Chasing Shadows

Chapter Fifty: Divided Loyalties

Rhea’s Perspective

The sound of her heels clicking against the polished floor echoed through the empty halls of their underground headquarters. Rhea’s steps were brisk and sharp, the rhythm a reflection of her state of mind: precise, focused, and—most importantly—satisfied. For the first time in what felt like ages, things were finally going her way.

She pushed open the heavy metal door leading to their private quarters, the dim lighting casting a soft glow on the sleek, modern interior. Her eyes swept over the room, immediately catching sight of Zane sitting by the window, his gaze lost in the view of the city skyline. He looked almost serene, as if the storm raging within him had finally quieted.

Rhea’s lips curled into a smile—a smile that held no warmth, only cold triumph. Everything was falling into place. Zane was finally detaching himself from that stupid hero’s sidekick, Ethan. He’d stopped lurking in the shadows of Ethan’s life, stopped letting himself be dragged down by those pointless emotions.

This was exactly what she’d wanted.

She moved closer, her presence as silent and subtle as a wisp of smoke. Zane didn’t turn to acknowledge her, but that was nothing new. She didn’t mind. She’d grown used to his aloofness, his distant silences. What mattered was that he was here, by her side, where he belonged.

“I see you’re not out roaming the streets tonight,” she remarked, her voice soft but laced with satisfaction. “No more playing the part of the heartbroken protector?”

Zane’s shoulders tensed at her words, a small sign of resistance. But he didn’t respond, didn’t give her the satisfaction of a retort. He simply continued staring out the window, his expression unreadable.

Rhea’s smile widened. Good. This was good. He was learning—learning to let go of the dead weight that had been holding him back. Ethan had been a distraction, a weakness, something Zane couldn’t afford if they were to achieve their goals.

“I knew you’d see things my way eventually,” she murmured, stepping up beside him. She leaned against the window frame, her gaze fixed on Zane’s profile. “It was only a matter of time before you realized that he’s not worth it.”

A flicker of something—anger, maybe?—flashed in Zane’s eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. Rhea tilted her head, studying him with a critical eye. Despite his outward calm, she could sense the turmoil simmering beneath the surface. He was trying so hard to bury it, to push it down where it couldn’t touch him. Where it couldn’t touch her.

Because as much as she hated to admit it, she’d been afraid—afraid that Ethan’s influence on Zane would be the one thing she couldn’t erase. That no matter how hard she tried, she’d never be able to sever that lingering bond between them.

But now, standing here, watching Zane slowly turn his back on the past, she felt a surge of triumph. She’d succeeded. She’d made Zane see reason, made him understand that their shared vision—their future—was more important than some misplaced sense of loyalty to a boy who didn’t deserve it.

“It’s better this way, you know,” she continued, her voice dropping to a murmur. “You can finally focus on what really matters. No more distractions. No more doubts.”

Zane remained silent, his gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the glass. Rhea’s smile faltered slightly, a flicker of irritation sparking within her. Why couldn’t he see how good this was? How freeing it was to cut ties with the things that only served to weaken them?

“Zane,” she said sharply, reaching out to touch his arm. The contact was brief, almost hesitant, but it was enough to draw his attention. He turned to look at her, his expression still frustratingly closed off.