Loving The Devil's Son

Chapter 4: The Devil’s Trap

Ayla Morrison's heart beat as she read the text message: "Unknown Number." Ayla, stop digging. Or you won't wake up next time.

Lucas Steve's grasp on her phone got tighter, and his thumb brushed the screen. As he read the message again, his jaw moved. "He's getting worse."

Ayla swallowed hard. "It has to be Marcus." Who else would want me to quit looking into my parents' deaths?

Lucas walked back and forth across the broken glass on the floor of the apartment. His father's evil saying, "Control is everything," kept coming back to him. Fear is a strong emotion.

Lucas stated, "He likes to play mind games first." "To scare you into giving in." He spoke more softly. "But if you don't stop, he'll follow through on his threats."

Ayla's stomach turned. "What do we do now? Let him win and sit back?

Lucas's lips were squeezed together. "We need proof. There is real proof that Marcus killed your parents.

Ayla's eyes went back to the graffiti on the wall that said, "The sins of the father will fall on the son."

"What if this was a warning?" she asked. "What if someone out there knows the truth and wants to help us?"

Lucas stroked his chin. "Maybe." It could also be a trap.

"It's a lead either way." Ayla drew a hesitant breath. "That's all we have."

Lucas thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "Okay. We follow the path. "But we don't do it by ourselves."

He looked at Leo, who had been quietly watching from the kitchen. "Please keep an eye on this number." He gave Leo the phone with the menacing message on it.

Leo whistled. "This is a high-level prank. "It will take time."

"Do what you can," Lucas urged.

Leo pretended to salute and then walked away down the hall.

Lucas looked back at Ayla. "Stay with me until we figure this out."

Ayla's eyes got smaller. "Stay with you?"

"My penthouse is safer than your apartment."

"You mean the penthouse that someone just broke into?" she shot back.

Even though he was tense, his lips trembled. "I've already ordered a new one." The best facial recognition. "You'll be safe here."

Ayla thought about it for a second, then nodded. "Okay. But only because I don't want to be the next person on your dad's hit list.

When Marcus's name came up, Lucas's eyes got darker. He reached out his hand to her. "Deal?"

She looked at his hand for a second too long before shaking it. His hold was firm and steady, which was comforting in a manner she hadn't imagined.

Don't approach too close. This was about staying alive, not feelings.

But as they held hands, the border between them got blurry.

She couldn't get the picture of Marcus Steve next to her parents' broken car out of her head. The bent metal. The blood. The frigid smile that stayed with her broken memory.

There was a reason why her parents died. For what?

Lucas came up to her near the window and gave her a blanket. His collar was unbuttoned, and the sleeves were rolled up to show off his strong forearms. He didn't appear like the cocky CEO she'd had problems with at work; he looked more like a man carrying a huge load that he couldn't handle on his own.

Lucas responded, "Leo found something."

Ayla put her tea down. "What?"

"The texts came from a burner phone that was bought yesterday." He gave her a receipt that had been printed out. "Paid for with cash at a Brooklyn convenience store."

Ayla's eyebrows furrowed. "Brooklyn? Why would someone leave such an evident trail?

Lucas tapped the receipt. "The video from the security camera shows a woman in a hoodie buying it. Leo is using facial recognition.

"Who could it be?"

Lucas was unsure. "My dad knows a lot of people. But there is one guy who always picks up after him.

"Who?"

He turned to the bookcase and took out an old, worn-out picture. He gave it to Ayla.

The picture portrayed a woman in her 40s with sharp features and dead eyes. A thin scar went from her temple to her jawline.

Lucas said, "Her name is Evelyn Moore." "She has been my father's fixer for a long time. If Marcus intended to scare you, she'd be the one to send that text.

Ayla looked closely at the woman's face. "She looks... familiar."

Lucas's shoulders got rigid. "How?"

"I don't know." I feel like I've seen her before, but I can't remember where.

Lucas's phone rang. He looked at the screen and swore. "Leo says the woman who bought the burner phone?" It's Evelyn.

Ayla's chest felt tight. "That means Marcus is already ten steps ahead."

Lucas nodded sadly. "And it also means we have to go faster."

Ayla walked into her office and stopped. There was a mess on her desk. There were papers all over the place. The screen of her PC broke. In the middle was a crimson envelope with black wax on it.

Her fingers shook as she broke the seal and opened the note.

Curiosity is dangerous. Leave now, or we'll finish what we started.

Lucas came up behind her. When he noticed the note, his face got darker. "He's getting brave."

Ayla's heart raced. "What should we do now?"

Lucas didn't say anything. He took her hand and pulled her toward the elevator.

"Where are we going?"

"To find the one person who knows more about Marcus's past than anyone else."

The elevator went down, and Ayla's heart rate sped up. "Who?"

Lucas's jaw got tight. "The doctor for the family. "George Miller."

The old Victorian mansion loomed ahead, its shutters worn and peeling. Lucas parked the car and turned off the engine. Ayla's gut twisted as they got closer to the entrance.

Lucas banged three times. The door creaked open, and a weak guy with silver hair and sunken eyes stood there. He looked at

"Lucas?" George's voice shook. "Why are you here?"

"We need answers."

George looked across to Ayla. His face turned pallid. "I... I know who you are."

Ayla's heart skipped a beat. "You do?"

George's eyes flew back and forth between them. "I shouldn't be talking to you."

Lucas moved forward. "My dad has already threatened her." You need to tell us what you know.

George rubbed his temples. "This isn't safe."

Lucas's voice got harder. "Tell us, or I'll think you're just as guilty as he is."

George leaned against the door frame. "Come in."

The smell of ancient books and anxiety filled the house. George took them to the living room and sat down hard in an armchair. He couldn't take his eyes off of Ayla.

"I was there when the accident happened."

Ayla's breath stopped in her throat. "What's going on?"

George's hands shook. "Marcus gave the order for the hit. He needed your dad to leave. Your uncle helped put it together.

Ayla's vision got blurry. "My uncle?"

It was hard to see George's nod. "Perry Weathers. He wanted the business all to himself. He provided Marcus the schedule for your family.

Ayla thought the air had been sucked out of the room. "Why?"

George's eyes shone. "Greed." Your dad never thought his own sibling was guilty.

Lucas made fists. "And what about my dad?"

George's voice broke. "Marcus told the truck driver to make it look like an accident." I had to hide the proof.

Ayla's stomach hurt. "You knew this whole time?"

George looked down. "I tried to forget." But I knew it would come back at some point.

Ayla's hands shook with anger. "We need proof."

George rose up shakily and walked across the room to an ancient safe. He turned the dial and opened it, taking out an envelope that was covered in dust. There were pictures of the accident site within... and a fuzzy picture of Marcus Steve giving money to a man in a trucker's hat.

"This... this should be enough." George gave the envelope to someone.

He took it. "We're going to the police."

The front door suddenly burst open with a loud c***k.

Evelyn Moore came in with a gun. Two masked men pursued her from behind.

Evelyn replied in a chilly voice, "You should have listened, Ayla."

Lucas lunged at George. "Get down!"

The silence was broken by a gunshot.

George fell to the floor, and Ayla screamed. There was a pool of blood under him.

Evelyn responded, "Time's up," and pointed the rifle at Ayla.

The second man in a mask held up a syringe.

Evelyn said, "Put her to sleep." "Marcus wants her to live."

The needle went deep into Ayla's neck.

The world fell into darkness.