Enchanted By Shadow

Chapter 11

Roma

The morning sunlight filtering through the blinds was barely enough to shake me from the storm brewing in my mind. I sat at my desk, surrounded by paperwork I should’ve cared about, but the only thing I could focus on was her—Sasha. The way she’d looked last night, her lips parted in that mixture of defiance and innocence, haunted me. The memory of her body, so vulnerable, so unaware that she was being watched, filled my head. She thought she was safe, thought she was hidden. But I was always watching. I owned her, whether she knew it yet or not.

I’d checked on her this morning. She was still sleeping, curled up like she didn’t have a single worry in the world. Her peaceful face was a stark contrast to what I’d just learned about her. That sweet exterior, the innocence... it was a fucking lie. And yet, it made me want her more.

My office door creaked open, and Lucas walked in, his face drained from the lack of sleep. The man had been working tirelessly, dealing with our shipments and digging up everything he could on Sasha. He sat in front of me, running a hand through his disheveled hair. His face was tight, like he was carrying something heavy.

“Roma,” he started, his voice low, “I’ve got news. But I’m not sure if you’re gonna like it.”

I leaned forward, fixing him with a stare that would’ve made anyone else flinch. “Get to the point.”

He sighed, rubbing his temples. “I found out who Sasha really is.”

The mention of her name was like a shot of adrenaline straight to my system. I was all ears. “What did you find?”

His lips quirked into a half-smile, the kind that meant nothing good. “Turns out, you’ve been playing with fire.”

I gripped the edge of my desk. “Stop dancing around it. Tell me.”

“Sasha Grey. English by birth. But not just some random girl. She’s a fucking assassin.”

The word ‘assassin’ hit me like a punch to the gut, but it didn’t knock the wind out of me. Instead, it ignited something darker. My blood boiled, a mix of anger, intrigue, and excitement swirling inside me. An assassin? My mind raced, pieces of the puzzle falling into place.

“You’re sure?” I asked, my voice low, dangerous.

Lucas nodded. “Positive. She’s no small-time player either. She’s highly skilled, or at least she used to be. Thing is, she’s been off the radar for five years. No hits, no jobs, nothing. It’s like she disappeared.”

The fact that she’d gone dark didn’t faze me. It only made her more fascinating, more deadly. A killer hiding in plain sight. And yet, she had no idea that she was caught in a much bigger trap. Mine.

“Anything else?” I asked, my voice cool, but my mind spinning with the possibilities.

He leaned back, folding his arms. “There’s more. I don’t know who she worked for, but there’s a chance she’s got a mark—a tattoo, something that ties her to her past. Did you see anything when you were with her?”

I remembered catching a glimpse of something the night before, something inked on her skin. A tattoo. But I hadn’t gotten a clear look. I’d been too distracted by everything else—the curve of her body, the softness of her skin, the way her breath hitched when she thought she was alone.

“Yeah, there’s a tattoo. But I didn’t see it clearly.”

Lucas grinned, that smug bastard. “Well, looks like you’ll need to get a closer look.”

I shot him a glare that could kill. “Don’t even think about it.”

He raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, she’s all yours. Just saying, that tattoo could tell us a lot about who she used to be, who she worked for. But that’s your job, not mine.”