Chapter 5: The Warning
583 Words
Maya waited until she was outside the building before checking the message again.
I warned you.
Three words.
Nothing more.
She stared at them until the screen went dark.
“Ms. Carter.”
Maya turned sharply.
Adrian stood a few feet behind her.
She hadn’t heard him approach.
“Are you following me now?” she asked.
“No.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing.”
Maya frowned.
Adrian’s eyes dropped briefly to her phone.
“You received another message.”
It wasn’t a question.
Maya slipped the phone into her handbag.
“It’s nothing.”
“You said that upstairs.”
“And I meant it.”
“No, you didn’t.”
His voice was calm, but there was something different in his expression now.
Concern.
Maya sighed.
“Someone is sending me threatening messages.”
Adrian went completely still.
“What exactly did they say?”
“I don’t know who they are.”
“What did they say, Maya?”
She hesitated.
Then she showed him the screen.
Adrian read the message.
His face changed.
Not dramatically.
But enough.
Maya noticed.
“You know something.”
Adrian looked up.
“I know that you shouldn’t ignore this.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“No. It’s a warning.”
“From you?”
“From someone who knows exactly what they’re capable of.”
Maya folded her arms.
“You keep talking like I’m already involved in something.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“You are.”
“How?”
He stared at her for several seconds.
Then he said quietly, “Because of me.”
Before Maya could respond, a car sped around the corner.
Adrian immediately grabbed her arm and pulled her backward.
The vehicle passed them at frightening speed.
Maya’s heart pounded.
“Was that—”
“I don’t know.”
Adrian looked toward the disappearing car.
Then he turned to her.
“You’re not going home alone.”
Maya blinked.
“I’m perfectly capable of getting home.”
“I wasn’t asking.”
She almost laughed.
“You really are used to giving orders, aren’t you?”
“Usually people listen.”
“Well, you’re going to have to get used to disappointment.”
For the first time, Adrian smiled.
A genuine one.
“You’re difficult.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“And yet…”
He paused.
Maya waited.
“And yet what?”
Adrian looked at her for a moment too long.
“I can’t seem to stay away from you.”
The words hung between them.
Maya’s heart skipped.
Then Adrian’s phone rang.
He answered.
“Yes?”
His expression changed.
“Where?”
He listened.
Then his eyes moved toward Maya.
“Don’t touch anything. I’m coming.”
He ended the call.
“What happened?” Maya asked.
Adrian’s voice was suddenly cold.
“Someone broke into my house.”
Maya’s stomach dropped.
“Did they steal anything?”
Adrian stared at her.
“No.”
“Then what did they take?”
He stepped closer.
“They left something.”
“What?”
Adrian reached into his coat and pulled out a photograph.
He handed it to her.
Maya looked down.
Her breath caught.
It was a photograph of her.
Taken that morning.
She was standing outside her apartment.
And written across the bottom in black ink were five words:
She will pay for your father’s sins.
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