"This was found at the scene of the crime yesterday. Would you mind explaining how it got there?"
Claire's heart raced as she realized what was happening. The ring on her finger pulsed, the cold energy returning. She felt it again—the same rush of power from her dream, the same pull she experienced in Nowhere. Her hand instinctively touched the ring, and she suddenly felt an strong urge to intervene.
Without thinking, she stepped forward. "Officers," she said, her voice calm and steady, as though something else was guiding her words. "I think there's been a misunderstanding. My husband couldn't have been there yesterday. We were together throughout last night. The cufflinks were stolen from him a while back and the same criminals may even be responsible for the deaths."
The officers exchanged glances and expressions on their faces softened. One of them nodded slowly. "Alright," he said, "but we may need to follow up. Just stay available for further questioning. Have a great day."
Lucas shut the door as soon as they left, exhaling deeply. Claire looked down at the ring, her fingers still trembling. She didn't understand what had just happened, but one thing was clear—the ring had power. Real power.
'What else could've caused the officers to just drop the interrogation like that?' She thought in shock, still staring down at the yellow ring on her finger.
"What was that?" Lucas asked, still trying to wrap his head around the situation.
"I…I don't know. I think it's the ring," Claire replied, as she looked up at him.
"The ring?"
"Yes, I… I really do not know, but it felt like it was controlling me."
Lucas fell silent for a moment, before letting out a loud laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. "Oh Claire darling, take some credit for yourself. You did well, okay?"
Claire just smiled and nodded, a bit hurt that Lucas was so quick to dismiss her suspicions.
She remained rooted in that spot and watched as he dismissed the guards and returned to the room, seemingly unbothered but rather relieved that the police were out of their hair.
Suddenly, the ring pulsed again, this time stronger. Claire gasped as her arm tingled in response and in that moment, she decided she had to be sure that it wasn't all in her head.
"Fetch me a glass of ice," she said to one of the guards standing nearby. Without hesitation, he turned and walked to the kitchen.
"No, no, no," Claire muttered to herself. "They're going to obey me anyway. I have to test it in public," she concluded, her heart pounding with excitement.
Returning to the room, she began to get dressed.
"Where are you going?" Lucas asked, and Claire realized she wouldn't be able to just walk out without a convincing reason.
She decided it was better if he didn't know about the ring's power—not yet. Not until she was sure.
"Uhmm, to the salon. I need to get my nails redone, they got all messed up last night."
"Why don't you let Zarah fix that for you? She's got everything you need," Lucas countered, not taking his eyes off her.
"It's not just that," Claire added quickly, thinking on her feet. "I also need to meet with my director. He mentioned an audition for a huge movie. I'm still an actress, you know. He says maybe it's best I don't get too knee deep in the mafia world."
She tried to make her response sound casual, hoping Lucas would accept it.
"Your director?"
"Yes."
Craig Wilson. The not-so-anonymous freelance journalist throwing dirt on his name. That, Lucas can let slide. But now directly trying to take Claire away from him? Line crossed.
Lucas got up from the bed and walked over to her, causing her to freeze momentarily. He still had the same effect on her as he did when they first met.
He reached out and softly brushed aside a strand of hair hanging over her face. Then, suddenly, his hand gripped the back of her neck with force and he pulled her. Their faces were so close that Claire could feel his breath, hot and heavy against her skin.
"Listen to me and listen closely," he whispered in a deep, dangerous tone, "In case you've forgotten, you're under contract, Claire. And I know exactly how much I'm paying you. I won't tolerate my actress chasing other opportunities. That wouldn't end well for anyone. Do you understand me?"
Claire, in that moment, began to understand how possessive of her Lucas really was.
"I understand," she answered in fear, her voice barely audible.
Lucas let go of her after a moment of intense and silent eye contact. Without another word, he got dressed and left the house, accompanied by some of his men.
Claire watched him leave, her mind still unsettled. As soon as she was sure he was far gone, she looked down at the ring again, rubbing it with her thumb. She felt it pulse again, like it was… alive.
'I have to get out of here,' she thought in conclusion. 'Maybe I'm still traumatized from literally watching two people get killed in front of me.'
She immediately got dressed and hurried to the back of the house, avoiding the usual hallways where the guards patrolled.
She knew there would still be men at the exit, but if the ring's power worked like she hoped, they wouldn't be a problem.
Reaching the door, she saw two guards standing by each side. They watched her with mild curiosity as she approached.
"You need help getting somewhere ma'am?" One of them asked, his tone firm, but not threatening.
Claire hid her hand behind her back and slowly rubbed the finger with her thumb, and she felt it come alive again.
She gave the guards a cheeky smile and said softly, "I just need to get some air. The Don doesn't need to know."
The guards hesitated for only a second before nodding in unison, their expressions neutral. "As you wish," the same one replied, stepping aside without question.
She released a deep breath she didn't even realize she had been holding and with her heart rate through the roof, she slipped out of the house.
She stepped outside the black gates and the air of freedom filled her lungs. Some time alone and out in the real world was something she didn't even realize she needed this much.
Claire stopped a taxi and asked to be taken to the nearest cafe. She looked down at the diamond encrusted watch on her wrist.
Some minutes past three.
She realized she had better got what she came out for and returned to the house before Lucas did.
Eventually, the cab dropped her off at the entrance of the cafe and she strolled in. The atmosphere in the cafe was cozy, calm and filled with soft sounds of music and conversations.
She found a seat by the window and immediately settled in, casting worried glances around, scared that one of Lucas's men might have been following her.
After she managed to convince herself otherwise, Claire ordered her usual latte. She took a sip and began trying to gather her thoughts.
'So, obviously the ring has some power. But how powerful really is it?' She thought.
Once she finished the drink, she raised her hand and caught the attention of a nearby waiter, a young man with a friendly smile.
"Excuse me," she called out.
"Yes, ma'am?" he approached, his tone eager.
Claire flashed him a charming smile. "I really enjoyed this latte. Uhmm-" she paused, trying to gather courage for her next words. "I would like another one completely for free please."
After a moment's hesitation, the waiter replied, "Of course! I'll get that for you right away." And he turned to leave.
Claire's heart raced as he walked away, the thrill of her new-found power surging through her.
'How powerful?'
When the waiter returned with her drink, Claire leaned in closer, her voice low. "And can you get me a slice of that chocolate cake too? Just a little something to sweeten my day."
He nodded again, a slight blush creeping up his cheeks. "Absolutely. I'll bring that right out."
Claire smiled with satisfaction and excitement.
The ring's power was undeniable, and the more she sat with the discovery, the more she realized she was crossing into unknown territory.
'What else could it do? What else could she make happen?'
She pushed the thoughts aside. She wasn't going to bother herself with the ifs and whatnots right now. For the moment, she was just going to enjoy a nice chocolate cake.
As the waiter approached her with the cake, Claire's phone began to buzz repeatedly in her purse, making her already startled even before she picked it.
She pulled it out, expecting a text from Lucas. Instead, it was a news alert. Her eyes widened as she read the headline:
Renowned Director Craig Wilson Found Dead in Apparent Robbery.
Her stomach dropped.
'My god. Did Lucas do this?'
She was still trying to process the flood of emotions running through her body. Guilt, disbelief, fear. Before she could settle into any one of them, a familiar voice rang out from the entrance of the café.
"Claire," the figure called, the sound sending a chill down her spine.
She looked up—and froze.