The cursor blinked at the end of the message, the final word hammering into Alexia’s mind.

The truth is… you are next.

The cold weight in her stomach settled deeper. The surrounding room blurred. It wasn’t the message itself—it was the intent behind it. The confidence. The certainty.

Whoever sent this wasn’t just taunting her. They were promising something.

“Alexia?”

She flinched, but Elliot had already noticed. He stepped closer, gaze shifting from her to the laptop. She snapped it shut.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.”

“Alexia.”

Then, without a word, she flipped it open again. The message was still there, bold against the dark screen.

“When did this come in?”

“Just now.”

“Anna,” he said as soon as the line connected. “I need a trace on an email.”

Alexia didn’t look at him. Elliot moved around the table, lowering himself into the chair across from her.

“Talk to me.”

She didn’t answer right away.

“I don’t like threats,” she said. “Especially ones that don’t come with a name.”

“They want a reaction.”

“They have one.”

“Not the one they were expecting.”

She met his gaze. “You sure about that?”

Elliot’s phone buzzed. He glanced down.

Anna’s voice came through the speaker. “No traceable IP. It’s bouncing off multiple servers. This wasn’t sent by an amateur.”

“Figured as much.”

“But,” Anna continued, “I did get something. The email was sent through an encrypted relay, but the last bounce happened twenty minutes ago—from within the city.”

“They’re close,” said Ben.

“Very close,” Anna confirmed. “And they’re watching.”

A long silence stretched between them before Elliot exhaled. “Understood. Keep digging.”

The call ended.

Alexia leaned back, crossing her arms. “So, let’s recap. Someone tried to breach your security last night. And now I’m getting personalized messages.”

“It’s not a coincidence.”

“No kidding.”

His phone buzzed again. This time, the name flashing across the screen was one she recognized.

Ava.

Elliot answered. “Tell me you have news.”

Ava didn’t waste time. “We’re coming.”

“That fast?”

“You really have to ask?”

“ETA?”

“Early afternoon.”

“Wait. What?” asked Alexia.

Ava must have heard the confusion in her voice, because her tone lightened. “Don’t sound so surprised, Alexia.”

“You’re in Rome,” she pointed out. “That’s a ten-hour flight at best.”

“Try seven and a half,” Ben’s voice cut in.

“That’s not possible unless—”

“Unless they own the plane,” said Elliot.

Alexia turned to him. “They—wait, what?”

“Ava and Ben don’t just own a plane, they fly it. They have full piloting licenses, a private jet, and a crew.

Alexia processed that for a second.

“Point is, we’re already in the air. See you soon.”

The line went dead.

Alexia stared at the phone. Elliot set it down.

“That was…” she trailed off, still trying to wrap her head around it. “Unexpected.”

“You haven’t even scratched the surface of who they are.”

But before she could ask, Elliot pushed away from the table.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“I’ll tell you more later,” he said. His tone was casual, but there was an unspoken weight behind it. “To a point.”

And just like that, the conversation was over.

For now.

Later that evening, the restaurant was elegant—low lighting, quiet ambiance, and an intimate feeling that encouraged conversation. The place where walls didn’t have ears, but the staff knew better than to linger. A round table in the private dining section allowed for easy engagement, six seats fostered connection, not division.

When Myra and Edward arrived, the mood remained light. Friendly smiles. Polite greetings. No tension. Nothing to suspect.

Edward shook Ben’s hand—firm, but with a split-second hesitation.

The dinner started as it should—light, effortless. Wine poured into glasses, the distant conversations filling the spaces between words. If this were a normal dinner, nothing would have seemed off. But it wasn’t.

After the wine was poured, Ben lifted his glass, effortlessly leading the moment.

“To new friends and good company.” The glasses clinked. A small but essential ritual—one that broke down barriers, signaled the start of something unguarded.

Ava and Ben had never met Myra and Edward before. A single night on the dance floor had given them plenty to study. Now, within minutes, they would understand them better than they understood themselves.

Alexia had felt Elliot’s gaze on her earlier, assessing, making sure she was comfortable. It wasn’t a test for her, but a situation to observe.

The conversation unfolded easily at first. They talked about travel, business ventures, and a few lighthearted quips about fine dining.

Ben let Edward take the lead in certain exchanges. A strategic move. Let him talk. Let him feel in control.

Ava, ever watchful, played her role. She complimented Myra’s bracelet.

“There it was—the hesitation. A second too long. Not noticeable to the untrained eye, but Ava noticed.

“Oh, thank you! Yes, a gift from Edward.”

Elliot sipped his wine, quiet but engaged. This was the part he enjoyed—the slow unraveling of truth through effortless conversation.

“You both travel a lot—what’s been your favorite place so far?” asked Ava.

Myra answered first, too quickly. A rehearsed response.

“Oh, Paris, definitely. We just love the atmosphere, the food, the romance of it all.”

Edward nodded slightly. A fraction of a second too late.

“Yes, Paris was incredible.”

Ben took another sip of wine. That wasn’t the city he was expecting.

Alexia, for the first time, saw the game in motion. The subtle shifts, the silent hesitations. Ava never pressed, yet caught every inconsistency. Ben let silences stretch just long enough to force a slip. Each pause, each glance—like a misplaced note in a well-rehearsed song.

This wasn’t an interrogation. This was a dance, and it fascinated her. And Alexia was learning the rhythm.

“Elliot tells me you’re working on some new projects. Something in real estate, was it?”

Edward relaxed. A topic he was comfortable with.

“Yes, actually. Some exciting ventures are coming up, particularly a resort development overseas.”

“Overseas? That’s interesting. Whereabouts?” It was subtle. Not prying, just interested.

Edward hesitated—a pause just long enough to matter.

“Singapore. And, uh, a few others we’re looking into.”

Ben said nothing, just a slow, approving nod.

Myra glanced at Edward, and in that moment, Alexia saw it. A moment—no, a shift.

They were hiding something.

Ava caught it too. She met Ben’s eyes briefly. Just a second. That was all it took.

Elliot noticed, but said nothing. This was Ava and Ben’s game.

The dinner wrapped up as smoothly as it started. No alarms. No suspicions.

Myra and Edward left, unaware of how much they had revealed.

Elliot exhaled, swirling the last sip of wine into his glass.

“Well?” he asked.

Ava set her napkin down, smoothing it over her lap before leaning back.

“They’re exactly what we thought.”

Ben stretched his arm over the back of his chair, giving Elliot a half-smile.

“And they don’t even know it yet.”

Alexia noticed, feeling the weight of what had just happened.

“You two knew they were lying?” Ben glanced at her, amused.

“We didn’t know. We just let them tell us.”

Ava giggled, lifting her wine glass for one last sip. Ben looked at her and smiled.

“People always do, if you listen right,” said Ben.

Alexia let that sink in. She had thought she was just an observer. But now? She realized she had learned more than she expected.

Back at the estate, the living room held a soft glow from the recessed lighting, a warmth that contrasted with the calculated precision of the evening.

Ava set her wine glass down, the liquid catching the dim light. “Well, that was… informative.”

Ben leaned back against the couch, stretching an arm across the back. “They think they’re in control.”

“They aren’t.”

Alexia sat quietly, processing. She had watched Ava and Ben work through dinner, unraveling details without ever pushing. It had been subtle, effortless. A dance, not an interrogation.

Ava glanced at her. “What did you think?”

Alexia hesitated, then admitted, “It was like watching a conversation I wasn’t fluent in.”

Ava smiled slightly. “The last time we were here, they supposedly just started their dating. They went to Paris last weekend.”

“Myra had told me that Edward invited her to go away for the weekend, but when I talked to her yesterday, she didn’t mention Paris,” said Alexia.

“Exactly,” said Ava. “Do they act like they just started a new relationship?”

“Not really,” said Alexia.

“We’ll go over it in the morning. Harris, Sarah, Anna, and Steven need to be looped in.”

Ava nodded. “No need to jump to conclusions tonight. Let’s get actual intel before we start making assumptions.”

Elliot exhaled. “Agreed.”

Ava stood, smoothing out the fabric of her dress. “Then I say we call it a night.”

Ava gave Alexia a knowing look. “We’ll talk more in the morning. Good night.”

Elliot watched them go to Alexia’s suite.

Alexia hadn’t moved. When she spoke, her voice was softer.

“They don’t even have to try, do they?”

Elliot glanced at her. “That’s the trick… make it look like they aren’t.”

She exhaled, running a hand through her hair.

“I’m going to bed. I’m tired. Good night.”

“Good night.”

An hour later, Alexia was still awake.

She slipped out of the room, walked toward the kitchen bare footed. She grabbed a glass from the cabinet, filling it with water.

A voice broke through the quiet. “Couldn’t sleep?”

She turned. Elliot sat on the couch, one arm draped over the back.

Alexia exhaled, walking toward him. “Not really.”

She sat down beside him, pulling her knees up.

“Please pass me the cover. I’m a little cold.”

Elliot handed her the small couch cover.

“I’m nervous. And scared,” said Alexia.

Elliot didn’t react, just let the words settle between them.

“But what can I do?” she added.

Elliot put his arm around her shoulder. “Trust me when I say that with Ben and Ava here things will change for the better before all of this is over.”

“What do you mean?”

“Five years ago, it was because of them that I didn’t lose everything, and they protected my life. Remember, I told you they have a security company like none other?”

“You mentioned it.”

“Well, I am the silent partner, and they are in charge.”

“They are…”

“Different?”

“Yes, but I don’t quite understand them, but you can tell they are in control and powerful.”

“Alexia, they are geniuses. They speak, read, and write 12 languages, and speak many more. They both have photographic memories, and that is just the beginning.

“How can that be?”

“You can trust them with your life. So, if they ever tell you to do something, just do it. Ask questions later.”

“I wonder what their children will be like.”

“We’ll find out in seven months.”

“Do they have family?”

“No, but I’ll tell you more another time. It’s getting late.”

They both stood up from the couch.

Alexia turned and faced Elliot. “I don’t want to be alone tonight,” said Alexia softly.

“Neither do I.” Elliot put his arm around her waist and lead her to his bedroom suite.

“Alexia…”

Alexia put her finger on his lips, and said “Hmm,” barely audible and lead him to bed.

It had been a long evening leading to unusual conversations, but Alexia saw a different side of Elliot. She also knew there was much more to discover about Ben and Ava.

The truth is… Ava and Ben flew there for…”