Captivated Desires

32

Azar nodded, his memory jogged by my question. "Yes, we did get the snitch," he confirmed. "But it's not that simple. The snitch was just a pawn, someone at the bottom of the food chain. The person we're dealing with now is someone very high up, someone with real power and influence."

Reign's jaw clenched even tighter, the information doing nothing to ease his worry. "So we're dealing with someone even more dangerous than before," he said, his voice low but charged with tension.

Azar nodded grimly. "Precisely," he responded. "Whoever it is, they're smart and they're patient. They've been biding their time, gathering resources and connections until they were ready to strike."

"And now they're ready," Reign stated, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "They're coming after us, aren't they?"

"Unfortunately, that seems to be the case," Azar confirmed, his face set in a stoic expression. "We need to be on high alert, and take every precaution to ensure the safety of our family."

"Azar why don't you bring, Olympia, Valerie and Darius here. We all stay under one roof for now,".

Azar nodded thoughtfully at my suggestion. "That's not a bad idea," he agreed, already mentally calculating the logistics of the proposition. "We'll be safer together, and it will be easier to protect all of us under one roof."

"I'll get in touch with them right away," he added, pulling out his phone. "We'll need to make arrangements for them to arrive as soon as possible." As Azar started making calls, Reign moved over to the window, his mind likely racing with the new information. The silence in the room was broken only by the sound of Azar's hushed conversation on the phone.

After a few minutes, Azar ended the call and joined Reign by the windows. "They're on their way," he informed Reign, who simply gave a terse nod in response. Outside, the sky was starting to darken, the sky turning from a pale blue to a mix of pinks and oranges as the sun began its descent. The peacefulness of the scene was in stark contrast to the tenseness inside the villa.

Suddenly, the sound of children's laughter echoed down the corridor, bringing a momentary sense of normalcy to the heavy atmosphere. However, the knowledge of the danger lurking in the background quickly chased away any real sense of comfort.

Reign glanced towards the sound, his expression hard but with a hint of worry in his eyes. The children's mirth was an innocent, unfiltered contrast to the serious situation they were facing, and it only served to heighten his concern. "We need to figure out a way to keep them safe," he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. "They can't be in the middle of this, they're too young, too innocent..."

Azar gave a solemn nod. "We will," he reassured, his voice firm and determined. "We'll do whatever it takes to keep the kids out of harm's way. They're our priority, no matter what."

As I walked down the corridor towards the children's rooms, the laughter and shouting grew louder. When I reached the doors, I glanced in and saw the kids playing together. Lionel was showing off a drawing he had done, while Levi played with a toy car. Willow was sitting in the corner, watching her brothers.

As I tried to push down the mounting anxiety and focus, I felt a sudden dizziness wash over me. The room started to spin, and my vision blurred. I stumbled, my legs suddenly feeling weak. I collapsed onto the carpet, the world around me fading in and out. My head felt heavy, the sounds around me becoming distant and distorted. It was as if the weight of the situation had become too much for me to bear, and my body was struggling to cope.

But before I could fully lose consciousness, I heard footsteps rushing towards me and the world came back into focus just enough for me to register Reign's concerned face hovering above me. "Reina!" His voice was filled with worry as he knelt beside me, one hand on my shoulder, the other brushing away the hair from my face. "Reina, can you hear me?"

My vision was still slightly hazy, but I could make out his concerned expression, etched with worry. "Y-Yes," I managed to croak out, my voice hoarse and weak. Reign's expression didn't relax much, his hand still firmly on my shoulder. "Don't try to move," he instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You passed out. Just rest for a minute."

My body obeyed his command instinctively, feeling depleted and weak. I could feel the carpet under me, soft and slightly itchy, and I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the wave of weakness pass over me. 

Reign stayed by my side, his hand still on my shoulder. I could feel the reassuring weight of it, grounding me in the present, even as my mind struggled to process what had just happened. As I lay there, trying to regain my bearings, the sound of footsteps running towards me grew louder. The kids, alarmed by what was happening, had come out of their rooms to see what was wrong.

"Mama!" Willow's voice was the first to break the silence, followed by the worried shouts of Lionel and Levi. They stood in the doorway, their eyes wide with fear and confusion, watching as their dad hovered over me.

Reign looked up at them, his expression tightening for a brief second. "It's okay," he said, attempting to sound calmer than he felt. "Mama just needs to rest for a minute. Go back to your room, kids."

But the kids were not easy to pacify. "Is Mom okay?" asked Lionel, his lower lip quivering. "Why is she lying on the floor?"

"She's just a little tired," Reign replied, trying to downplay the situation. "She'll be fine soon. But she needs some quiet right now. So go back to your rooms, okay?"

"I- tripped, that's all. Listen to your dad and go to your rooms. Auntie Olympia is coming with Valerie and Darius," I told them gently.