I ran. I didn't stop to think, didn't stop to breathe, didn't stop to feel. I just ran. The night air was cold against my skin, but my blood felt like fire, pumping so hard that I thought my heart might explode.

My legs burned as they carried me through the streets of Baltimore, far away from the chaos, from the bodies, from the gunshot that still echoed in my ears.

What the hell just happened?

It wasn't just the danger I was running from, it was the realization-the sickening truth that I had stumbled into something I couldn't escape.

Ethan, Xavier... they were both dangerous in their own way. And somehow, I was caught in the middle of it.

I turned down an alley, gasping for breath, my hands trembling. My mind raced as I tried to piece together what had happened. Xavier had shot one of his own men. Just like that. As if it meant nothing.

The cold, detached look in his eyes sent a chill down my spine. How had I ended up here? I was just a waitress, a nobody.

I slowed my pace and pressed my back against the cold brick wall, trying to catch my breath. I had to think.

I had to figure out what to do next. My hands shook as I fumbled for my phone, the reality of the situation crashing down on me.

What now?

I didn't know where to go or who to trust. My instinct screamed at me to stay far away from both Ethan and Xavier.

But at the same time, I knew Xavier wouldn't just let me walk away. I had seen too much. I knew too much.

I stared down at my phone, unsure of who to call. What was I even supposed to say? The police? No. They'd never believe me.

Not with men like Ethan Harris and Xavier Reed involved. They owned this city in ways that no one could truly understand.

Before I could make a decision, the sound of footsteps echoed down the alley. I froze, my heart lurching in my chest.

"Alyssa."

I knew that voice. It was low, smooth, commanding. My stomach twisted as I turned to see Ethan standing a few feet away, his eyes locked onto mine. He was calm-too calm for a man who had just been in a violent standoff.

"Stay away from me," I said, my voice trembling as I backed further into the shadows.

"Alyssa, please." He took a step forward, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Yeah?" I snapped, my voice shaking with anger and fear. "You expect me to believe that after everything that just happened? After that?" I gestured wildly, though the alley was empty, the memory of the gunshot and the body lying on the ground still fresh in my mind.

Ethan's face hardened, but there was something else there too-concern? Guilt? "I didn't want you to see that. It wasn't supposed to go down like this."

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "Oh, really? Well, it did. And now I'm stuck in the middle of whatever this sick game is between you and Xavier!"

"It's not a game, Alyssa," he said sharply, stepping closer. I pressed my back against the wall, my heart pounding. "You have no idea how dangerous he is. He's manipulative, controlling-"

"And you're not?" I cut him off, my eyes narrowing. "You leave me a note like some cryptic puzzle, pull me into this mess, and now you're here acting like you're my savior?"

"I am trying to save you," Ethan said, his voice rising in frustration. "You don't understand. Xavier won't stop. He's not going to let you go. Not after tonight."

A knot formed in my stomach. The weight of his words pressed down on me, suffocating. "What does he want with me? Why does any of this involve me?"

Ethan hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ground for a moment before he looked back at me. "It's... complicated."

I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to hide the fact that I was shaking. "That's not good enough, Ethan. I deserve answers."

He stepped closer, his expression softening. "You do deserve answers. And I promise, I'll give them to you. But right now, you have to trust me. Xavier isn't going to stop coming after you.

He'll use you to get to me, to control me. He's obsessed with power, with control. And he sees you as leverage."

My throat tightened, the weight of what he was saying starting to sink in. "Leverage? For what?"

"For everything," Ethan said quietly. "For his empire. For control over me. It's what he does-he manipulates people, uses them like chess pieces. And you... you're important now because you're connected to me."

I swallowed hard, trying to process the flood of information. Connected to him? That didn't make sense. I barely knew Ethan Harris.

How could I possibly be connected to him in any way that mattered to a mafia boss like Xavier?

"And what about you?" I asked, my voice low. "Are you using me too?"

Ethan's eyes darkened, a flash of something unreadable passing through them. "No. I'm not like him, Alyssa. I'm trying to protect you."

I wanted to believe him, but a part of me couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story. That Ethan wasn't telling me everything.

Before I could respond, Ethan's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his jaw tightening.

"What?" I asked, my nerves on edge. "What is it?"

He looked back at me, his expression grim. "We need to go. Now."

"What-"

Before I could finish my question, Ethan grabbed my arm, pulling me away from the wall. "Xavier's men are nearby. We don't have time to explain."

My heart raced as he led me out of the alley, his grip firm but not painful. I wanted to pull away, to demand more answers, but the fear coursing through me silenced any objections.

We hurried down the street, weaving through crowds and ducking into side streets, Ethan always scanning our surroundings.

Finally, we stopped in front of a sleek black car. Ethan opened the door and gestured for me to get inside. I hesitated.

"I don't know if I can trust you," I said quietly, meeting his gaze.

He looked at me, his expression serious. "I get that. But right now, you don't have much of a choice. If Xavier gets his hands on you, he won't let you go. I'm your best shot at staying safe."

I stared at him for a long moment, weighing my options. My gut told me not to trust either of them-Ethan or Xavier. But I didn't have many options. Not if what Ethan was saying was true.

Reluctantly, I climbed into the car. Ethan slid into the driver's seat, and we sped off into the night. The city blurred around us as the tension hung thick in the air.

I leaned my head back against the seat, my mind racing. What had I gotten myself into? How had my life gone from mundane to dangerous in the span of a few days?

We drove in silence for a while, the only sound the hum of the engine and the occasional honk from passing cars.

I could feel Ethan's eyes on me, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't.

Finally, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I fished it out, frowning at the unknown number flashing on the screen.

I hesitated before opening the message. My heart dropped as I read the words:

We're not done, Alyssa. You belong to me.