chapter 2:A game of shadows

The moment his name left his lips—”Adam Lancaster”—the air turned thick, suffocating.

I should have run.

But his eyes held me there—icy blue, calculating, stripping me bare with one glance.

"You’re new," he said, swirling a glass of something amber. His voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it, like a knife wrapped in silk.

I forced my chin up. "Just passing through."

His smirk deepened. "No one just passes through Club Nine Hundred."

Cara’s nails dug into my arm as she giggled, shoving me forward. "Adam, this is—"

"Lena," I cut in, the lie bitter on my tongue.

Adam’s gaze flickered—just for a second—but long enough for me to catch it. He knew I was lying.

"Lena," he repeated, testing the name. "You don’t look like a Lena."

My pulse hammered. "And what do I look like?"

"Trouble."

The way he said it sent heat crawling up my neck.

A server appeared with a fresh bottle, but Adam waved him off. "Leave us."

Cara hesitated, shooting me a “don’t screw this up” look before flouncing away.

Silence settled between us, heavy and charged.

Adam leaned back, studying me. "Why are you really here?"

Because my best friend is an idiot. Because my father is drowning in debt. Because I’m desperate.

I shrugged. "The music’s good."

He chuckled, low and dark. "You’re a terrible liar."

Before I could retort, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his expression hardening.

"Excuse me." He stood, straightening his cuffs. "Don’t go anywhere."

Like hell I wouldn’t.

The second he disappeared into the crowd, I bolted.

---

The club’s back hallway was quieter, lined with private rooms and guarded doors. I needed air. Needed to think.

Then I heard it—his voice.

"—still looking into the driver?" Adam’s tone was sharp, clipped.

A deeper voice responded, too muffled to make out.

Driver.

My blood turned to ice.

I pressed closer to the cracked door.

"—Pete’s clean," the other man said. "But if Eve finds out you’re digging—"

"I know the risks," Adam snapped.

A beat of silence. Then—

"Find the daughter."

My breath caught.

No.

Adam’s next words sent a chill down my spine.

"Lucia Pete. Bring her to me."

---

I didn’t wait to hear more.

I ran.

Past the VIP ropes, through the pulsing crowd, my heels slipped on spilled champagne. Cara called after me, but I didn’t stop.

The valet gaped as I shoved past, stumbling into the cold night. Rain slicked the pavement, matching the frantic beat of my heart.

They were looking for me.

A hand grabbed my wrist—

I whirled, ready to fight.

But it was just Cara, her face pale under the neon lights. "What the hell, Lucia?!"

I yanked free. "You set me up."

Her eyes widened. "What? No! Adam just wanted to—"

"Find the daughter," I hissed. "That’s what he said. He knows who I am."

Cara’s mouth opened, then closed. "I… I didn’t tell him anything, I swear!"

The lie was written all over her face.

I stepped back, shaking my head. "Stay away from me."

Then I turned and vanished into the rain.

---

I didn’t go home.

Instead, I ended up at Miss Rosa’s—my old boss from the coffee shop. Her tiny apartment above Subrosa had been my refuge since Mom died.

She took one look at me—soaked, shaking, still in that damn wig—and wordlessly handed me a towel.

I spilled everything.

When I finished, Rosa sighed, lighting a cigarette. "You’re in deep, mija."

"I didn’t do anything!"

"Doesn’t matter." She blew out smoke. "The Lancasters don’t need a reason."

I slumped onto her couch, exhaustion dragging me under. "What do they want with me?"

Rosa’s gaze turned grim. "Only one way to find out."

My phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

A text:

“You can run. But I always find what’s mine. -A”

“How did he get my number?”

I dropped the phone like it burned.

Rosa arched her brow. "Trouble?"

I swallowed.

Worse.

Adam Lancaster wasn’t just looking for me.

He was hunting.

stared at the text, my fingers trembling.

"What do I do?"

Rosa exhaled slowly. "Two choices. You run—far, fast, and never look back."

"Or?"

She met my eyes."You find out why he wants you."

A part of me wanted to bolt—disappear into the night and never resurface. But another part, the stubborn part that had kept me alive this long, burned with questions.

Who was Adam Lancaster really?

Why was he looking into my father?

And most importantly—what did he want with me?

I picked up my phone, my thumb hovering over the screen.

Then I typed back:

"Try me."

Rosa smirked."That’s my girl."

My heart beat increased in pace.

I could literally feel how blood was running through my veins.

I wish I didn't go to club nine hundred.

I wish my father never owed the lancasters a debt.

Now,I am faced with deep turbulence.

The way I handle this will determine my survival or death.

I thought of Papa,the pain we have been through, Mama's illness and things I can't even remember.

why do I have to go through all of this for just a common debt? A debt that Jonathan forgave, only for Eve to say no?

I had never come in contact with Eve but I could tell that she looked like Evil.No wonder,the Lancaster family was popularly known as the Family of sin amongst locals.

I suddenly began to feel sick.

something doesn't feel right about all of this.

There is more to all of this than I know but papa isn't telling me any of it.

I need to know why Lady Eve hates my family so much and will do anything just to bring us lower than we already are.

"I need to go home miss Rosa"

I said as I quickly found my way out of the shop.

"I smell trouble"

A very big trouble.