the warning
862 Words
Chapter 4: The Warning
The Santiago mansion had never felt so quiet.
Rita stood by the enormous windows of her bedroom, watching the city lights glitter beneath the midnight sky. Everything outside looked peaceful.
But something inside her refused to believe it.
She still had Sophie’s message open on her phone.
Be careful who you trust.
Rita read it again.
And again.
Who was Sophie warning her about?
She barely knew the girl.
In fact, Sophie Gracia was the last person Rita expected to contact her.
The Gracia family and the Santiagos had spent years keeping their distance from one another. Their businesses, their influence, their secrets—none of them belonged in the same conversation.
Yet somehow, Sophie had chosen to warn her.
A soft knock came at the door.
Rita quickly locked her phone.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Lewis stepped inside.
He leaned against the doorway, studying his sister.
“You're still awake?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
“I asked first.”
Rita smiled faintly.
Lewis walked closer.
“You've been acting strange all evening.”
“I’m fine.”
“You always say that when you're not.”
Rita looked away.
Lewis was her twin. He had always been able to read her better than anyone.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
“Rita.”
She sighed.
Then she handed him her phone.
Lewis read the message.
His expression changed immediately.
“Who sent this?”
“Sophie Gracia.”
His eyes snapped toward her.
“Sophie?”
Rita nodded.
Lewis gave the phone back.
“You need to stay away from her.”
“Why?”
“Because she's a Gracia.”
“That doesn't automatically make her dangerous.”
Lewis stared at her.
“You don't know what that family is capable of.”
Rita was silent.
Neither of them noticed the figure standing briefly in the hallway outside the bedroom.
James.
He had heard enough.
He quietly walked away.
---
The Next Morning
Rita entered the dining room dressed in her school uniform, her hair neatly arranged and her books held against her chest.
Rachel was already there with her children.
Zara was arguing with Jasmine over the last piece of toast.
“It's mine!”
“You had two already!”
“I don't care!”
Their mother sighed.
“Both of you, stop.”
Rita laughed.
For a moment, everything felt normal again.
Their father entered the room.
“Good morning, everyone.”
“Good morning, Dad,” Rita replied.
He smiled at her.
“You're early.”
“I'm always early.”
Lewis walked in behind her.
“Unfortunately.”
Rita turned.
“Unfortunately?”
“You're making the rest of us look bad.”
Everyone laughed.
But Rita noticed something.
Their father wasn't laughing.
His phone had just vibrated.
He looked at the screen.
His smile disappeared.
“Excuse me.”
He left the dining room.
Rita watched him go.
Something was wrong.
---
Across the city, inside a dark room, James placed his phone on a table.
A man sat opposite him.
“Did you get close to her?”
James nodded.
“She trusts me.”
“How much?”
James smiled.
“Enough.”
The man leaned forward.
“And the Santiago family?”
James's smile disappeared.
“They're protecting something. I don't know what yet.”
“You were supposed to find out.”
“I will.”
The man pushed an envelope across the table.
“Then find out quickly.”
James opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Rita.
Walking through the Santiago estate.
James stared at it.
“She has no idea what's coming,” he whispered.
---
That Afternoon
Rita arrived at school and immediately noticed Linda waiting for her.
“There you are!”
Rita smiled.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing. I just need to tell you something.”
Linda lowered her voice.
“I saw James talking to someone outside yesterday.”
Rita frowned.
“Who?”
“I don't know. But they weren't from school.”
Rita's expression hardened.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Before Rita could respond, her phone rang.
It was Lewis.
She answered.
“Hello?”
His voice was unusually serious.
“Rita, where are you?”
“School.”
“Stay there.”
She froze.
“Why?”
There was a pause.
“Dad found something.”
“What?”
Lewis didn't answer immediately.
Then he said quietly:
“Someone has been watching our family.”
Rita's heart began beating faster.
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
The call ended.
Rita slowly lowered the phone.
Linda looked at her.
“What happened?”
Rita stared across the school courtyard.
And then she saw him.
James.
Standing alone.
Watching her.
Their eyes met.
James smiled.
But for the first time, Rita didn't smile back.
Something about that smile felt different.
Dangerous.
Her phone vibrated again.
A message.
From an unknown number.
You were warned.
Rita's blood ran cold.
Then another message appeared.
Don't trust James.
She looked up.
James was gone.
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