Chapter 4_ Shadow in the Light

She dug through her closet, tossing a few outfits onto the bed before settling on a simple blue top and white jeans. She slipped on her white sneakers, laced them snugly, and stuffed her phone and wallet into her handbag, making sure the keys were inside.

Papers from the clinic lay stacked on the desk, brought over yesterday. She grabbed them, flipping through quickly to make sure nothing remained unfinished.

She ran a hand through her straight blonde hair, tying it back into a loose ponytail, then scanned the room. Everything looked in order, but the pit in her stomach reminded her that appearances were deceiving. She double-checked the apartment keys in her bag.

Ugh, finally done. She let out a deep breath, shook her head, slung her bag over her shoulder, and turned to meet Alexa’s gaze.

Her sister stood in the doorway, arms crossed, gray eyes—like their father’s—measuring her with sharp concern. She tilted her head and offered a soft smile.

“Alexa, I’ll be back soon, sweetheart. I need to go now,” she said, keeping her voice even and careful.

Alexa stepped closer, her eyes locked on hers. “When will you return, Jenna?” Her tone was quiet, almost pleading.

She swallowed hard. “I’ll be back by night. There’s no time to delay.”

Her brow furrowed. “Can’t it wait till tomorrow?”

I really don’t have a choice. I don’t even know if I could ask him to delay the meeting, whether that Vicious King would allow it or not.

She exhaled slowly, forcing her thoughts into order. Alexa hesitated, chewing her lower lip, caught between worry and understanding. They’d spent last night together when her sister visited, trying to lighten her mood with playful teasing. She had brought chocolate cookies and coffee, and they had talked for hours, laughing and sharing bits of themselves and their routines.

I’ll be here for weeks once this is done. I just need to secure everything first.

She stepped closer and patted Alexa’s cheek. “Don’t worry, Alexa. Once I’m done with my work, I’ll be here for weeks, and we can spend that time having fun. Besides, you know I didn’t even bring much with me. I need to grab my clothes and a few other things.”

Alexa’s expression shifted, then she grinned, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Okay, but if you’re late, I’m emptying every jar of your chocolate cookies. Not a single crumb will survive.”

She chuckled, widening her eyes in mock horror. “Hey, don’t you dare.”

Her sister nodded, still smirking, finally easing the tight knot of tension in the room. She turned toward the door, and Alexa silently followed, her gaze tracking every move.

******

She parked in front of the clinic and swung the door open, stepping into the crisp winter night. The street was quiet, the cold biting her cheeks as she scanned the cars lining the curb. A few patients hurried inside, voices muffled, but otherwise the city seemed to pause.

Ava was at the reception desk, flipping through files with her usual energy. Her eyes lit up when she saw her. “Finally,” she said, her grayish-blue eyes sparkling. “I thought you’d vanish without giving me a hint you existed.”

She laughed, letting her shoulders drop a little. “Traffic wasn’t that bad,” she muttered, though her stomach still felt tight.

Dr. Patel stepped out of his office, clipboard in hand. “Everything set for today, Miss Jenna?” he asked, glancing at the neatly stacked folders.

“Yes,” she replied, spreading the files across the counter. She paused, her attention caught by the sky fading through the window behind him. “But... I need one last look,” she murmured, as if the growing darkness could steady the tremor in her chest.

Ava’s grin widened as she leaned on the desk. “Sure. Don’t worry, I’ll just tell everyone you’re having an existential crisis about the filing system.”

Later, the clinic had quieted. The last patients had gone, leaving only the low hum of the heater. Ava returned from the kitchenette carrying two steaming mugs of tea. She set one in front of her and slid into the chair across, her gaze flicking to her tense posture.

“You’ve got that ‘thinking about everything at once’ look,” she said lightly, placing her mug down. “Better sip something warm before your brain overheats.”

She cradled the cup, letting the heat seep into her hands, and took a slow drink.

Leaning back, Ava asked finally, “So... you really went through with it?”

“I had to,” she said softly. “I needed to come here first to tie up every loose end before facing him.”

Ava tilted her head, expression unreadable. “Loose ends?”

She swallowed hard. “I’m not sure, Ava, if I’ll ever return,” she admitted, her fingers tightening around the mug. “I came to secure my life, to lock up my apartment and gather my belongings. He can’t be given any leverage over my past or my independence.”

Ava’s expression shifted, serious and observant. Her eyes scanned every shadow in her posture. She lifted her mug, letting the liquid swirl, her gaze unwavering. “So this is about holding your ground,” she said quietly, almost like a verdict.

She nodded, gripping the mug tighter until her knuckles whitened. “Exactly. I have to try to secure whatever I can now. I don’t know what the coming night may demand, or the dangers that might appear.”

“And work?” Ava asked, leaning forward slightly, curiosity threading her voice.

“I’ll try to arrange with Dr. Patel to keep things running online,” she said, forcing her voice steady even as her stomach twisted. “If I can’t be there myself, at least that way nothing will be left unattended. I can’t risk losing that too.”

Ava studied her, eyes narrowing just a fraction, scrutinizing without suspicion. “You’re protecting your family,” she said softly, the certainty in her tone hard to ignore.

“Yes. For both of us,” she said, letting the words settle inside. “If I refuse or run, they could be in danger. I hate the world he comes from. I want nothing to do with it. But saying yes on my terms... that’s the only way I can keep any control, keep us safe.”

Ava pressed her lips together, head tilting slightly. “Do you really think you can hide that from him? You can’t. He notices everything. Women like you live their own lives. That’s obvious to him.”

She let out a small, bitter smile. “I know. I know how hard it’s going to be. But I can’t sit idle, can’t let myself be helpless. I’ll do my best. That’s all I can do.”

“Just make sure you understand the risk,” Ava said, measured, cautioning but not scolding.

She averted her gaze, drew a slow, shaky breath, preparing for the weight of what awaited outside.

The streets were nearly deserted when she left. The winter air cut sharply as the last light vanished behind the buildings. She stepped onto the curb. The cab driver opened the suitcase, calm enough for her to proceed.

She crouched beside him. “Slide it slightly to the right. That’s fine.”

He adjusted the luggage, and she brushed the edge to make sure it was steady. “Perfect. That works.”

Sliding into the backseat felt strange. She was used to being in control of every turn. Her father had taught her before she got her license, and he had given her rides before that. Since then, she’d been the one steering. Now she had to ride as a passenger with a stranger because she had locked her car in the garage.

She leaned back, eyes scanning the rearview mirror. Stay aware. Watch every movement. Calm. Focused. Her fingers pressed lightly against her handbag to steady herself.

“Where to, miss?” the driver asked.

“Drop me at the address on the app. Mr. Blake Williams’ residence,” she said evenly.

He stayed silent a moment. Then, after a while, his voice broke the quiet. “Blake Williams... the finance man, right?”

“Yes,” she responded briefly.

“Mind if I ask… are you his daughter, or just a guest?”

His question hit hard. She exhaled slowly through her nose, a conscious effort to keep her face neutral. “I actually do mind personal questions. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t ask anything else. Let’s just focus on the route.”

He nodded, but she sensed curiosity in his glance. She turned to the window, watching the streetlights drift past.

At first, the ride seemed normal, but unease crept in. The streets were unfamiliar, and his eyes flicked toward the mirror often, almost searching.

Her instincts for reading people, tiny gestures, subtle tension, fleeting glances, kicked in. He seemed composed, yet his calm carried an undercurrent she couldn’t ignore.

It was too late to cancel. The night was frigid, the streets empty and stretching ahead, and she was already far from the city center. Still, every instinct urged vigilance.

She fixed her gaze on his reflection, noting each motion. Shadows from passing lights revealed a twitch, a controlled shift, intentional. Her skin prickled.

She opened her mouth to speak, but a sharp gunshot cracked through the night. The cab jerked violently as the back tire gave way, skidding on the asphalt. She slammed her forehead into the seat in front of her, a strangled cry escaping. The driver cursed, fighting to regain control.

A convoy of black vehicles drifted, tires squealing and stopping dead ahead, blocking their way. A man leapt from one of them, smashed the driver’s window, and pressed a gun to his temple.

She gasped, hands flying to her face, her entire body shaking. Another figure, dressed sharply in black, signaled for her to step out. She obeyed reluctantly, holding her handbag like armor.

They didn’t touch her, not a word. Their uniforms and synchronized movements suggested they were guards, enforcing some strict protocol. They simply stood aside, turning attention toward the road as if waiting for someone important. Her gaze followed theirs, landing on a car halted only a short distance away.

A tall figure, cloaked entirely in black, stepped out from the car. Unlike the others, the heavy fabric seemed to swallow the light, and the hood concealed his features entirely, leaving his face unreadable beneath the dark veil.

The air shifted instantly, charged with his presence. His stride was smooth, measured, and purposeful. Every movement exuded authority, a quiet danger that didn’t need sound to announce itself.

She stumbled back, trembling, tears burning behind her eyes. He stopped right in front of her. A single gloved hand lifted, a silent command to stay still. The men around melted away, leaving only the two of them standing in the middle of the empty street.

“What do you want from me?” she whispered, voice cracking, breath misting in the cold air.

He didn’t answer immediately. The silence stretched, heavy enough to feel like it pressed against her chest. She sensed his focus, an invisible weight where his eyes should have been.

When he finally spoke, his voice was deep and resonant, like a tide rolling over the shore, carrying an undercurrent that made the ground seem unsteady.

“Don’t look for answers where none are meant to be found.”

The words struck like a hammer. Her chest constricted, pulse rattling in her ears. Every instinct screamed to run, but her legs refused to obey.

His presence left behind only the echo of that voice and the unnerving realization that she was standing on the edge of a puzzle far larger than she could comprehend.