Who knew one trip could turn Chloe Romano's life into a dangerous game of deception?
When Chloe defies her brother's warning and ventures into Stratford, she becomes a target in a world she doesn't fully understand. To stay alive, she cloaks herself...
TRIGGER WARNING This chapter contains mature themes such as sexual assault, so readers who do not wish to read it can skip the end of the chapter. Please, read carefully and be safe. x
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Jay
ANXIETY coursed through my veins; I had never embarked on a genuine date before. But now, with Chloe and me officially together, sharing a home and our nights, I yearned to make our moments more special. I drained the last of my water that I was holding, waiting patiently as she dressed upstairs. Reservations were set at an elegant restaurant, yet I couldn't recall the last time I felt this nervous.
A vibration in my jeans pocket interrupted my thoughts. Retrieving my phone, I answered without checking the caller ID, a decision I immediately regretted upon hearing the muffled background noises. "Hello?"
"Well, if it isn't my favorite brother," a teasing voice greeted.
"Not now." I replied calmly, though internally, I tensed. Ever since Dean's attempts on our lives, my nerves had been on edge. With him out of the picture, I hoped to focus solely on my brother.
"Especially now. I actually need you," Damien's tone shifted, seriousness replacing the earlier jest. Beneath his words lay something raw, something heavy—a tone I hadn't heard from him in years.
I exhaled, the weight of his seriousness pressing against my chest. The sigh carried more than impatience; it was resignation, the calm before a storm I had no choice but to weather. "What do you want?" I asked, my voice steady, though my pulse ticked faster, bracing for the answer.
Sounds shifted in the background before Damien spoke again. "There's something I need you to handle. Alexis' parents have been in an accident. I need someone to ensure they're taken care of."
A retort lingered on my tongue, questioning why I should babysit his deceased girlfriend's parents. But something in his voice, a rare vulnerability maybe, gave me pause.
"I'll do it," I conceded, "but we need to talk after this." The time had come to sever my ties with my brother's affairs.
A brief silence ensued, filled only by the distant sounds of Chloe preparing upstairs. "Remember, blood is thicker than water, little brother. I'll be waiting for your updates," he said before the line went dead.
Turning towards the stairs, I watched Chloe descend after what felt like an eternity. She looked radiant, her perfume's sharp aroma enveloping me, igniting a blush I couldn't suppress. The realization hit me—I had to cancel our date, at least for today.
"What's going on?" she asked, wrapping her arms around me. I nestled my nose into her hair, planting a kiss atop her head. When we parted, her eyes searched mine, sensing the shift in my demeanor.
"I have to run some errands for Damien," I admitted, watching her bright smile dim.
"Until when?" she murmured, her hands clasping together.
