Rhythm Of Deceit

Chapter 10: The Breaking Point

The air between Adler and I was thick with unspoken words as we stood there in the shadow of the student center. His confession about Rio had shaken me more than I cared to admit. His vulnerability, the weight of the secrets he’d been carrying—it all made sense, but it didn’t make it easier to process.

For a while, neither of us spoke. I could feel the tension in the space around us, the silence stretching between us like a fragile thread, waiting to snap. Adler’s words, his admission about Rio, lingered in my mind, but there was still something I needed to understand.

"Adler…" I started, my voice trembling slightly. "You’ve known all this time, and you didn’t think I had the right to know?"

He closed his eyes, like he was preparing for something painful. "I never wanted you to be involved in any of this. Not with Rio. I thought if you stayed out of it, you’d be safe. I didn’t want to pull you into my mess, Aniya. But I see now that I was wrong. I should’ve trusted you."

I swallowed, the words burning in my chest. "You should’ve trusted me? But you didn’t, Adler. You pushed me away. You told me to stay away from him, but you never told me why." My voice broke on the last word. "I felt like you were hiding something from me."

"I was," he said quietly, stepping closer to me. "But it was for your own good. I swear it. You don’t know what Rio is capable of. I had to make sure you didn’t get too close, that you didn’t get hurt."

I looked away, trying to control the wave of emotions crashing over me. "I’m already involved now, Adler. I’m already deep in this." My hands were shaking, and I clutched them tightly in front of me. "I don’t know who to trust anymore."

Adler’s expression softened, and he reached out to gently touch my arm. "I know. But I need you to trust me now, Aniya. We can’t do this alone. I can’t do this without you."

I met his gaze, feeling the intensity of his plea. He was right. I couldn’t back out now. Rio had already set his sights on me, and I was in this whether I wanted to be or not. But trusting Adler, letting my guard down—I wasn’t sure if I could do that, not after everything.

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, half-expecting it to be another message from Sofia or Julian, but when I saw the name on the screen, my heart skipped a beat.

It was from Rio.

**Rio:** *“I know what you’re trying to do. It’s cute, really. But you’re playing a dangerous game, Aniya. I’ll be watching.”*

I felt a chill race down my spine as I stared at the message. How did he know? Was he watching me right now?

Adler saw my face fall as I read the message. "What is it?" he asked, his voice tight with concern.

I handed him the phone, feeling my throat tighten as he read the message. His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing with a mix of anger and something darker.

"That son of a—" Adler began, but I cut him off before he could finish.

"He knows, Adler. He knows we’re onto him," I said, my voice shaky. "And he’s threatening me."

Adler’s hand clenched into a fist at his side, but his eyes softened as he looked at me. "You don’t have to face this alone, Aniya. I’ll be here. We’ll get through this. Together."

But as his words hung in the air, a deep sense of foreboding settled in my stomach. This was only the beginning. Rio wasn’t going to back off just because we’d figured out his game. He would come at us harder, more ruthless, and I wasn’t sure if we were ready for what he had in store.

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The next day, the campus felt different. The usual buzz of students hurrying between classes, laughing in groups, and chatting in the halls seemed muted, as if something had cast a shadow over it all. The sun was out, the sky clear, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

As I walked through the quad, heading to the library to meet with Julian and Sofia, I saw Rio for the first time since his message. He was standing across the quad, his back to me, talking to a group of students. But even from this distance, I could feel the weight of his presence, as though he were watching me, even without turning around.

My heart raced, and I quickly turned away, trying to shake off the unease that crept over me. Adler had warned me, but I hadn’t realized just how much Rio’s gaze could affect me. He was a predator, and I was his prey.

When I reached the library, I found Julian and Sofia already waiting at one of the tables. Sofia had her laptop open, a serious expression on her face, while Julian was pacing back and forth, clearly agitated.

"Hey, what’s going on?" I asked as I approached.

Sofia looked up, her eyes sharp. "I’ve been digging into Rio some more. I found a few more things that we need to discuss."

I sat down, trying to steady my breathing. "What did you find?"

Sofia clicked through a few files on her laptop before turning the screen toward me. "More of Rio’s history. His family’s wealth and connections have covered up a lot, but I’ve found some things that paint a clearer picture of who he really is. He’s not just some spoiled, arrogant jerk—he’s dangerous in ways you wouldn’t believe."

Julian stopped pacing and looked at me, his expression dark. "We need to be ready for anything. Rio’s not going to let you go, Aniya. Not without a fight."

I looked at the screen, my stomach turning as I took in the documents and pictures Sofia had uncovered. There were more records of violent behavior, more evidence that Rio was not the charming, misunderstood guy he pretended to be. He was a manipulator, a master at getting what he wanted, no matter who he had to hurt in the process.

I felt a knot tighten in my chest. "What do we do now?" I whispered.

Sofia’s eyes met mine, her voice low but steady. "Now, we take him down. Together."

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End of Chapter 10

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