve done has been to protect ColeTech.”
Lena’s eyes softened for a fraction of a second. “I know you believe that.”
She took a deep breath. “I didn’t betray you. I was trying to save you.”
Ethan’s fists clenched. “By working with Marcus?”
“I wasn’t working with him.” Her voice was firm. “I was trying to stop you from losing yourself. I thought if I could control the damage, if I could steer you away from making the kind of mistakes that would ruin you, I could stop you before it was too late.”
Ethan’s heartbeat pounded in his ears.
“Did you tell Marcus anything that could hurt me?” he asked.
Lena hesitated. Just for a second.
And that second was all Ethan needed.
He stepped back, nodding slowly. “You did.”
Lena swallowed hard. “Ethan—”
“No.” His voice was steel. “You made your choice.”
The words hung in the air like a final sentence.
Lena’s expression flickered—anger, regret, something deeper. “What are you going to do?”
Ethan didn’t answer.
Because the truth was—he didn’t know.
---
The Offer
Victor DeLuca sat across from him in the dimly lit club, the scent of cigar smoke thick in the air.
“You look like a man who’s about to make a decision he won’t come back from,” Victor said, swirling his whiskey.
Ethan exhaled, rubbing his temples. “I need to contain the situation.”
Victor smirked. “Contain? Interesting choice of words.”
Ethan ignored him. “I want Marcus neutralized—permanently.”
Victor raised an eyebrow. “And the girl?”
Ethan’s grip tightened around his glass.
Lena had betrayed him. She had fed Marcus information. That was undeniable.
But she hadn’t done it for power.
She had done it because she still believed Ethan could be saved.
“Lena is off-limits,” Ethan said finally.
Victor studied him for a long moment, then chuckled. “You still have a heart. Dangerous thing to have in your world.”
Ethan didn’t respond.
Victor leaned forward. “I’ll handle Marcus. But there’s one thing you need to understand—the moment you do this, there’s no turning back. You cross this line, you don’t get to pretend you’re still the same man.”
Ethan met his gaze. “I was never the same man.”
Victor grinned. “Good. I’ll be in touch.”
As Ethan left the club, the city lights felt darker.
Because he knew—this was the beginning of the end.
---
- Writer
