Criminal

Chapter 10

I picked up my phone, my heart sinking as I saw my father's name flashing on the screen. With a deep breath, I answered, bracing myself for the storm that was about to hit.

"Dad?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising panic in my chest.

"Where the hell have you been, Ava?" His voice was like a thunderclap, booming and angry. "James backed out of our deal, and it's all your fault!"

"I-I don't understand," I stammered, my mind racing as I tried to make sense of his words. "What happened?"

"James was beaten within an inch of his life last night," my father snapped, his words cutting through me like a knife. "And now he doesn't want anything to do with me or my business. Do you have any idea what this means for us, Ava? You were supposed to keep him entertained, to ensure he stayed on our side. But instead, he's turned against us because of your recklessness!"

"I...I had no idea," I protested weakly, my heart pounding with guilt and fear. "I swear, Dad, I didn't have anything to do with this."

"Excuses won't fix this mess, Ava," he growled. "You've jeopardized everything we've worked for. And now, we're at the mercy of our enemies."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, the weight of my father's disappointment crushing me like a ton of bricks. How could I have let things spiral out of control like this? And who could have been behind James's brutal attack?

As my father continued to berate me, a cold realization washed over me. Whoever was targeting James, whoever had beaten him within an inch of his life, was the same person who had been sending me those mysterious gifts and notes. And if I didn't do something soon, they could come after me next.

"Dad," I said, interrupting his tirade. "I need you to listen to me. I think someone's been following me, leaving me gifts and notes. Maybe they're the same person who attacked James."

There was a long moment of silence on the other end of the line, as if my father were processing what I'd just said. When he spoke again, his voice was low and dangerous.

"Whoever's doing this is playing a dangerous game, Ava," he said. "And we don't have time for games right now. You need to stay focused, stay sharp. And above all else remember your responsibilities. We're in the middle of a war, and we can't afford any more mistakes."

I nodded, even though I knew he couldn't see me. "I understand, Dad. I'll be careful. I promise."

But as I hung up the phone, a chill ran down my spine. This wasn't just about business anymore. It was personal. And whoever was behind these attacks had just made a dangerous enemy.

I stepped out of the shower, steam billowing around me, and reached for my phone. As droplets of water dripped from my skin, I noticed a new message from an unknown number. My heart skipped a beat as I read the ominous words:

Little spider, daddy won't save you.

The message sent shivers down my spine, a cold dread settling in the pit of my stomach. Who was this person, and how did they know about my father? And what did they mean by "little spider"? It was as if they were taunting me, daring me to confront them.

With trembling fingers, I typed out a response, my hands shaking with fear and uncertainty. But deep down, I knew that I couldn't let this person intimidate me. Not now, not ever.

"Who is this?" I typed, trying to sound composed despite the racing of my heart. Seconds stretched into eternity as I waited for a reply, my mind racing with a thousand questions. But when the response finally came, it sent a chill down my spine.

"You'll find out soon enough, Ava," the message read. "But until then, remember this: in the web of lies and deceit, the spider is always watching."

My breath caught in my throat as I read the words, a sense of unease settling over me like a heavy blanket. Whoever this person was, they knew more about me than I was comfortable with. And if I didn't find out their identity soon, I feared what they might do next.

I stared at my phone, the weight of the words sinking in. The spider is always watching. It was as if this person knew everything about me, every move I made. And for the first time in a long time, I felt truly vulnerable.

But as fear threatened to consume me, a new feeling rose up within me - anger. How dare this person threaten me, taunt me with their cryptic messages? I may be young and inexperienced, but I refused to be cowed by anyone.

Taking a deep breath, I typed out another message. "Tell me who you are," I wrote, trying to sound firm and unafraid. "And why are you doing this?"

There was no response for several minutes, and I began to wonder if they had given up. But just as I was about to put down my phone, a new message appeared on my screen.

"You don't need to know who I am, little spider. What you need to know is that you're in too deep. And there's no way out."

My heart raced as I read the message, feeling a sense of dread that threatened to consume me. Who was this person? And what did they want from me?

I typed out another message, determined not to let this person get the best of me. "I won't be intimidated," I wrote. "Whatever your game is, I'm not playing along."

Again, there was no response. But despite my bravado, I couldn't shake the feeling that something dark and dangerous was closing in around me. And as I slipped into bed that night, I knew that I had only scratched the surface of the web of lies and deceit that surrounded me.