Twelve

VESPER GREY LYSAN POV 

I was exhausted and as I stepped into my room, my legs aching from the climb up the stairs, I started to regret some of my life choices, the first on the list being– getting such a big house in the middle of the woods and making the top floor my bedroom, just because of the balcony that overlooked a beautiful lake.

Letting out a sigh, I hit the light switch then paused as the dark space slowly brightened up.

"I really need to start looking for another house," I muttered, rubbing my neck to ease the tension. "This one is not it at all."

A sudden cool draft brushed against my skin, making me shiver.

Why the hell was it so cold? Was the heater broken again?

I let my bag drop, the soft thud echoing. My gaze swept across the room. And that was when I saw it.

The floor-to-ceiling window leading to the balcony stood wide open, the sheer curtains that should have been still, fluttering inward from the breeze.

I froze, my heart lurching into my lungs and seizing my breath.

What the hell. There was no way I forgot to close it this morning. I always did.

Did someone break in? Were they still here? 

I didn't dare to look around.

I took a step forward, my nose picking up a faint, unfamiliar scent that hung in the air—something sharp, heady, like a very expensive cologne. 

If their scent was still lingering, did that mean they left not too long ago? Did they see my car pull up to the house and then make a run for it through the balcony?

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out onto the balcony, my skin prickling with a nervous energy as I gripped the railings and looked out. 

The sound of the breeze whispering through the trees made goosebumps trail down my skin, but there was no one in sight. Everything looked the same. As always.

I turned, stepping back inside and scanning the room for anything that looked off, but everything was in its proper place. The lock hadn't been broken either.

Yet I couldn't shake the feeling that someone had been here. No, it felt like they were still here. I could feel it, deep in my guts.

A buzzing sound suddenly filled the room.

I jumped, a startled yelp escaping my lips as I spun toward the sound, my heart pounding a fierce rhythm in my chest.

It was my phone. 

I clutched at my chest, a sharp exhale escaping my lips as I reached for it with trembling hands.

The caller ID made my jaw clench. Why the hell was she calling me?

I answered and pressed the phone to my ear.

"What do you want Selene. I told you not to contact me."

"And I remember telling you the last time we spoke to start preparing to come back home, but I see you're going to be stubborn like you always are. Damian said you've been working very hard to get more contracts for your company. Can you explain that to me?"

I rolled my eyes. "Do I need to. I think that's pretty much self-explanatory, don't you?"

"Don't piss me off Vesper. You have until the end of the month to do what I want or I'm going to make you regret it. You know what I can do if I get angry, right? I can make that company disappear if I want to."

Rage surged in my chest, pushing my earlier fear into the background. 

"And how do you plan to do that. Are you going to pay one of your criminal friends to set it on fire? I built this company with my share of inheritance, Selene, so don't even threaten me unless you want to see how crazy I can get"

"You built the company with your share of the inheritance?" She scoffed, her voice sharp with venom. "You only got your hands on it because I chose to give it to you! If you had any shame at all, you wouldn't have accepted it!"

I laughed bitterly, the ache in my chest flaring hot. "And why should I feel any shame? If you're trying to make me feel guilty for spending the money of the man I killed, then you're wasting your time because I don't care about that anymore. You see, putting me in that facility for two good years really worked its charm. Now? I don't feel anything at all. I'm all numb. Just like you."

"That's enough, Vesper!" she snapped. "The only reason you're still alive and breathing is because I let you. If you didn't have your father's blood running through your veins, I would’ve killed you myself a long time ago."

She exhaled hard, then added, "Hate me all you want, but you're only alive right now because I sent you to that asylum and wiped your records clean. If I hadn't done that, the Mafia would've hunted you down and killed you the second they found out you were still alive, so stop acting like you're the fucking victim when you're the one who keeps leaving a trail of blood everywhere you go. Tell me, just how many of your lovers have died so far, huh? Six? Seven?" 

My stomach churned, the taste of metal filling my mouth as her words hit too close to home. 

My grip tightened on the phone 

"I'm going to hang up if you don't get to the point."

"Silvane Marros," she said sharply. "That man has made it very difficult for me to run the company. He's diverting our major clients, destroying our goods in transit, and now he's trying to bring everything down by targeting the mines."

She didn't have to say more. I understood exactly what she was trying to tell me.

Silvane was targeting her... because of me.

"And what do you want me to do? I live in another country, with an entirely different surname. You told everyone I was dead."

"I did, but now things have to change since Silvane is trying to use your death to his advantage. He's claiming that you two knew each other and that you signed a document that gives him ownership of the mines as long as you're dead."

"What? But I don't even own the mines. Aren't they under your name?"

It went silent on the other end of the line, and in that moment, I realized everything. "Did Father will the mines to me?'

I could hear her teeth gritting.

"Yes, he did, but you didn't deserve to own them after what you did to him!"

I let out a breath, my head shaking in disbelief. "So what now, you have a problem and you expect me to show up and help you out. After everything you've done."

"There she goes again, acting the victim. I don't care what you think Vesper, but you are coming back home. The company will be organizing a fashion show at the end of the month. All our new jewels and precious stones will be on display. That night will be the perfect opportunity to reintroduce you to the limelight. The board of directors won't be able to reject you since you're a major shareholder. And once that's done, you'll officially be Vesper Grey Lysan again."

"And Silvane? What will you do about him? What if he kills me the moment I show my face? Did you ever think about that?"

"There will be too many eyes on you, so he won't make the mistake of coming after you, but if he does, he won't get away with it, because I'll have people watching you twenty-four-seven."

I closed my eyes, the heat behind them spreading, stinging.

"So what you're saying is that you're willing to have me killed just to keep Father's mine to yourself. Is that it?"

"After being the cause of so many people dying, you shouldn't be afraid of death, Vesper." She voiced, cold and empty. " Instead, you should embrace it. Just like your father did."

The pain I thought I'd buried flared hot in my chest, crushing my lungs.

"Well don't hold your breath," I spat, rage tearing through the agony. "Because I'm not coming back. Ever!"

I ended the call and hurled the phone at the wall, my breath coming fast as I watched it smash, the glass shattering on impact.

"God damn it, I'm so sick of all this bullshit," I groaned, grabbing a handful of my hair.

Then I turned.

My heart stopped, my blood freezing up in my veins as my gaze locked onto the masked figure staring straight at me from across the room.

And then he moved...