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Anya's POV
The days passed in a tense rhythm, every glance and whispered conversation between Luca and me carrying a weight of secrets. With each moment we spent together, I felt the walls around us shrinking, as if Victor’s watchful eyes were everywhere. Luca and I had grown closer, and he had become my ally, my friend, and maybe even something more—but I couldn't let myself think too far ahead.
One afternoon, Luca asked me to meet him in the library. I slipped out quietly, my heartbeat quickening as I approached.
As I entered, Luca was already there, pouring over some documents with a furrowed brow. He looked up, his expression intense. “I found something,” he said, barely above a whisper.
I moved closer, and he showed me a photograph of a young Victor, standing with a man I didn’t recognize but who looked familiar somehow.
“Who is he?” I asked, studying the image.
“That’s Marcus Rivera, one of Victor’s closest allies from years ago.” Luca’s voice dropped lower. “But there’s something deeper to it. I dug around… and found out that Marcus disappeared shortly after this photo was taken. No one knows what happened to him.”
A chill ran through me as I looked from the picture to Luca’s troubled face. “Do you think Victor had something to do with it?”
Luca nodded grimly. “From what I can tell, Marcus questioned Victor’s loyalty and plans. He wanted out. And anyone who crosses Victor… well, they don’t last long.”
It was frightening to think of what could happen if Victor discovered our plan. The mansion felt darker and more oppressive, like it was suffocating me under the weight of its secrets.
“What should we do?” I whispered.
“We have to find more proof—something that could expose Victor,” Luca said, his jaw set. “We need evidence of his crimes and his connection to Marcus’ disappearance.”
I felt my pulse race at the thought of sneaking around, digging into Victor’s world. But this was our only chance, our only way out.
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Later That Night
Under the cover of darkness, Luca and I moved silently through the mansion. He led me to a room I had never noticed before, hidden down a winding hallway. Inside, there was a large, old-fashioned safe embedded in the wall.
“This is it,” Luca whispered, his hands shaking slightly as he entered the code he’d managed to find in Victor’s office. With a click, the safe opened, revealing a stack of files and a flash drive.
We quickly skimmed through the files, and I gasped. There were detailed notes on all of Victor’s business dealings, many of them illegal—drug trades, bribes, and even violent take-downs of anyone who stood in his way. And at the bottom, there was a file marked Rivera.
“This is it,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “Proof of everything he’s done.”
Just as we finished packing up, we heard footsteps echoing down the hall. My heart dropped, and I turned to Luca, panic flashing in his eyes.
“Hide,” he mouthed, pulling me toward the shadows.
We pressed ourselves against the wall, holding our breath as the footsteps grew louder.
The footsteps echoed ominously, growing louder with each second. My heart pounded as Luca and I pressed ourselves tighter into the shadows, hoping—praying—that whoever was approaching wouldn’t find us. But as the sound drew nearer, my stomach twisted, sensing that our luck was running thin.
The door swung open. I held my breath as a figure stepped inside, his silhouette outlined against the dim hallway light. My pulse froze as I recognized him. It was Victor.
Luca’s hand tightened on mine, grounding me, and I squeezed back, drawing a shaky breath. Victor strode into the room, his gaze scanning the space as if sensing something was amiss. He stopped just inches from where we hid, so close I could smell the sharp cologne he wore. I could feel every beat of my heart echoing in my ears as I willed him to look away, to leave.
After a moment that felt like an eternity, he finally turned, his footsteps fading as he exited the room and closed the door behind him. Only when the silence settled did I dare to exhale.
“We need to go. Now,” Luca whispered, his voice tense.
Clutching the flash drive and files, we slipped back through the hallways, taking the least-traveled paths until we finally reached my room. As soon as we were safely inside, I released a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, the adrenaline making my hands tremble.
Luca looked at me, his expression serious. “Anya, this evidence… it’s dangerous, but it’s also our way out. If we play this right, we can expose Victor and free you from this nightmare.”
I nodded, trying to steady my breathing. “What’s our next move?”
“We have to get these files out of here,” he replied, his eyes intense. “There’s someone I trust—a contact who can use this evidence to take down Victor. But it’s going to be risky. We’ll need to leave the mansion… together.”
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The Plan
Over the next few days, Luca and I meticulously planned our escape, coordinating every detail in hushed whispers and hidden notes. I could feel the tension building as we inched closer to freedom. Every encounter with Victor became more strained, every look from him carrying an undercurrent of suspicion. I knew our time was running out.
The night finally came. Under the cover of darkness, we slipped through the mansion, each step bringing us closer to the exit. My pulse raced, a mixture of fear and hope, as I clutched the files against my chest. This was it—our one chance to escape the grip Victor had over my life.
As we reached the garden gates, I turned to Luca, a small, hopeful smile breaking through my nerves. But before we could slip through, a voice rang out behind us.
“Well, well. I had a feeling something was going on.”
We both froze, dread filling me as we turned to find Victor standing there, his arms crossed, his gaze cold and unforgiving.
“Did you really think you could betray me?” he sneered, his voice laced with menace. “You, of all people, Anya, I expected more.”
“Victor, let us go. This doesn’t have to end like this,” Luca said, stepping protectively in front of me.
Victor laughed, a sound that sent chills down my spine. “Oh, but it does. You see, Anya, you’re not leaving. Not after everything I’ve invested in you.” His gaze flicked to the files I held, and his eyes darkened. “Hand them over. Now.”
I swallowed, clutching the files tighter. “I’m done being your pawn, Victor. This ends tonight.”
He stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with anger, but Luca was faster. He lunged at Victor, creating an opening for me to run. I hesitated for a moment, fear clawing at me, but Luca’s voice snapped me back.
“Go, Anya! Run!”
Without another second’s thought, I turned and bolted, clutching the files as I raced through the gardens and toward the world beyond Victor’s control. Behind me, I could hear the sounds of a struggle, Luca’s shouts, Victor’s growls of rage. But I kept running, my heart pounding with the realization that freedom was within reach.
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The Aftermath
By dawn, I was miles away from the mansion, clutching the files that held the key to Victor’s downfall. Luca’s contact promised to bring the evidence to the authorities, and within days, Victor’s entire operation would be exposed.
Though the escape had cost me dearly, I knew this was the beginning of a new life—a life free from the shadows and secrets that had haunted me. I didn’t know what the future held or if I’d ever see Luca again, but one thing was certain: I would never be anyone’s pawn again.
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To Be Continued
