The tires screeched as Zayden's black Porsche peeled away from the estate, the city flashing by in rapid bursts of concrete and light. Riley sat beside him, her hand clenched tightly around the seatbelt, heart pounding with more than fear—it was anticipation.
"What was that call?" she asked, finally breaking the silence. "How did they even get that number?"
Zayden's jaw clenched. "That line's buried. Only a handful of people know it exists. It's not just a warning—it's a message. Someone's been watching."
"Who?"
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he reached for the glove compartment, pulling out a sleek black phone and dialing quickly.
"It's me," he said when the line picked up. "I need you to check the house security—any breach on the landline, last 24 hours."
A pause.
"Also, trace this call." He relayed the number.
Riley's voice was quiet but firm. "You think someone inside your circle is turning against you?"
"I know they are." His voice was low, dangerous. "And I think it's someone who knows exactly how to make me bleed."
They turned down a narrow street, arriving at a hidden underground lot beneath a sleek glass building. Zayden led Riley into an elevator, scanning his fingerprint before it descended.
"This is where I keep the things I don't want my family to find," he muttered.
The elevator opened into a minimalist space—white walls, matte black floors, and a table lined with digital monitors and photos. Surveillance feeds flickered across the screens.
Riley's eyes widened. "You've been watching… your family?"
"I had to," he said. "They don't tell the truth. But now someone's turned the game on me."
He tapped a keyboard. Footage rolled. Their conversation from last night… crystal clear.
Riley stepped back. "That's my room."
Zayden stared at the footage, his fists curling. "Someone tapped the house. That line. Maybe more."
He turned, fury flashing in his eyes. "This isn't about just watching us. They want to control the narrative."
Riley felt the chill creep down her spine. "Then we flip the script."
Zayden looked at her.
"You want to find the truth?" she said. "Then let's stop reacting. Let's hunt them first."
His mouth curved into a sharp grin. "Told you you were dangerous."
He moved to the wall and pulled a hidden drawer. Inside, a silver case held files, maps, photos—one of them made Riley gasp.
It was her.
In her neighborhood. Months before she'd even met Zayden.
"Why—why do you have this?"
Zayden stared at it, shaken. "I didn't take this. I swear."
A second photo. Of her mother. Younger. Standing beside a man Riley didn't recognize.
"I think… they've been watching you for longer than we thought," he said quietly.
And in that moment, the ground beneath them didn't just crack—it shattered.