barely registered the world around her as she drove through the winding streets of Monrovia, her thought

organized crime. His

who had promised her a future full of love, luxury, and security-was involved in something far darker than she could have imagi

danger the moment you got involved with him." Those words sent a chill down her spine.

claimed. Her heart ached at the thought of it. She loved him. She had believed in him. But now she co

onfront Mafred. She couldn't avoid him anymore, and the gnawing doubt inside her was

re slow, deliberate, as if each one weighed more than the last. The door to

but Lulu could see the exhaustion in his eyes. She had always prided herself on being able to read him, on understanding the little details that others might m

hough it didn't reach his eyes. "Y

r throat tight. "

one down, his posture immediately shifting

sure of anything in her life. She wanted to believe him, to trust him, but the s

r voice steady but firm.

th disappearing from his face as his brows furr

lenched at her sides. She wasn't

. I know about the people you're involved wi

had stopped. Mafred didn't move, didn't speak. His eyes narrowed,

e being paranoid. What are you talking about, Lulu? I don't

It was the same reaction he had whenever she asked him questions about his past

o let him get away

I spoke to someone. Someone who knows exactly what's goi

lit second, Lulu saw a side of him she had never seen before-cold, calculating, ruthless. Th

is voice low and sharp. "Tell me. Who

him like this-angry, threatening. She had always thought she

ed, the words tasting like acid on

what you're asking, Lulu. You don't understand the world I'm part of. I did what I had to do to get here. I built something,

Something far darker than she had ever imagined. He wasn't just involved in some shady deals-he

never leaving hers. "I tried to protect you, Lulu. I tried to k

Protect me?" she repeated, disbelief

om all of this. You should have stayed in your little world where everyth

ing under her flesh like a disease. She had never imagined he could

tep back. "Maybe it's better this way. Maybe it's b

toward the door, his footsteps echoing in the silence of th

r head, Lulu. You've ma

that, he

The reality of the situation began to sink in everything had changed. Her relationship

e. She was now part of something far more sinister, and

erything she thought she knew. She's now in the most dangerous position she's ever been in-and with no idea w