SHADOWS OF JEALOUSY
Elliana should have known Rhea wouldn't stay away.
It started subtly—messages, whispered comments, attempts to get her alone. But tonight, Rhea made it impossible to ignore.
Elliana was leaving school when a sleek red car blocked the driveway. Rhea stepped out, heels clicking against the pavement, eyes sharp and dangerous.
"Going somewhere, Chief's daughter?" she asked, voice dripping with mockery.
Elliana's stomach clenched. "I don't want trouble."
Rhea smirked. "Too late. Trouble found you."
Before Elliana could respond, Leon appeared from the other side of the car, his presence immediate and protective.
"Rhea," he said, voice low and controlled. "Leave her alone."
"She's in my way," Rhea snapped, stepping closer. "I see why he likes you, but he's mine."
Elliana's hands trembled. "You're insane!"
"I'm obsessed," Rhea admitted. "And I always get what I want."
Leon's jaw tightened. "Not her. Not ever."
Rhea laughed softly. "You think you can stop me? You're nothing but a criminal hiding behind a name. And she—" she glared at Elliana, "—is naive."
Elliana stepped forward, voice firm despite the fear coiling in her chest. "I'm not naive. And you don't control him. You don't control me."
For a moment, the tension was explosive. The night air seemed to vibrate with danger.
Rhea sneered, clearly frustrated that Leon and Elliana weren't intimidated. "Enjoy your little moments," she spat, "because I'll be back. And next time… it won't be a warning."
Before Leon could respond, Rhea slid back into her car, tires screeching as she sped off into the night.
Elliana's knees weakened. "That… that was insane."
Leon wrapped his jacket around her shoulders, pulling her close. "I know. And it's only going to get worse."
Elliana rested her head against his chest, heart pounding. "Why do I keep falling for you when everything about you is danger?"
Leon pressed a gentle kiss to her hair. "Because danger doesn't scare you. And neither do I."
But even as they clung to each other, Elliana couldn't shake the feeling that the shadows following them weren't done.
Rhea wasn't the only threat.
Austen was still plotting.
The police were closing in.
And the truth about her mom… the truth Leon carried—was a ticking bomb.
Elliana realized something chilling.
She wasn't just caught between two boys anymore.
She was caught in a storm she couldn't control.
And every choice she made would come at a price.