Chapter 4 – Shadow in the Light

I dug through my closet, tossing a few outfits onto the bed before settling on a simple blue top and white jeans. I slipped on my white sneakers, laced them snugly, and stuffed my phone and wallet into my handbag, making sure the keys were inside. 

Papers from the clinic lay stacked on the desk, brought over yesterday. I grabbed them, flipping through quickly to make sure nothing remained unfinished.

I ran a hand through my straight blonde hair, tying it back into a loose ponytail, then scanned the room. Everything looked in order, but the pit in my stomach reminded me that appearances were deceiving. I double-checked the apartment keys in my bag.

Ugh, finally done, Jenna. I let out a deep breath, shook my head, slung my bag over my shoulder, and turned to meet Alexa’s gaze.

She stood in the doorway, arms crossed, her gray eyes, just like Dad’s, measuring me with sharp concern. I tilted my head and offered a soft smile.

“Alexa, I’ll be back soon, sweetheart. I need to go now,” I said, keeping my voice even and careful.

She stepped closer, her eyes locked on mine. “When will you return, Jenna?” Her tone was quiet, almost pleading.

I swallowed hard. “I’ll be back by night,” I said. “There’s no time to delay.”

Her brow furrowed. “Can’t it wait till tomorrow, Jenna?”

I exhaled slowly, forcing my thoughts into order. “Alexa, I really don’t have a choice, dear. I don’t even know if I ask Dad to delay the meeting… whether that Vicious King would allow it or not.”

She hesitated, chewing her lower lip, caught between worry and understanding.

We’d spent last night together when she visited me again, trying to lighten my mood with playful teasing. She brought my favorite chocolate cookies and coffee, and we ended up talking for hours, laughing, sharing bits of ourselves and our routines.

She had come home a couple of hours before I arrived, finally free from her law exams, planning to spend a week or two at the house. That’s when she found out I was coming too.

I stepped closer and patted her cheek. “Don’t worry, Alexa. Once I’m done with my work, I’ll be here for weeks, and we can spend that time having fun.” I gave her a reassuring look. “Besides, you know I didn’t even bring much with me. I need to grab my clothes and a few other things.”

Her expression shifted, and then she grinned, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Okay, but if you’re late, I’m emptying every jar of your chocolate cookies. Not a single crumb will survive.”

I chuckled, widening my eyes in mock horror. “Hey, don’t you dare.”

She nodded, still smirking, finally easing the tight knot of tension in the room. I turned toward the door, and she silently followed, her gaze tracking every move.

******

I parked in front of the clinic and swung the door open, stepping into the crisp winter night. The street was quiet, the cold biting my cheeks as I scanned the cars lining the curb. A few patients hurried inside, voices muffled, but otherwise the city seemed to pause.

Ava was at the reception desk, flipping through files with her usual energy. Her eyes lit up when she saw me. “Finally,” she said, her grayish-blue eyes sparkling. “I thought you’d vanish without giving me a hint you existed.”

I laughed, letting my shoulders drop a little. “Traffic wasn’t that bad,” I muttered, though my stomach still felt tight.

She chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Dr. Patel stepped out of his office, clipboard in hand. “Everything set for today, Miss Jenna?” he asked, glancing at the neatly stacked folders.

“Yes,” I replied, spreading the files across the counter. I paused, my attention caught by the sky fading through the window behind him. “But... I need one last look,” I murmured, as if the growing darkness could steady the tremor in my chest.

Ava’s grin widened as she leaned on the desk. “Sure. Don’t worry, I’ll just tell everyone you’re having an existential crisis about the filing system.”

She took a playful sip from her straw, the look on her face making me and Dr. Patel both smile. He turned back to his work.

Later, the clinic had quieted. The last patients had gone, leaving only the low hum of the heater. Ava returned from the kitchenette carrying two steaming mugs of tea. She set one in front of me and slid into the chair across, her gaze flicking to my tense posture.

“You’ve got that ‘thinking about everything at once’ look,” she said lightly, placing her mug down. “Better sip something warm before your brain overheats.”

I cradled the cup, letting the heat seep into my hands, and took a slow drink.

Leaning back, she asked finally, “So... you really went through with it?”

I traced the rim. “I had to,” I said softly. “I needed to come here first to tie up every loose end before facing him.”

She tilted her head, expression unreadable. “Loose ends?”

I swallowed hard. “I’m not sure, Ava, if I’ll ever return,” I admitted, my fingers tightening around the mug. “I came to secure my life, to lock up my apartment and gather my belongings. He can’t be given any leverage over my past or my independence.”

Ava’s expression shifted, serious and observant, the warmth I usually saw replaced by a sharp focus. Her eyes seemed to scan every shadow in my posture. She lifted her mug, letting the liquid swirl, her gaze unwavering. “So this is about holding your ground,” she said quietly, almost like a verdict I couldn’t argue with.

I nodded, gripping the mug tighter until my knuckles whitened. “Exactly. I have to try to secure whatever I can now. I don’t know what the coming night may demand, or the dangers that might appear.”

“And work?” she asked, leaning forward slightly, her elbows resting on the table, curiosity threading her voice.

“I’ll try to arrange with Dr. Patel to keep things running online,” I said, forcing my voice steady even as my stomach twisted. “If I can’t be there myself, at least that way nothing will be left unattended. I can’t risk losing that too.”

She studied me, eyes narrowing just a fraction, scrutinizing without suspicion. “You’re protecting your family,” she said softly, the certainty in her tone hard to ignore.

I met her gaze, letting the words settle inside me. “Yes. For both of us. If I refuse or run, they could be in danger. I hate the world he comes from. I want nothing to do with it. But saying yes on my terms… that’s the only way I can keep any control, keep us safe.”

Ava pressed her lips together, her head tilting slightly as she looked down at her cup. The last of her tea shimmered in the dim light. “Jenna, do you really think you can hide that from him? You can’t. He notices everything. Women like you live their own lives. That’s obvious to him.”

I let out a small, bitter smile. “I know. I know how hard it’s going to be. But I can’t sit idle, can’t let myself be helpless. I’ll do my best, that’s all I can do.”

“Just make sure you understand the risk,” she said, her tone measured, almost cautioning but not scolding.

I averted my gaze, letting her words settle in my mind, and drew a slow, shaky breath, preparing for the weight of what awaited me outside.

The streets were nearly deserted when I left. The winter air cut sharply as the last light vanished behind the buildings. I stepped onto the curb. The cab driver opened the suitcase, calm enough for me to proceed.

I crouched beside him. “Slide it slightly to the right. That’s fine.”

He adjusted the luggage, and I brushed the edge to make sure it was steady. “Perfect. That works.”

Sliding into the backseat felt strange. I was used to being in control of every turn. My father had taught me before I got my license, and he used to give me rides before that. Since then, I’d been the one steering. Now I had to ride as a passenger with a stranger because I’d necessarily locked my car in the garage.

I leaned back, eyes scanning the rearview mirror. Stay aware. Watch every movement. Calm. Focused. My fingers pressed lightly against my handbag to steady myself.

“Where to, miss?” the driver asked.

“Drop me at the address on the app. Mr. Blake Williams’ residence,” I said evenly.

He stayed silent for a moment. Then, after a while, his voice broke the quiet. “Blake Williams... the finance man, right?”

“Yes,” I responded briefly.

“Mind if I ask… are you his daughter, or just a guest?”

His question hit hard. I exhaled slowly through my nose, a conscious effort to keep my face completely neutral. I was alone beside this stranger, and I couldn’t afford confrontation.

“I actually do mind personal questions,” I said quietly. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t ask anything else. Let’s just focus on the route.”

He nodded, but I sensed curiosity in his glance. I turned to the window, watching the streetlights drift past.

At first, the ride seemed normal, but unease crept in. The streets were unfamiliar, and his eyes flicked toward the mirror often, almost searching.

My instincts for reading people, tiny gestures, subtle tension, fleeting glances, kicked in. He seemed composed, yet his calm carried an undercurrent I couldn’t ignore.

It was too late to cancel. The night was frigid, the streets empty and stretching ahead, and I was already far from the city center. Still, every instinct urged vigilance.

I fixed my gaze on his reflection, noting each motion. Shadows from passing lights revealed a twitch, a controlled shift, intentional. My skin prickled.

I opened my mouth to speak, but a sharp gunshot cracked through the night. The cab jerked violently as the back tire gave way, skidding on the asphalt. I slammed my forehead into the seat in front of me, a strangled cry escaping. The driver cursed, fighting to regain control.

A convoy of black vehicles drifted, tires squealing and stopping dead ahead, blocking our way. A man leapt from one of them, smashed the driver’s window, and pressed a gun to his temple.

I gasped, my hands flying to my face, my entire body shaking. Another figure, dressed sharply in black like the others, signaled for me to step out. I obeyed reluctantly, holding my handbag like armor.

They didn’t touch me, not a word. Their uniforms and synchronized movements suggested they were guards, enforcing some strict protocol. They simply stood aside, turning their attention toward the road as if waiting for someone important. My gaze followed theirs, landing on a car halted only a short distance away.

A tall figure, cloaked entirely in black, stepped out from the car. Unlike the others, the heavy fabric seemed to swallow the light as it draped around him, and the hood’s cap concealed his features entirely, leaving his face unreadable beneath its dark veil.

The air shifted instantly, charged with his presence. His stride was smooth, measured, and purposeful. Every movement exuded authority, a quiet danger that didn’t need sound to announce itself.

I stumbled back, trembling, tears burning behind my eyes. He stopped right in front of me. A single gloved hand lifted, a silent command to stay still. The men around us melted away, leaving only the two of us standing in the middle of the empty street.

“What do you want from me?” I whispered, my voice cracking, my breath misting in the cold air.

He didn’t answer immediately. The silence stretched, heavy enough to feel like it pressed against my chest. I sensed his focus on me, an invisible weight where his eyes should have been.

When he finally spoke, his voice was deep and resonant, like a tide rolling over the shore, carrying an undercurrent that made the ground seem unsteady.

“Don’t look for answers where none are meant to be found.”

The words struck like a hammer. My chest constricted, my pulse rattling in my ears. Every instinct screamed to run, but my legs refused to obey.

His presence left behind only the echo of that voice and the unnerving realization that I was standing on the edge of a puzzle far larger than I could comprehend.