Chapter thirteen:The enemy inside the walls

Amara woke to the sound of glass shattering.

She bolted upright, heart racing, the echo of the crash still ringing through the apartment. Before she could move, Lucas was already at her side, his hand gripping her wrist firmly but gently.

“Stay here,” he whispered.

“What was that?” she asked, fear threading her voice.

Lucas didn’t answer. He reached into the bedside drawer, pulling out his phone and dialing a number without hesitation. His expression was sharp, focused—the mask he wore when danger stepped too close.

“Perimeter breach,” he said into the phone. “Second floor.”

Amara’s chest tightened.

She slid out of bed despite his warning. “I’m not hiding.”

Lucas glanced at her, frustration and something like admiration flickering in his eyes. “Then stay close.”

They moved down the hallway together, the apartment lights flicking on one by one. In the living room, shards of glass littered the floor beneath the shattered balcony door. Cold night air rushed in.

Nothing was taken.

That was what terrified Amara most.

“They didn’t want anything,” she said quietly. “They wanted us to know they were here.”

Lucas nodded grimly. “A message.”

Security arrived within minutes, voices low and urgent as they assessed the damage. Lucas spoke to them calmly, issuing instructions with practiced authority. Amara watched him, realizing how deeply this world was carved into him.

And how dangerously close it now sat to her own life.

When the apartment was secured, Lucas dismissed the guards and closed the door behind them. Silence fell again—but it was different now. Heavy. Loaded.

“This is escalating,” Amara said.

“Yes,” Lucas replied. “And it won’t stop unless we force it to.”

She crossed her arms, grounding herself. “Then we need to talk about Selene.”

Lucas stiffened. “I already told you—”

“She’s not just jealous,” Amara interrupted. “She knows things. Too many things.”

Lucas exhaled slowly. “Selene was part of my life when I was still careless with information.”

“Careless enough to put a target on my back?” Amara asked.

The question wasn’t accusing. It was honest.

Lucas met her gaze. “Yes.”

The admission stunned her.

“I should have cut her off sooner,” he continued. “I underestimated how far she would go.”

Amara looked away, absorbing the weight of that truth. “She warned me once. About you.”

“What did she say?” Lucas asked.

“That you wouldn’t protect me,” Amara replied. “That you’d protect your control instead.”

Lucas’s jaw tightened. “Is that what you believe?”

She hesitated. “I believe you’re trying. I don’t know yet if it’s enough.”

The honesty hurt—but it was necessary.

The next day, Lucas took her somewhere unexpected.

Not another secure property. Not an office.

A quiet café far from the city center.

“You said you didn’t want decisions made for you,” he said as they sat down. “So this is me listening.”

Amara studied him. “You brought me here to talk?”

“To give you space,” he replied. “And a choice.”

She waited.

“I can lock everything down,” Lucas said. “Pull strings. Shut doors. But that means you live behind walls.”

“And the other option?” she asked.

“You stay visible,” he said. “We draw them out.”

Her pulse quickened. “That’s dangerous.”

“So is hiding,” he replied.

Amara leaned back, thinking. This wasn’t just about safety. It was about trust.

“If we do this,” she said slowly, “you don’t override me.”

Lucas nodded. “Agreed.”

“And no secrets,” she added.

“None,” he said.

That evening, Amara received another message.

Unknown: You’re braver than I expected.

She showed Lucas immediately.

“This is it,” he said. “They’re close.”

“How close?” she asked.

Before he could answer, a knock sounded at the door.

Lucas froze.

He moved to the door silently, checking the security feed.

His expression darkened.

“It’s Selene,” he said.

Amara’s breath caught. “What does she want?”

Lucas opened the door just enough to see Selene standing there, calm, composed—smiling.

“You should thank me,” Selene said softly. “I kept him distracted long enough for you to matter.”

Lucas stepped forward. “Get out.”

Selene’s eyes flicked to Amara. “Be careful. Loving him is the most dangerous thing you could do.”

The door shut.

Silence followed.

Amara turned to Lucas. “She’s not done.”

“No,” he said. “And neither are we.”

But somewhere deep inside, Lucas knew the truth.

The enemy wasn’t just outside the walls.

They were already inside the game.