Chapter 4
930 Words
*Title: The Basement*
The basement door was heavier than it looked.
Ava’s hands shook as she slid the rusted key into the lock. It clicked.
The smell of dust and old paper hit her first. The only light came from a single bare bulb hanging from the ceiling, swinging slightly like it was watching her.
_Don’t let him find you._
Elise’s words echoed in her head.
Ava stepped inside and closed the door behind her.
The room was bigger than she expected. Shelves lined the walls, filled with boxes, old ledgers, and files yellowed with age. In the center stood a wooden desk, covered in dust like no one had touched it in years.
Lucas’s grandfather.
This was where he kept his secrets.
Ava moved quickly. She didn’t have much time before someone noticed she was gone. She started with the desk.
The drawers were locked.
She tried the key. It didn’t fit.
“Damn it,” she whispered.
She was about to give up when she noticed something. A small wooden panel behind the desk, slightly out of place.
Ava pushed it. It moved.
Behind it was a safe. Small, old, but solid.
Her heart raced.
The key in her hand felt hot.
She inserted it into the safe’s keyhole. It fit perfectly.
_Click._
The safe opened.
Inside was a single folder, black leather, no label.
Ava opened it with trembling hands.
Photos. Documents. Names she didn’t recognize.
And at the top of the first page:
*Project Eclipse*
Ava’s eyes scanned the page. It was a contract. Not like hers. This one was dated 20 years ago. Between Lucas’s grandfather and a man named Viktor Morozov.
Viktor Morozov. The name Lucas mentioned last night.
Her hands shook harder as she read.
“Illegal arms deal… money laundering… offshore accounts…”
Ava’s blood ran cold.
Lucas’s grandfather wasn’t just a businessman. He was a criminal.
And now those criminals were after Lucas. After her. After Miguel.
She heard footsteps outside the door.
Ava panicked and shoved everything back into the folder, closing the safe. She slipped the folder under her jacket just as the door creaked open.
“Looking for something, Mrs. Black?”
Lucas stood in the doorway, his face like stone.
Ava froze. Busted.
“I— I couldn’t sleep,” she said, trying to sound casual. “I heard a noise down here.”
Lucas walked in slowly, his eyes scanning the room. He stopped when he saw the open panel behind the desk.
“You went through my grandfather’s things,” he said quietly.
Ava swallowed hard. “I needed answers.”
“And you got them?” Lucas asked, stepping closer.
Ava didn’t answer. She couldn’t. The folder under her jacket felt like it was burning.
Lucas stopped in front of her. He was too close. She could smell his cologne. Expensive. Dangerous.
“Give it to me,” he said, holding out his hand.
Ava shook her head. “No.”
Lucas’s jaw tightened. “Ava.”
“Don’t ‘Ava’ me,” she shot back. “You lied to me. This isn’t about your grandfather’s last wish. This is about you cleaning up his mess.”
Lucas’s eyes darkened. “You don’t understand what you’re dealing with.”
“Then explain it to me!” Ava shouted. “You dragged me into this! You used me! My brother’s life is on the line because of you!”
For a second, something flickered in Lucas’s eyes. Guilt? Regret?
Then it was gone.
“You don’t get to decide what happens now,” he said coldly. “Give me the folder.”
Ava stepped back. “Make me.”
Big mistake.
Lucas moved fast. Too fast. Before she could react, he had her pinned against the desk, his hand on her wrist.
“Don’t test me, Ava,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Not when people’s lives are at stake.”
Ava struggled, but he was stronger.
“Let go of me!”
Lucas leaned down, his face inches from hers.
“Give. Me. The folder.”
Ava stared into his eyes. For the first time, she saw past the cold exterior. She saw fear.
He was scared.
Not for himself. For her.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” Lucas whispered.
Ava stopped struggling.
Something about the way he said it broke through her anger.
“I don’t need you to protect me,” she said quietly. “I need you to trust me.”
Lucas stared at her for a long moment.
Then he let go.
Ava stepped back, breathing hard.
“I’m not giving you the folder,” she said. “Not until you tell me everything.”
Lucas ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.
“Fine,” he said. “But not here. It’s not safe.”
Before Ava could ask what he meant, the sound of glass shattering echoed from upstairs.
Lucas’s face went pale.
“They’re here.”
---
The mansion was chaos.
Alarms blared. Lights flashed. Men in black suits ran through the halls, guns drawn.
Ava grabbed Lucas’s arm. “What’s happening?”
“Viktor’s men,” Lucas said, pulling her toward the door. “We need to move. Now.”
Ava followed him, clutching the folder under her jacket.
As they ran down the hallway, a gunshot rang out.
Lucas pushed her to the ground, covering her body with his.
“Are you okay?” he asked urgently.
Ava nodded, too scared to speak.
Lucas stood up and pulled her
- Writer
