ets she had promised. The coffee shop was bustling with activity, but Emilia was

, her voice low and mysterious. "He's been hiding a dark s

She had been investigating Xander for month

asked, her voice ba

I'm not sure I should be telling you this," she said. "But I ha

cked on Samantha's, u

voice dropping to a whisper. "He's been using an alias fo

ted that Xander was hiding something, but she

Emilia asked, her voic

nervously. "I'm not sure I should tell you," she sa

the Petrov family before. They were a wealthy and

s new information, Sama

a's arm. "I need to know more. What e

ou more," she said. "But you have to promise me that you'll protect me. Xa

ement. She had finally gotten her big brea

her voice firm. "I'll pr

on her face. "Good," she said. "B

but feel a sense of excitement. She had finally gotten

't shake the feeling that she was being watched. Sh

she approached her office building, she noticed someth

door. And that's when she saw him. Xander Thompson

his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I s

d. "What are you doin

p by and give you a warning. Back off

with anger. "I'm not a

wider. "We'll see

alked out of the office, leaving E

g strange. A piece of paper on her desk had a note scrawled

as she realized who must hav

o secretive? And what did sh

t the note again. She knew she had to be careful. She w

ack down now. She had to see thi

threw it in the trash. She would meet Samantha at midnight, a

she was walking into a trap.

d headed home, she had no idea t

feeling that she was being watched. She look

milia quickened her pace, he

teps behind her. Emilia s

on high alert. But the feeling o

with questions. Who was

a saw a figure lurking in the shadows. Her hear

rd, revealing a shockin

" Emilia demanded, trying

glint in her eye. "I wanted to

narrowed. "Wha

"Xander has people watching you," she whispe

grabbed Samantha's arm. "

ook on her face. "We'll take ca

milia into the shadows, just as

ized the truth. Xander was more p

m a challenge. She was determined to ta

lia turned to Samantha. "W

. "We'll start by gathering evidence," she said

n washing over her. She was ready to t

der had a plan of his own. A pl

rb, Emilia couldn't shake the feeling that she was

from a challenge. She was determined

t of fear, Emilia walked into the unknown, read

a couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched

milia quickened her pace, he

unease and grabbed her arm

feeling of being watched. "I don't know," she

he said. "Xander has a lot of resources at his disposal. If he f

were in. She had never been one to back down from a

couldn't shake the feeling that they were walk