Whispers of the Heart

Shadows in the Dark

Chapter 30: Shadows in the Dark

The city streets were unnervingly quiet as Ethan left Tessa's apartment that night, his mind swirling with thoughts of their time together. She had become his refuge, a safe haven away from the growing toxicity of his marriage. Yet, as he drove home, a gnawing sense of unease crept over him.

For days now, Ethan had felt like someone was watching him. The faint crunch of footsteps behind him during his morning runs, shadows that didn't seem to belong as he walked through parking lots, even the sensation of eyes boring into him when he sat alone in his car. He had brushed it off as paranoia at first—his strained emotions playing tricks on him—but tonight, that familiar prickle of danger was undeniable.

The headlights appeared out of nowhere, blinding him in his rearview mirror. Ethan squinted and adjusted, but the car behind him didn't slow down. Instead, it sped up, tailgating him aggressively. He tapped his brakes to signal the driver to back off, but it only provoked them.

"Seriously?" Ethan muttered, his pulse quickening.

The car swerved suddenly, pulling alongside him. Ethan glanced over, but the windows were tinted black, masking the driver's identity. Before he could react, the car slammed into his side, forcing him dangerously close to the edge of the road.

"What the hell!" Ethan yelled, gripping the wheel tightly.

The driver rammed him again, harder this time, sending his car skidding toward the embankment. Ethan fought to regain control, but it was no use. His car veered off the road, crashing through a barrier and into a shallow ditch. The impact jolted him forward, the seatbelt cutting into his chest as airbags deployed with a deafening hiss.

For a moment, there was only silence. Ethan sat there, his breathing ragged, his body trembling as adrenaline coursed through him. He glanced back toward the road just in time to see the other car speed off into the night.

The next day, Ethan confronted Lila, his frustration boiling over. She was in the kitchen, calmly sipping coffee as if nothing had happened, her phone lighting up intermittently on the counter with messages he couldn't see.

"Do you know anything about this?" Ethan demanded, tossing his keys onto the table with a loud clatter.

Lila raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by his tone. "About what?"

"About someone trying to run me off the road last night!" he snapped.

Her expression didn't change, though there was a flicker of something in her eyes—guilt, maybe. She shrugged. "Maybe you should be more careful when you're out so late."

"That's all you have to say?" Ethan's voice rose, his anger spilling over. "Someone's been following me for days, and now this? You don't think that's worth talking about?"

Lila set her cup down with deliberate calm, standing to face him. "What exactly are you accusing me of, Ethan? Do you think I'm behind your little conspiracy theory? Maybe you should spend less time out 'working late' and more time thinking about why our marriage is falling apart."

"Don't you dare put this on me," he shot back, stepping closer. "I've been trying for months to figure out what's wrong with us. But you—you've already checked out, haven't you?"

Her lips curled into a bitter smile. "You want to know what's wrong, Ethan? Fine. Here it is: You're boring. Predictable. You stopped being the man I fell in love with a long time ago. And you want to know the truth?" She leaned in, her voice a venomous whisper. "He's better in bed than you ever were."

Ethan's jaw tightened, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "You're unbelievable," he said, his voice low and trembling with fury.

Lila grabbed her coat and bag, heading for the door. "You don't want to hear the truth? Fine. Keep playing detective while you're at it."

Lila arrived at Dominic's apartment in a storm of anger and frustration. He opened the door shirtless, his dark eyes scanning her face with a mix of surprise and concern.

"What's wrong?" he asked, stepping aside to let her in.

"Did you do it?" she demanded, her voice sharp. "Did you try to hurt Ethan?"

Dominic hesitated, and that was all the confirmation she needed.

"Unbelievable!" she shouted, throwing her bag onto the couch. "I told you to leave him alone!"

"He's in the way, Lila," Dominic said calmly, closing the door behind him. "You've said it yourself—he doesn't care about you anymore. So why should he still be around to cause you pain?"

"That's not your decision to make!" she screamed, her hands trembling.

Dominic's calm façade cracked, and he stepped toward her, his voice rising. "I did it for you, Lila. For us. Everything I've done has been for you!"

She shook her head, backing away toward the door. "You're insane. I can't do this anymore."

Before she could leave, Dominic grabbed her wrist, his grip firm but not painful. "You're not going anywhere," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

"Let me go," she said, her voice shaking.

He didn't. Instead, he pulled her toward him, his hands sliding to her waist as his lips crushed against hers. It was a kiss filled with rage and desperation, and though she fought him at first, the heat between them was undeniable.

"You're mine, Lila," Dominic growled, his hands tightening around her as he lifted her effortlessly. "Don't ever forget that."

She wanted to argue, to push him away, but the fire in his touch consumed her. Their connection had always been volatile, and tonight was no different.

Cliffhanger:

Hours later, Dominic sat alone, his thoughts dark and dangerous. His phone buzzed on the table, a message from an unknown number lighting up the screen.

"You're playing a dangerous game, Dominic. Watch your back."

Dominic stared at the message, a slow smile spreading across his face.

"Let them try," he muttered to himself, already planning his next move.