t you?" He was speaking to Ayla, but his eyes were fix

it. "I've seen what you've done, Lucas. I know what you're willi

mask slipped for a moment, and his voice was coarser now. "I didn't come into this power. I was forced to do i

had always known that Lucas was a powerful man, but this? This weakness was novel.

is life?" Ayla asked, her voice quiet

t know what it's like, Ayla. "To always be pushed, always be expect

ng him. Was this just a game? Was he telling the truth,

e, "I never wanted any of this, Ayla."

chest feel heavy. For the first time, Ay

didn't want to talk about. Ayla looked at him, surprised by how honest

He cleared his throat and sat up straight in his chair, never tak

f he were daring her to say somet

ied fighting the feelings that were filling her chest. There had always been a s

said it, but her voice was barely a whisper. "Fr

reath was warm on her skin. He said, "Because I'm not the man you think

more intimate since he was so close and his comments were so strong. For a time, she almost forgot abou

ing about it, her body fighting th

uttered, shaking her head and

n his face was impossible to read. His eyes were locked o

sted, heavy a

ith feelings. She had to work hard to get away

s whispered behind her. His voic

urn to look at him. "I don't think I can stay here anymore," sh

u can't just leave everything behind,

anted to say, but all she could do was groan in frustration. She didn't want t

breaking. "I'm talking about everything else." This... s

the time she turned around. He was no longer acting

ut forceful voice. "But you need to know why I'm doing this.

She didn't know how to feel. She tried to shove him away with all her might, b

creen. There was no name, only an unlisted number. She thought about it. It was

eful and exhausted from wh

low and quiet. "Ayla," it sai

put her finger on it. It pulled at the boundaries of her mind, like

er voice shaking and a shud

ust anyone, not even Lucas. "You've gotten into something much deeper than you

ped. "What do you

before saying, "Ayla, your lif

ad before she cou

k as she put the tablet down. She couldn't shake the impression that someone was watching and wai

Why? And what did all of this have to do with Lucas? There were a lot of questions

and her mind raced. The call had been upsetting, too secretive, and too important. She looked at th

an underneath: weak and lost in the storm of his father's demands. But what now? Doubt began to creep in

idn't expect anyone to come. "Trust me, Ayla," Lucas's voice rang in her h

sn't sure if s

envelope on the porch, sealed with dark red wax. She bent down to get it, and

of paper. She hurriedly opened it up and read the short note: "You are no

roat. Her mind was racing as s

uneasy. Her heart raced in her chest, and the panic that was growing clouded her j

ed around to look at the vacant flat. The

ow who to bel