The cabin was quiet. Too quiet. Even the faint hum of the ventilation felt like a lie.
Lucien motioned for me to sit at the small wooden table. His expression was unreadable. Serious. Calculated. Dangerous.
"There's something you need to know," he said.
I clenched my fists. "About my father?"
He nodded. "Yes. About your father."
My stomach twisted. Rage and grief mixed with confusion. "Go on."
"He wasn't just in debt," Lucien continued. "He wasn't just involved with dangerous men. He… he betrayed a lot of people. And he made promises he could never keep. Promises that… indirectly… put your life in danger tonight."
I felt my throat tighten. "What do you mean?"
Lucien leaned forward. "Your father worked for a syndicate. A shadow network of powerful men. He had access to secrets financial, political… dangerous secrets. And he promised them something that belonged to someone else."
My heart pounded. "What… what could I possibly have to do with that?"
Lucien's eyes softened slightly. "Everything. You're the leverage he promised. The key. That's why Adrian intercepted the deal. That's why your father died."
I shook my head, tears threatening to spill. "No. He loved me. He wouldn't… he wouldn't trade me."
"Love doesn't always mean safety," Lucien said quietly. "Sometimes love is a weakness. And your father's weakness… cost him everything."
I bit my lip, fighting the tears. The betrayal stung worse than any physical pain I'd felt tonight.
"And Adrian…" Lucien's gaze met mine. "He knew all this. That's why he risked himself to save you. Not just because he cares… but because he knows what's at stake. He knows what you could mean if you fall into the wrong hands."
I leaned back, mind spinning. My father… dead. Betrayal. My life… pawns.
Lucien stood. "Tonight isn't over. They're coming. Soon. You need to be ready. We plan, we fight, or we die."
I swallowed hard. Fear, adrenaline, and a strange surge of determination mixed in my chest.
I looked at him, finally accepting it. "Then let's plan."
Lucien nodded. "Good. But remember… trust is fragile. And everyone has secrets including Adrian."
The words sank deep. I realized then… the war wasn't just outside these walls. It was inside me, too.
And survival wasn't enough. I had to understand who to trust, and who to fight.