Bound to Damian Cross

Chapter Two:The Plan

Mara's POV

The ringing wouldn't stop. It pierced through my skull like a needle, blurring my vision. I curled myself into a ball, hands pressing harder over my ears, but it only got louder.

I couldn't think properly, all I could feel was panic, fear, and the weight of Sean's words pressing down on me. Three days. Just three days.

Just then, Anderson rushed into the apartment, his eyes wide, panic written all over his face. He grabbed me, shaking me gently.

"Mara! Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Hearing his voice, the ringing began to fade. The sound died away, leaving a heavy stillness. I held his face gently, relief and fear mixing together.

"Anderson... did they hurt.." I tried to speak, but my words failed me. A sudden weakness gripped me, and all of a sudden, everything began blurring.

"Mara!... Mara, wake up!"

Those were the last words I heard, along with Anderson's firm and desperate grip on me, before darkness swallowed me completely.

The buzz of my phone made me jerk awake. I expected to be on the floor, but I wasn't. I was in my bed, in my room, morning light slipping through the blinds. I turned slowly and saw Anderson sitting close, his face buried in his hands.

"Three days! Just three days!" Sean's voice echoed in my head, making me feel sick.

I reached for my phone and saw a message from an unknown number:

{I forgot to tell you, Mara... I'll pay you $5,000,000 and keep you and Anderson safe after a successful mission. Remember, you have two days and some hours left."}

The message made my heart start pounding again.

"Anderson... Anderson." I whispered, gently tapping his back.

"Wake up."

Anderson jumped up, his eyebrows knitting together as his eyes searched mine. He rubbed the back of his neck, then let out a shaky breath to calm himself.

"Big sis... oh thank God you are awake. You had me worried," he said, sitting back on the bed as he gripped my shoulders.

"Listen, Anderson... our lives are at stake, and we are running out of time," I said, my voice shaking.

"What?" he snapped, his eyes locked on mine.

"Talk to me Mara."

"Sean Blackwood... he wants me to go to Damian Cross's penthouse. He said if I fail... he'll... he'll..." My voice cracked, and I lowered my face, pressing my forehead into my hands.

Anderson's hands tightened around my shoulders. "Slow down. Breathe. He will... what? What's going on?"

I let go just enough to pull out my phone, showing him the message he sent.

Anderson read through and froze.

"Two days and some hours to do what?"

"That's why he came here earlier today. He wants me to sneak into Damian Cross's penthouse and delete an audio file."

"No way!"

"No Anderson, his options are... yes or yes. Say no, and we both die."

"Do you even know who Damian Cross is?" Anderson interrupted, his eyes wide as he stared at me.

"I do."

"And you want to do WHAT?!"

"Sean will kill us. Don't you get it." I said quietly, tears almost filling up in my eyes.

"I will call the police right away." Anderson said the words that sounded like a death sentence right in my face, yanking off the bed.

"You can't do that! Anderson, it would be worse! He warned me... Stop. Let's think this through and figure out a plan," I said, broken, tears finally spilling down my cheeks as I stepped down from the bed.

Anderson froze at the door, his chest rising and falling fast.

"I don't want to lose you Anderson... and I don't want to die either... Please," I whispered, my voice low and trembling, almost cracking with sobs.

"Help me. Let's figure this out together... please. Sean is deadly, more than you know. He doesn't make empty threats..."

"And you think he's more deadly than the man you want to break into his penthouse?" Anderson cut in, turning to face me. "Is Damian Cross a joke to you?"

"I know... I'm helpless. We're both helpless, Anderson... but I have an idea."

"Then, I want to hear it."

I took a deep breath. "You..." I swallowed. "You'll apply for a security guard job at Damian Cross's penthouse this morning. Once you're inside, you can help me get to the study, sneak me in, and make sure I have all the access I need... After that, you can quit."

He stared at me, then laughed nervously. "Are you serious? Mara... that's crazy. That's dangerous. What if they figure me out? What if..."

"I know it's risky, but it's the only way. I can't go in alone, just like that. And if we plan it right... we might actually pull this off."

"What if I don't get the job?" He whispered, his voice barely above a whisper.

His question made my heart skip a beat, but I tried to push all negative thoughts away.

"You will get the job, because you have all it takes." I said, my eyes fixed on him. "Remember, you were almost killed earlier today... Remember he promised to pay us hugely and to protect us... Please Anderson."

I strongly believed my brother could easily get the job. Anderson was very masculine, with defined abs and strong muscles that made him seem older than me.

He looked down at his hands, and then at my red face. Finally, he nodded. "Okay... okay. I'll do it. But you have to tell me exactly what to do. Every step. I don't want either of us getting killed."

I swallowed hard, feeling a flicker of hope. "I will. I'll tell you everything. And Anderson... we have to be fast. We are running out of time."

"How do we proceed then?"

"You are leaving right now for the job application," I said firmly.

We spent what felt like minutes... maybe even hours, searching for the perfect clothes for him.

"These pants?" he asked, holding up a pair.

"No."

"Yes."

"No, Anderson!" I snapped, shooting him a look full of disapproval. "Wear this corporate black suit... it gives off guard vibes."

"Why not this one?"

"You're being stubborn. Can you just listen to your big sister?"

"Okay... okay, I've heard." He said, raising his hands in agreement.

"Better for you." I said, throwing the suit to him.

I spent another five long minutes fixing his shoe laces.

"Why are your shoelaces such a mess? You're always so disorganized..." I muttered, tugging at the laces.

"I'm a big boy, you know," he said, smirking as he adjusted his suit tie in the mirror.

"Crap!" I groaned, throwing my hands up. "Big boy... and you were crying on the recording earlier today... 'Mara, do what he wants... he'll kill me!'" I mimicked his words, making him roll his eyes.

"Just stop, Mara," he said, half annoyed, half amused.

"I warned you a hundred times about staying up late... all ignored. Now look where it got us!"

Anderson remained silent.

Finally, he was ready. He looked at me, gave a small nod, and slipped out the door, heading for Cross's penthouse.

I sank onto the couch, but my mind wouldn't stop racing. I paced from one end of the room to the other, my stomach twisting with worry. Every sound outside made me jump.

Oh Lord... please keep my only brother safe for me. Help us. I muttered, feeling so uneasy.

Hours passed by slowly as the city outside glowed under streetlights, cars passing by occasionally. Exhaustion finally hit me, but I didn't even notice when I fell asleep on the couch.

A sharp phone buzz woke me. My eyes shot open. At first, I thought it was Anderson, but no, it was Mr. Hans, whom I still had unfinished business with. I had been sorting through a confession his wife had made before she died days ago. I wasn't ready to talk, and I wasn't in the mood for calls. Irritated, I threw the phone back onto the couch. It rang three times, then stopped.

I went to the window and looked out at the city below. It was getting late, and Anderson still wasn't back. His phone had been off for hours. Has something bad happened to him? My heart raced, and a cold shiver ran down my spine.

Then my phone buzzed again. The screen lit up, and I realized it was a message. My heartbeat quickened instantly, my mind racing.

Another message from Sean? What does he want again?

My fingers trembled as I opened it, but it wasn't Sean.

It was from Anderson, but the words inside made my stomach drop.