Ava's POV
The video replay haunted me, the shadowed figure lurking just beyond sight twisting my stomach into knots. Who was watching me? How deep did this threat go? And why hadn't Jaxon told me more?
I stared at the phone, heart pounding a silent alarm ringing in my head. This wasn't just Carter's game anymore. There was something bigger. Something darker.
The doorbell shattered the silence, pulling me from the spiral of paranoia.
I opened the door to find Jaxon standing there, his expression unreadable. The sharp edges of his suit couldn't hide the tension in his jaw, the storm brewing behind his eyes.
"You should have told me," I said, voice shaking.
He stepped inside, closing the door with a deliberate click.
"I didn't want to drag you deeper," he said softly, "but it's time you knew the truth."
He moved closer, and I could see the weight he carried the empire, the enemies, and now me, caught in the crossfire.
"There's a reason Carter's back," Jaxon continued, voice low and steady. "It's not just about you or me. It's about the Cross legacy and the power struggle that could destroy everything I've built."
I swallowed hard, the enormity of it settling over me like a cold fog.
"And you?" I whispered. "Where do I fit in this… legacy?"
His eyes darkened, fierce and vulnerable all at once.
"You're not just tied to me, Ava. You're tied to everything I'm fighting to protect."
Jaxon's world was a maze of marble halls, guarded secrets, and carefully curated appearances the kind of place designed to impress and intimidate in equal measure.
We walked through the expansive home, his hand never leaving mine.
"I want you to see where this all began," he said.
In the study, walls lined with books and family portraits, Jaxon pulled out a dusty leather-bound album.
"This is my family's history," he said, flipping to a faded photograph of a man who looked like a younger version of him.
"But with power comes enemies," Jaxon continued. "Rivals who want to take everything."
He traced a finger over a marked page an article about a scandal that nearly destroyed the Cross empire years ago.
"And Carter? He was part of that chaos."
I looked up, feeling the weight of a hundred battles fought in silence.
"So he's not just a ghost from your past — he's the symptom of a war still raging."
Jaxon nodded. "And you're caught in the middle."
The penthouse was thick with unspoken words as we faced the fragile truce between desire and danger.
Jaxon's hands were everywhere — commanding, tender, desperate.
"I want to protect you," he said, voice husky. "But I need you to trust me."
I met his gaze, the heat between us undeniable.
"Trust is a gamble," I said, "and I'm not sure if I'm ready to lose."
He smiled that dangerous smile that made my knees weak.
"Then let me be the one to prove it's worth the risk."
Our lips met in a fierce collision a battle of wills and want that neither of us was willing to lose.
My phone buzzed again.
This time, a cryptic message:
We're closer than you think. The game has just begun.
Panic and adrenaline surged through me.
I called Jaxon immediately, but the line went dead.
I tried again.
No answer.
And then, the power cut plunging the penthouse into darkness.
A cold dread washed over me.
Someone was inside.
I reached for the flashlight on the bedside table, every muscle taut with fear.
Then, a whisper from the shadows:
"Looking for me, Ava?"
The voice was chillingly familiar.
My blood ran cold.