THE MAN SHE SHOULD FEAR

ANIYA’S POV

“They’re trying to get to me.”

KC’s words stayed in my head long after the call ended.

I stared at the photograph in my hand.

It showed me leaving KC’s office.

Whoever had taken it had been close enough to capture my face clearly.

My stomach twisted.

“Why would anyone want to get to you through me?”

Ethan took the photograph from my hand.

“Because you’re important to him.”

I looked at him.

“What does that mean?”

He hesitated.

“I think you should ask KC.”

Before I could respond, my phone rang again.

KC.

I answered immediately.

“Where are you?”

“At the studio.”

“Stay there.”

“KC, I need answers.”

“You’ll get them.”

“No. Not later. Now.”

Silence.

I could hear traffic in the background.

Then he spoke.

“My enemies know about you.”

I froze.

“Your enemies?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because they’ve been watching me for years.”

“And now they’re watching me?”

“Yes.”

I closed my eyes.

“This is because of you.”

“I know.”

There was no hesitation in his answer.

That somehow made me more frightened.

“Then I need to know what I’m involved in.”

“You’re not involved in anything.”

“Someone just sent me a photograph telling me to stay away from you.”

“I know.”

“You keep saying that like it’s normal!”

My voice rose.

“I left my husband three weeks ago. I’m trying to build a company. I finally have something that’s mine, and now someone is threatening me because of a man I barely know.”

KC was silent.

“You’re right.”

I stopped.

“What?”

“You deserve the truth.”

I waited.

“Meet me tonight.”

“Where?”

“My home.”

I hesitated.

“Your home?”

“Yes.”

“Why there?”

“Because there are things I can’t discuss over the phone.”

My stomach tightened.

“What time?”

“Eight.”

I looked at Ethan.

“Fine.”

The call ended.

I lowered my phone.

Ethan was watching me.

“You shouldn’t go.”

I frowned.

“You just told me to ask him for answers.”

“I said ask him.”

“And?”

“And you don’t know what you’re walking into.”

I looked at the photograph.

“Neither do you.”

He sighed.

“That’s exactly what worries me.”

⸻

At eight, I arrived at KC’s home.

I had expected another luxury apartment.

I was wrong.

His home was a massive estate surrounded by tall gates and security cameras. Several men in dark suits stood around the property, watching every vehicle that approached.

I stepped out of the car.

A guard checked my name before allowing me inside.

I looked around.

“What exactly does this man do?”

I whispered to myself.

The front door opened before I could knock.

KC stood there.

He wasn’t wearing a suit.

Instead, he had on a black shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows.

For some reason, seeing him dressed casually made him seem more dangerous, not less.

“Come in.”

I stepped inside.

The house was elegant but strangely quiet.

No unnecessary decorations.

No family photographs.

Nothing that suggested anyone actually lived there.

KC led me into a large living room.

“Sit.”

I sat.

He remained standing.

“You asked for answers.”

“Yes.”

He nodded.

“Then I’ll give you the truth.”

I waited.

“My investment company is legitimate.”

I frowned.

“That sounds like a very specific thing to say.”

“It is.”

He walked toward the window.

“But it’s not the only business I’m involved in.”

My heart began beating faster.

“What other business?”

He turned toward me.

“Things that aren’t legal.”

The room became silent.

I stared at him.

“You’re involved in organized crime.”

He didn’t deny it.

“Yes.”

I slowly stood.

“You’re a mafia boss?”

“I’m one of the people who runs it.”

I took a step backward.

I should have been terrified.

Maybe I was.

But strangely, I wasn’t surprised.

There had always been something about KC that didn’t fit the image of an ordinary businessman.

The security.

The secrecy.

The way people listened when he spoke.

The danger in his eyes.

It suddenly made sense.

“Why did you invest in my company?”

“Because I believe in your business.”

“That isn’t the whole truth.”

“No.”

He walked closer.

“I also wanted to know whether I could keep you safe.”

My heart skipped.

“You knew I was in danger before I did?”

“I suspected it.”

“Why?”

“Because someone asked questions about you.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know.”

I shook my head.

“This is insane.”

“I know.”

“I should leave.”

KC didn’t stop me.

“If you want to go, I’ll have someone take you home.”

I stared at him.

“You’re not going to convince me to stay?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because you should never stay somewhere you’re afraid to be.”

His answer caught me off guard.

I looked away.

“You’re dangerous.”

“Yes.”

“You’ve killed people?”

His expression hardened.

“Yes.”

My breath caught.

He didn’t look proud.

He didn’t look ashamed either.

He simply looked tired.

“I won’t lie to you, Aniya. My world is dangerous. People around me get hurt. That’s why I tried to keep you away from it.”

“But you knew I was already being watched.”

“Yes.”

“And you still let me work with you.”

“I believed I could protect you.”

I shook my head.

“You can’t protect me from everything.”

“I know.”

He stepped closer.

“But I’ll try.”

Our eyes met.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

There was something in his gaze that made my chest tighten.

It wasn’t pity.

It wasn’t guilt.

It was something deeper.

Something I wasn’t ready to name.

I looked away first.

“I need time.”

“You have it.”

I headed toward the door.

Then I stopped.

“KC?”

“Yes?”

“Why me?”

He stared at me.

“Because you walked away from a man who made you feel worthless and decided to build something of your own.”

I swallowed.

“That isn’t an answer.”

“It is for me.”

I left without saying anything else.

⸻

The drive home was quiet.

I stared through the window, thinking about everything KC had told me.

A mafia businessman.

A dangerous world.

Enemies.

People watching me.

I had no idea what I was supposed to do with all of that.

Then my phone rang.

Corbin.

I almost ignored it.

But something made me answer.

“What?”

His voice was tense.

“Aniya, where are you?”

“Why?”

“I need to see you.”

“About what?”

“About KC.”

My heart stopped.

“What about him?”

“You need to stay away from him.”

I closed my eyes.

“You’ve already told me that.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Then explain.”

There was silence.

Then Corbin said something that made my blood run cold.

“I know what KC Sterling is.”

I sat upright.

“How?”

“Because I’ve had dealings with him.”

My heart pounded.

“What kind of dealings?”

“I can’t explain over the phone.”

“Then tell me now.”

“Meet me.”

I hesitated.

“Where?”

“I’ll send you the location.”

The call ended.

A message arrived seconds later.

I opened it.

A restaurant address.

Tomorrow.

7 p.m.

I stared at the screen.

I didn’t know whether meeting Corbin was a mistake.

But if he knew something about KC that could put me in danger, I needed to hear it.

I looked out the window.

The city lights blurred past.

I had spent four years married to Corbin without realizing how much he kept from me.

Now I had met another man who seemed to have even more secrets.

Maybe leaving my marriage hadn’t meant leaving danger behind.

Maybe I had simply walked from one world of secrets into another.

And tomorrow, I was about to find out just how much Corbin knew about the man I was beginning to trust.