Beneath The Marble Skies

Chapter 4

Emery stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. The bodyguard’s words echoed in her mind: The package… it’s gone. Vanished.

Her pulse quickened. What package? What was Kade talking about? And why was Grayson suddenly so interested in protecting her? She hadn’t asked for any of this. She hadn’t asked to be pulled into a world of power plays and dangerous games. But here she was, caught in the middle of it all, and there was no way out.

Kade Kensington’s eyes bored into her, his expression icy, but his lips barely twitching as if something within him was unraveling at the edges.

“Miss Lane,” he said, his voice deceptively calm. “You’ve made things more complicated than they ever needed to be. And now, you’re going to pay the price.”

Before she could respond, Grayson stepped in, his jaw set, his voice like a whip. “If you think threatening her is going to fix anything, Kade, you’re mistaken.”

Kade’s gaze snapped to Grayson, his nostrils flaring. “You’re not helping, Grayson.”

“I don’t need your help,” Grayson shot back, his eyes never leaving Kade. “But I’m going to make sure you don’t destroy her. I told you before—she’s not the problem here.”

Emery’s head spun as she listened to them exchange cold barbs. What was this all about? What were they really talking about? She barely knew either of them, yet they both seemed to be pulling her into their dangerous, high-stakes world.

Her eyes flicked between them, trying to read the tension thick in the room. The package—whatever it was, it was important. Too important. And Kade… Kade didn’t look like someone who played games. He was a man who made moves, calculated risks, and crushed anything—or anyone—that got in his way.

Her mouth felt dry as she spoke. “What package, Kade?”

Kade ignored her, instead turning back to Grayson with a venomous sneer. “You think you can protect her? She’s a liability. A loose end. The longer she stays in this world, the more danger she’s in. And you know it.”

Emery swallowed hard. A liability? She was just a damn designer, trying to make a living, trying to survive. This wasn’t her fight. But in that moment, she understood something—something bigger than herself was going on. Kade wasn’t just angry; he was terrified. And fear made people dangerous.

Grayson stepped closer, his voice low but laced with warning. “If you push her any further, Kade, you won’t be the only one with something to lose.”

Kade’s smile faltered. There was something in Grayson’s eyes—something that didn’t belong in this corporate war zone. But before Kade could respond, the door slammed open again.

This time, it wasn’t just a bodyguard. A woman stepped in—tall, dark-haired, impeccably dressed, and oozing an air of authority that matched Kade’s. Her eyes landed on Emery, then moved to Kade, a silent exchange passing between them.

“Everything alright, Kade?” she asked, her voice sharp and precise. Her gaze flicked to Grayson, a slight frown tugging at the corner of her lips.

Kade’s expression darkened, his irritation palpable. “I don’t have time for distractions right now, Brianna,” he snapped, not bothering to hide his frustration.

Emery’s heart raced at the mention of the woman’s name—Brianna. She was familiar to her—too familiar. Brianna Westbrook, the CEO of one of the biggest tech conglomerates in the country. She had seen her name in the news too many times to count. This was no ordinary woman. She was part of the elite echelon of the business world, and seeing her standing here, so close to Kade, made her blood run cold.

“Distractions? Is that what you think this is?” Brianna’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that made the air crackle. “Because last I checked, Kade, you’re not the only one involved in this mess. I’m just trying to make sure we don’t all go down with her.”

Emery’s stomach twisted. “Go down with me?” she repeated, her voice barely a whisper. “What are you talking about? What is going on here?”

Brianna turned to her, her expression unreadable, but her eyes held a glimmer of something—something like pity. “You’re in over your head, Miss Lane. There’s a war going on in the shadows, and you’re caught in the crossfire.”

“A war?” Emery asked, trying to stay calm despite the rising panic in her chest. “What do you mean?”

Grayson spoke up before anyone could answer. “The package is a key. A key to something that could shift the balance of power in this city. Whoever controls it controls everything. And right now, everyone wants it.”

The room felt like it was closing in on her. This was beyond anything she had ever imagined. She had no idea what they were talking about, but she knew one thing: she was tangled in something much bigger than herself.

Kade’s voice was cold, cutting through the tension. “You’re the last person I would’ve chosen for this, Miss Lane. But now that you’re involved, there’s no turning back.”

Emery’s throat went dry, her mind a whirl of confusion. The package, the war, the key—her body felt like it was on autopilot as she looked between Kade, Grayson, and Brianna. She had no choice now but to play their game, whether she wanted to or not.

“What now?” she asked, her voice trembling despite herself.

Brianna smirked, her gaze sharpening as she locked eyes with Kade. “Now, we see if you’re capable of surviving this, Miss Lane. If you can keep up with the game, maybe you’ll come out on top. If not…” She let the sentence hang in the air, and Emery felt the weight of her words sink in. If not… it would mean disaster.

Grayson leaned in slightly, his voice softer but no less firm. “You don’t have to do this alone, Miss Lane. But you need to be careful who you trust.”

Kade’s gaze flicked to Grayson before he turned back to Emery, his eyes hardening again. “You think you have time to figure this out? You don’t. The clock’s ticking.”

Emery’s mind raced, trying to piece it all together. She had to figure out what this package was, why it was so important, and who she could trust. But the deeper she was pulled into this world, the more uncertain she felt. Grayson? Brianna? Kade? Who was playing her, and who was trying to help her?

As Kade motioned for her to follow, she took one final look at Grayson, whose expression remained unreadable.

“I’m going to need answers,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging in her mind.

“You’ll get them,” Kade replied, his eyes glinting with something darker. “But first, you’ll need to prove you’re worth the risk.”

As they moved toward the exit, Kade stopped suddenly, his gaze flicking toward the door. “You’re not the only one looking for answers, Miss Lane,” he said, his voice low. “And the people who want that package will stop at nothing to get it.”

Just as he spoke, the distant sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway, growing louder, closer.

“Someone’s here,” Brianna murmured.

Kade’s eyes hardened, and with a single nod, the room fell into a heavy silence, every one of them waiting for what came next.