The safe house was nothing like Maya had imagined. It was a fortress—no windows, no luxury, just cold, hard walls designed to keep people out and, perhaps more importantly, to keep them in. Every movement, every sound seemed amplified in the silence that enveloped them. The only light came from the dim glow of a single lamp in the corner, casting long shadows across the room.
Elias was still pacing when Maya entered the small, sterile kitchen, her footsteps echoing too loudly in the emptiness. He hadn't spoken since they'd arrived hours ago, his focus entirely on his phone, checking messages, calling contacts—seeking information, making plans. But even then, there was a sharp edge to him now, something cold and calculating. He wasn't the man she had met weeks ago. That man had been full of charm, warmth. This Elias was a soldier in a battle he couldn't afford to lose.
Maya watched him for a moment before speaking, her voice tentative. "I don't understand, Elias. I thought we were just handling a business leak. But this... this is something bigger, isn't it?"
He didn't look up at first, his eyes fixed on the screen in front of him. Then, with a heavy sigh, he finally set the phone down and met her gaze. The weariness in his eyes was unmistakable.
"It's bigger than I ever imagined," he said, his voice low. "I thought I could control it. Keep everything under wraps. But there's a war brewing, Maya. And it's not just about business. It's about power. Control."
Maya swallowed, trying to process the weight of his words. "Power? Control? Are we talking about the rival family?"
Elias nodded, his expression hardening. "Yes. But it's not just them. There are other players involved—people who want to see me fall, who want to see everything I've built crumble. They'll use anything to get to me. Including you."
Her stomach twisted at the mention of her name. "Why me?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly. "What do they want with me?"
Elias took a deep breath, as though bracing himself for the truth. "They want leverage. They know about your father. They think if they can use your past, they can break me. Get me to do what they want."
Maya's heart skipped a beat. She had worked so hard to bury her past, to move beyond the mistakes her father had made. She had always thought she was safe. But now, it was clear that her past had followed her here, and it had put them both in danger.
"They know about my father?" she whispered, feeling the walls closing in. "What do they want me to do?"
"I don't know yet," Elias admitted, his voice hardening with frustration. "But we need to stay ahead of them. Keep moving. If they find out where we are—if they know what we're doing—they'll come for us."
Maya felt a chill run down her spine. She wasn't used to living in fear—not this kind of fear. The kind that crawled under her skin, making her question every shadow, every sound. It was a far cry from the life she had once known, a life where she thought she had everything under control.
Elias stood up suddenly, his eyes flashing with intensity. "We need to get out of here. Now. I'm calling in a few favors. There's a place we can go, a way to disappear for a while. If we're going to survive this, we need to be one step ahead at all times."
Before she could respond, a loud knock at the door made both of them freeze. Maya's heart skipped. Who would be knocking on their door at a place like this? The safe house was supposed to be secure, untraceable.
Elias's eyes narrowed, and he moved swiftly toward the door. "Stay here," he ordered, his voice sharp. "Don't open it for anyone."
Maya nodded, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she pressed herself into the corner, her heart pounding in her chest. She watched as Elias cautiously approached the door, his every movement deliberate, precise.
"Who is it?" Elias called, his voice low and commanding.
There was a pause on the other side, and then a voice, muffled but unmistakable. "It's me, Elias. Open up."
Elias's tense expression softened slightly, and he motioned for Maya to stay put. He unlocked the door, and it creaked open slowly.
A man stepped inside—a stranger to Maya, but clearly someone Elias trusted. He was tall, with sharp features and dark hair. His eyes were cold, calculating—like someone who had seen too much of the world's darker side.
"Maya, this is Dominic," Elias said, his tone less hostile than it had been moments ago. "He's with me. He's here to help."
Dominic gave her a curt nod but didn't offer his hand. Maya didn't know what to make of him. He had the look of someone who was always a step ahead—someone who didn't play by the rules.
"What's the situation?" Elias asked, his voice now fully businesslike.
"The usual," Dominic replied. "We've got eyes on you. Someone tipped off the rival family about your location. They've already sent a team to find you."
Maya's blood ran cold. "What do you mean, 'sent a team'?"
"I mean," Dominic said, stepping closer to her, "they're coming for you. And for Elias. You're not safe here anymore. We need to move, and we need to move fast."
Elias turned back to Maya, his expression grave. "Pack your things. We leave now."
Maya's mind was racing. She had known there were dangers, but this—this was real. They were no longer just dealing with business enemies or corporate rivals. This was a full-scale assault on Elias's life, and now, hers too.
Her past had come to collect its price, and she was running out of time.