VEIL OF RICHES (Elite Shadow serie #1)

C - 5

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The drive was long, the tension inside the car suffocating. Shenaya stared out the window, her mind racing as she tried to come to terms with her situation. The coastal town that had been her refuge was now just a memory, fading into the distance as Zachary and Xanthos took her deeper into the unknown.

Zachary sat beside her, his hand still firmly gripping her wrist, as if afraid she might try to escape again. Xanthos was in the front seat, a silent presence that only added to the oppressive atmosphere. He glanced back at her occasionally, his eyes cold and calculating.

Shenaya knew better than to try to fight them. She had learned the hard way just how powerful and ruthless these men were. But that didn’t mean she had given up. She just needed to bide her time, to wait for the right moment to act.

Hours passed before they finally arrived at their destination—a sprawling estate nestled in the Italian countryside, far from prying eyes. It was the kind of place that spoke of old money and secrets buried deep. The kind of place where someone could disappear and never be found.

Zachary pulled her out of the car, his grip still unyielding. "Welcome home," he said, his voice devoid of any warmth. "I hope you didn’t think you could get away from me for good."

Shenaya didn’t respond. She couldn’t afford to show fear or anger, not now. Instead, she allowed herself to be led inside, her eyes taking in every detail of her surroundings. The estate was vast, its corridors lined with portraits of long-dead ancestors, the rooms filled with antique furniture and priceless artifacts.

They brought her to a room on the upper floor, locking the door behind her. Shenaya quickly scanned the space—no windows, just a bed, a dresser, and an en-suite bathroom. It was a gilded cage, but a cage nonetheless.

Zachary stood in the doorway, watching her with that same intense gaze that had both drawn her in and terrified her from the start. "You’re mine, Shenaya," he said quietly. "You’ve always been mine. Running away was a mistake, one you won’t be able to repeat."

Shenaya forced herself to meet his gaze, drawing on every ounce of strength she had left. "I’m not yours," she replied, her voice steady. "I never was. You can keep me here, but you’ll never have me, Zachary. Not in the way you want."

For a moment, something flickered in his eyes—something that almost looked like regret. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the cold, calculating expression she had come to know so well.

"You’ll change your mind," he said, stepping closer. "Eventually, you’ll realize that this is where you belong. With me."

He reached out to touch her face, but Shenaya flinched away, backing up until she hit the wall. Zachary’s expression hardened, and he let his hand drop to his side.

"We’ll see," he murmured before turning and leaving the room, the door locking behind him.

Shenaya sank to the floor as soon as he was gone, the weight of her situation crashing down on her. She was trapped, alone, and at the mercy of a man who saw her as nothing more than a possession.

But she wasn’t going to give up. She had escaped once, and she would find a way to escape again. She just needed to be patient, to wait for the right opportunity. Zachary might have her now, but she refused to let him break her spirit.

Days turned into weeks as Shenaya adjusted to her new reality. Zachary visited her often, trying to wear her down with a mix of charm and intimidation. But she resisted, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her submit.

Xanthos, on the other hand, kept his distance, always watching from the shadows. There was something unsettling about him, something that made Shenaya feel like he was biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

It wasn’t until one evening, when Zachary was away handling some business, that Xanthos finally made his move.

Shenaya was in her room, staring out at the darkened countryside, when she heard the door unlock. She turned, expecting to see Zachary, but it was Xanthos who stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind him.

"Zachary’s not here," he said, his voice low and smooth. "He won’t be back for hours."

Shenaya’s heart raced as she tried to gauge his intentions. "What do you want, Xanthos?" she asked, keeping her voice calm.

He smirked, his eyes glinting with something that sent a shiver down her spine. "What I want, Shenaya, is for you to understand your place in all of this. Zachary thinks he has you under control, but we both know you’re too clever for that. You’re not as easily tamed as he believes."

Shenaya didn’t respond, her mind working frantically to figure out what he was playing at.

Xanthos took a step closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "You have two choices," he continued. "You can continue this charade, pretending to resist Zachary, knowing that it will only end one way. Or… you can work with me."

Shenaya narrowed her eyes, suspicion flaring. "Work with you? Against Zachary?"

Xanthos smiled, a predatory glint in his eyes. "Let’s just say our goals might align. Zachary is… predictable. He thinks he’s won, that he has you right where he wants you. But you and I both know that nothing is ever that simple."

Shenaya studied him, trying to read between the lines. Xanthos was dangerous, perhaps even more so than Zachary. But he was also offering her a way out, or at least, a chance to turn the tables.

"And what do you get out of this?" she asked, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her.

"Power," Xanthos said simply. "Zachary underestimates me, just as he underestimates you. Together, we could change the balance of power."

Shenaya hesitated. Trusting Xanthos felt like making a deal with the devil, but in her current situation, she had few options. If she could play along, maybe she could find a way to free herself from both men.

"What do you want me to do?" she asked finally, her decision made.

Xanthos’s smile widened, a look of satisfaction crossing his face. "For now, just stay close to Zachary. Gain his trust. I’ll handle the rest."

With that, he turned and left the room, leaving Shenaya with a new, dangerous game to play. She had no illusions about what Xanthos was capable of, but if this was her only chance at freedom, she would take it.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Shenaya took a deep breath, steeling herself for the battle ahead. She would survive this. She had to. And when the time came, she would make sure that neither Zachary nor Xanthos would ever control her again.

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A vote would do☺️