The warning

Zyra’s POV — 

“Hey… hey.”

Damien tapped my arm again, pulling me out of the fog in my mind. I blinked rapidly, realizing I had zoned out.

“Hi, babe,” I murmured, trying to force a smile as I collected myself.

“What’s wrong? You totally blacked out.”

He dropped his bag on the bedside table and sat beside me, wrapping his arms around me with that warmth only he had. I rested against him and placed a small kiss on his lips.

“It’s nothing, babe… just a little work problem,” I whispered.

“Is your job stressing you?” he asked softly.

I gave him a tired smile. “A little. But I’ll be fine.”

He gently lifted my hand and kissed the back of it. His eyes glistened a little, and it made my chest tighten.

“I’m sorry you have to go through all that just to see me in school,” he whispered. “I’m really sorry.”

“Hey, don’t do that,” I said quickly, cupping his face. “I want to see you get through school. I just want the best for you.”

“You sure, Zyra?” he asked.

“I’m sure,” I breathed. “I just had a bad day at work. It’s messing with my head, that’s all.”

“You wanna talk about it?” he offered.

I shook my head. “It’s something you shouldn’t worry about. All I want is for you to get that engineering degree and make us wealthy one day.”

He kissed me again…soft, deep, reassuring. I smiled into the kiss.

“I promise I’ll make you proud. Us proud. And one day, we’ll laugh at everyone who mocked us for staying together,” he said.

“Thank you for believing in me,” he whispered.

“I love you, Damien,” I said, my voice low.

He pulled me close again. “I know, Zyra.” His lips brushed my forehead while his fingers threaded through my hair.

“I… I went to the VIP lounge today,” I confessed quietly.

He froze, pulling back to stare at me. “What?”

His voice echoed with shock and fear.

“Why would you do that?” he asked, almost in a shout.

“Marcus made me. The VIP bartender wasn’t around and I had to fill in,” I explained.

He let out a shaky breath. “Is that why you’re scared?” he asked.

I nodded slowly.

A part of me wanted to tell him what I heard… that whisper behind the curtain… the two men whose voices dripped with danger. But I swallowed it.

It wasn’t his burden.

It was mine.

I signed up for this job. I just hoped whoever that voice belonged to wouldn’t come for me.

“Zyra,” Damien whispered, tilting my chin up. “I’ll pull you out of that place soon, okay?”

I smiled faintly. “Okay, baby.”

“Oh—by the way,” he said suddenly, his mood brightening, “I got us a ticket to the fan club!” He wiggled his brows playfully.

“Really?” My smile lit up instantly.

“Yes! I knew you’d like it!”

He pulled out the ticket. I squealed and jumped onto him, making him laugh.

Then his phone rang.

“Babe, I have to go. The boys are waiting for me,” he said, kissing my hair before grabbing his bag and rushing out.

I checked the clock.

I needed to be ready for work by 6 p.m.

I lay down for a moment, tryiing to shift the thought of what happened away but it's was so impossible, my body refuses to Keep Calm “should I talk to Jen about what I heard.”

I asked nobody in particular with no other options I sighed, closing my eyes, forcing sleep to come and eventually, it did.

The alarm dragged me back at exactly 5:30 p.m.

I quickly got ready and grabbed my things. As I was adjusting my shirt, my phone rang. I picked it up without checking the caller ID.

“Hello? Zyra on the line.”

No one replied.

Just… breathing.

Then a low voice whispered:

“You are being watched. Don’t stay in private places alone. They will come for you.”

The line went dead.

My heart slammed against my ribs. I threw the phone onto the bed and rushed to the door, checking the hallway, the corners, the shadows.

Nothing.

But I didn’t wait.

I grabbed my bag and hurried out of the house.

As I stepped outside and locked the door, my phone buzzed again.

A new message. An unknown number

You left the house too fast…

Nice reflex.

But nothing changed.

My breath caught.

Slowly and terrified, I turned my head to the directions

And what I saw made my entire body freeze.