CHAPTER 010

1318 Words
Shadow of Betrayal Adrian's POV My instincts started to work the instant the lights went out. My hand reflexively reached the knife I kept stashed in the little cabinet under the coffee table as my whole body stiffened. Samantha's terror was flowing off her in waves as the abrupt darkness enveloped us like a stifling blanket. I was too busy to reassure her. nor when the air crackled with danger, nor when time allowed words. "Stay close to me," I said, a low but forceful whisper. Samantha nodded even though I could hardly see her shadow outline. I gave her a squeeze, intending to transmit power over that little link when I felt her palm clasp mine firmly. My brain whirled. Jared would not visit personally—not for something like this. He would send someone, though, and whoever it was already inside. Few steps away, Lucas walked softly and approached the entrance with an attentive stance. Though he was fast, I could sense his level of anxiety matching mine. My gut contracted when the faint sound of footfall emerged from some deeper part of the house. Whoever was in here was not trying to be quiet. They were really confident as well. My senses sharpened, I signaled for Lucas to follow as I guided Samantha toward the hall. We had to leave here, but the exit was unsafe—especially not if Jared's paid professional was waiting for us. Samantha shouldn't be engaged in this kind of fight. She lacked options, though, right now. "Adrian..." she murmured, her voice just audible, but the tremor in her words sliced across me. She felt afraid. < My blood boiled because the same lady who had faced down Jared for months, who had maintained her fortitude through all his trickery, now terrified. Though I wasn't sure how, I told her, "We're going to get out of this." "You have to trust me, though. Stay behind me whatever comes of course. Samantha tightened her hold, but she remained quiet. I sensed her nod, the warmth of her fingers a sharp contrast to the frigid tension engulfing the house. A shadow surfaced at the far end just as we arrived in the corridor. I stopped, automatically dragging Samantha behind me as I turned on defense. The man is forward, slow and deliberate. I could just see a face—one I hadn't expected to see—in the low light coming in through the window. Victoria here. My heart hammered in my chest as incredulity tore across me. She helped with this? My gut turned with perplexity and wrath. Jared was working on what game? How far did his treachery run? "Adrian" Victoria's voice was perfect, too perfect for this kind of situation. "I see you still are as protective as ever." Samantha tightened behind me, her claws snatching into my arm. Though she had never met Victoria, she must have known who she was. There was suffocating tension among us all. "What are you doing here?" I snipped, my voice hardly covering my wrath. "What part do you play in all of this?" Victoria moved forward, her lips twisting into a smile out of sight. "I am here since Jared knew you would cause trouble. He needed someone who could control you... who knew you. She stated the last bit sarcastically, as though she had already prevailed. I wasn't going to provide her with that gratification, though. My head spun with options, each one less than the last. She had always been aspirational, constantly searching for a means of elevation, but I never would have imagined her sinking this low. And you considered yourself able to control me? My voice was cool as I asked. "You believe Jared's strategy is going to work?" Victoria's smile wavered for only a second, and in that instant I saw a spark of doubt in her eyes. Great. She lacked the degree of control she assumed. Her tone stern now as she replied, "This is bigger than just you and Jared." " Adrian, you're over your head. You know nothing about what's ahead. Though I refused to let her see it, her words chilled my spine. Before, I had found myself in lots of risky circumstances. I had targets on my back before this as well. But her manner of speaking and her glance at Samantha... "What with her do you want?" I asked, my voice hardly masking the boiling fury under surface level. Victoria's eyes strayed briefly to Samantha before refocusing on me. "Samantha is more vital than you might believe. She is the means to break Jared. And Adrian, you are in the way. Victoria moved suddenly behind me before I could react. Quietly circling, Lucas suddenly sprang for her with a speed I had not expected. Victoria, on the other hand, accelerated. She whirled on her heel in one swift move, dodging to leave Lucas staggered ahead. Trying to decide our next action, I grasped Samantha's arm and drew her back into the shadows. We left here unable to stay. Victoria was not alone; more individuals had to be hiding about. And there was no knowing what she had in mind if Jared had recruited her to handle his dirty task. Under my voice, "I can't let her walk out of here." Samantha gazed at me, resolve and terror wide in her eyes. "We have to figure out our exit before more of them arrive." She knew exactly what I meant. This was not the venue, even if I wanted to bring Victoria down. Jared had a long reach, and I had no idea how far he was ready to travel. One thing was certain though—this was not the end. It was only starting. "We're leaving," I said, my tone decisive. "Stay close". We moved fast, slinking into the darkness while Victoria and Lucas struggled fiercely. Though I knew Lucas could manage himself, I lacked time to follow up with him. Right now, Samantha's release from here came first. We arrived at the rear door, and as I grabbed for the handle, the house once more resonated with footfall. My pulse accelerated and I turned to find still another person rising from the shadows. This time Victoria was not involved. None of the people I knew identified. Before us appeared a man tall, muscular, with an air of power, blocking our way out. His eyes fixed on me, then he started to grind slowly and menacingly. Leaving so soon, he drew slowly, his voice like gravel. Though I could see Samantha shaking next to me, I kept my eyes fixed on the man facing us. He was not here to speak, whatever he was. Here he was finishing what Jared had begun. "Get out of our way," I shouted, my voice firm even if the terror was wriggling in my core. The man laughed and stepped in front of her. "You think you are in control here, Adrian?" I answered no. I wasn't required to. I opened the door in the next second, pushing Samantha over to block the man's advance. Before he could react, we were out in the frigid night air; his angry cry followed us as we hurried toward the automobile kept in the driveway. My thoughts were racing as we hurried away into the evening. This was not close to done. Jared was getting more aggressive, and Victoria's involvement just made everything more difficult. Still, I would not stop fighting regardless of the number of adversaries he dispatched our way. Specifically for Samantha. For our part. Deep inside, though, I knew—this war was only starting. My phone rang with a fresh message as we neared the town edge. I looked down and felt my pulse stop. Jared gave it. **You can run but cannot hide. Adrian, this is not done yet. Not quite likely.***
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