Maybe

Chapter 49 "Trust me"

His anger grew. His jaw clenched as he ran a hand through his hair, pacing a bit before turning back to face me. "You don't even know who you're dealing with," he muttered, frustration thick in his voice.

Then, I threw my hands up in the air. "Why the hell are they looking for Aiden? What's going on, Ethan?"

His expression shifted to something darker, his eyes narrowing at me. Without saying anything more, he grabbed my arm and started pulling me along, his grip firm but not painful.

"Where are we going?" I demanded, trying to yank my arm free but failing. "Ethan, where the hell are you taking me?"

His only response was a deep sigh. "Just follow me. I'll explain everything later."

I wanted to resist, to demand more answers, but there was something in his tone that made me realize he wasn't giving up. Ethan opened the door and peeked inside, his gaze scanning every corner. The room was nearly dark, but the faint light from outside spilled in enough to make the shadows dance. He stepped inside and glanced back at me, his face set in determination.

"Wait here for me," he said, his voice clipped as he motioned for me to stay put.

I couldn't just let him lock me in here. "What the hell, Ethan?" I shot back, my pulse quickening with the sudden wave of anxiety. "You can't just lock me in here!"

He hesitated, his jaw tightening as he looked me up and down. For a second, I thought he might cave, but then he spoke again, softer this time. "Trust me."

I gaped at him, the frustration bubbling in my chest. "Trust you? After everything? Are you serious?"

But all he did was give me a final, almost apologetic look before closing the door. The unmistakable click of the lock echoed in the small room, and I was left standing there, heart pounding, frustration bubbling over.

I immediately grabbed the knob, my fingers slipping as I tried to twist it open. "Ethan!" I shouted, pounding lightly on the door. "Open it! This is insane!"

But all I heard in return was his voice through the door, faint but firm. "Trust me, please."

It felt like the world had just shifted under my feet, the weight of his words pressing down on me. And though I hated myself for it, I couldn't help but wonder-Did I trust him?

As the door clicked shut behind him, a chill ran down my spine. My thoughts spun out of control. The moment he closed the door, I caught a glimpse of something-a gun, tucked beneath his jacket. My stomach lurched, and my heart skipped a beat.

I definitely heard gunshots earlier.

I was so caught up in the madness of the moment that I didn't fully register it, but now... I couldn't ignore it.

Wait... don't tell me.

I froze, the reality settling in like a stone in my gut. Ethan, the man I thought I knew, the man who played the role of the protector... Was he mixed up in this mess too? Was he working with Aiden? My mind raced back to all the rumors, the stories I'd heard about Aiden's criminal connections. Could it be?

No. No, he can't be like Aiden. My thoughts were a whirlwind, but I couldn't shake the unsettling feeling crawling up my spine.