Chapter 8: A Dangerous Bargain
970 Words
Lia barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the note.
We're coming for what's ours.
The words haunted her.
Who were "they"?
Why did they believe she belonged to them?
Nothing about her life before Adrian made sense anymore.
She had always considered herself ordinary.
Now, two powerful forces seemed willing to kill for her.
The thought made her stomach churn.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
Maria entered carrying breakfast.
"You should eat," she said gently.
Lia offered a weak smile.
"I'm trying."
Maria placed the tray on the table before noticing the dark circles beneath Lia's eyes.
"You haven't rested."
"Would you?"
Maria sighed.
"No."
Lia looked up.
"Maria..."
The older woman paused.
"Do you know why Adrian brought me here?"
Maria hesitated.
"I know what everyone else knows."
"And what's that?"
"Mr. Volkov never brings outsiders into this house."
Lia frowned.
"So I'm the first?"
Maria nodded.
"In all my years here... yes."
That answer only created more questions.
---
Downstairs, Adrian stood in the training room.
His shirt clung to his body with sweat as he repeatedly struck a heavy punching bag.
Each punch landed with frightening force.
The chains groaned.
Leather cracked.
His anger was unmistakable.
Viktor entered quietly.
"You've been here since sunrise."
Adrian didn't stop.
"Boss."
Another punch.
"The men are waiting."
Still nothing.
Viktor folded his arms.
"Beating the bag won't solve this."
Adrian finally stopped.
His breathing remained steady despite the intensity of the workout.
"Have we identified the symbol?"
"Our contacts are still searching."
"And the attacker?"
"He died before saying anything."
Adrian grabbed a towel.
"I don't like fighting an invisible enemy."
"Neither do I."
"There has to be a reason."
Viktor looked directly at him.
"You still think it's about the girl."
"I know it is."
"Why?"
Adrian remained silent.
After a long pause, he spoke.
"Because they attacked the night she saw me."
"You think they were watching."
"I think they were waiting."
---
Later that afternoon...
Lia wandered into the mansion's enormous library again.
It was the only room where she felt she could breathe.
She traced her fingers across rows of old books before stopping in front of a locked glass cabinet.
Inside rested dozens of antique weapons.
Daggers.
Swords.
Old revolvers.
Each one looked like it carried a story.
"Beautiful, aren't they?"
Lia turned.
Adrian stood behind her.
"I wouldn't call weapons beautiful."
"They're history."
"They're instruments for killing."
He stepped beside her.
"Depends who's holding them."
She looked at him.
"You really believe that."
"I've lived it."
Silence settled between them.
Lia crossed her arms.
"Can I ask you something?"
"You usually do."
"If you're going to keep me here..."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"...then stop hiding things from me."
He studied her face.
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything."
He almost smiled.
"That's a long conversation."
"We have time."
His expression softened for the briefest moment.
"Not as much as you think."
Lia noticed the change.
"What does that mean?"
Before Adrian could answer, the mansion's intercom crackled.
"Boss."
Viktor's voice echoed through the halls.
"We have visitors."
Adrian's face instantly hardened.
"I wasn't expecting anyone."
"They insist it's urgent."
He turned toward Lia.
"Stay here."
She sighed.
"There you go giving orders again."
"For once..."
His voice was calm but serious.
"...listen to me."
Without another word, he left.
---
Curiosity got the better of her.
Five minutes later, Lia quietly slipped into the hallway.
She knew she shouldn't.
But she couldn't ignore the voices drifting from downstairs.
Carefully, she descended the staircase until she reached the landing overlooking the grand entrance.
Three unfamiliar men stood inside.
All wore expensive suits.
None looked friendly.
The oldest stepped forward.
"We came to negotiate."
Adrian remained expressionless.
"I don't negotiate with traitors."
The man chuckled.
"You'll have to this time."
"Why?"
"Because we're offering peace."
Adrian laughed once.
A cold, humorless sound.
"You mistake me for someone who wants peace."
The man's smile disappeared.
"You've become reckless."
"No."
Adrian's dark eyes narrowed.
"I've become impatient."
The stranger reached into his pocket.
Every guard immediately raised their weapons.
Slowly, the man produced a small photograph instead.
He placed it on the table.
Lia couldn't see it clearly.
But Adrian could.
His expression changed.
Only for a second.
Then it vanished.
"What is it?" Viktor demanded.
The visitor smiled.
"A reminder."
"Of what?"
"That everyone has something to lose."
Adrian's voice dropped dangerously low.
"If you've touched her..."
"We haven't."
"Yet."
The room exploded with tension.
Lia's pulse quickened.
Her?
Were they talking about her?
The stranger adjusted his jacket.
"You have forty-eight hours."
"For what?"
"Return what's ours."
"I don't have it."
"You do."
Adrian took one deliberate step forward.
"And if I refuse?"
The man smiled.
"Then next time..."
His eyes slowly lifted toward the staircase.
Toward Lia.
"...we won't come to talk."
Every muscle in Adrian's body tensed.
In an instant, he drew his pistol.
"So you knew she was there."
The visitor only smirked.
"We know far more than you think."
The guards escorted the visitors out before anyone fired a shot.
The front doors slammed shut.
Silence filled the mansion.
Adrian slowly looked up at Lia.
She had never seen his eyes so dark.
"So much for staying in your room," he said.
Lia swallowed.
"They were talking about me."
"Yes."
"Why?"
For several long seconds...
Adrian said nothing.
Then he walked toward the staircase.
Stopped directly in front of her.
And quietly admitted something that changed everything.
"Because..."
His jaw tightened.
"...I think your past isn't what you've been told."
Lia stared at him.
"What?"
He held her gaze.
"I think someone has been lying to you your entire life."
Her world tilted beneath her feet.
Everything she thought she knew...
Was about to unravel.
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