Chapter 4: The Weight of Shadows

That smirk.

It always ignited something in me—either a slow burn of frustration or a raging inferno of anger. Tonight, it was the latter.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as Marcus sauntered closer. His presence alone was enough to put me on edge, but the way he moved, so sure of himself, made my skin crawl.

“Oh, love, I’m here to see you,” he said, casually dropping into the seat across from me, leaning back as though he owned the place. His posture screamed confidence, but I knew better. This wasn’t confidence; it was arrogance.

Jason, standing to the side, glared at him with barely concealed disdain. It wasn’t just business between them—what happened two years ago had forever soured any semblance of civility. That was a wound that had yet to heal, for either of them.

“Well?” I prompted, not interested in small talk or pleasantries.

Marcus’ eyes flickered to Jason, the tension between them palpable. “I need to talk to you. Alone,” he said, gesturing toward Jason, clearly wanting him out of the way.

“What you say to her, you can say in front of me,” Jason growled, stepping forward, his voice rising just enough to show he wasn’t backing down. Marcus might have gotten under my skin, but Jason had no tolerance for his antics.

I sighed, too drained for their petty rivalry. “Leave, Jason,” I said, offering him a faint smile. I hated to send him away, but I needed this conversation to happen without added hostility. Even if I didn’t trust Marcus as far as I could throw him, I couldn’t afford distractions right now.

Jason hesitated, his gaze locked on mine, but finally, he nodded and left the room, casting one last warning glance at Marcus. The door closed with a soft click, leaving an uncomfortable silence between us.

Marcus exhaled heavily, rubbing his hands over his face. For the first time, he looked worn down, his usual polished confidence replaced by a hint of exhaustion. “You’re in deep,” he said, his voice low.

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“What are you talking about?” I asked, narrowing my eyes, knowing full well that anything Marcus said came with layers of implication.

“Everyone knows who you are,” he began, sitting forward. “They know who pulled that stunt two years ago.”

I froze. Those words hit me like a punch to the gut. We had locked that situation down. It wasn’t just a failed mission—it was a catastrophe, a bloodbath that nearly cost me everything. And now, the ghosts of that night were creeping back.

“How?” I asked, my voice tight. “We cleaned up. There were no loose ends.”

Marcus met my gaze, his expression grim. “We both know there were. And you didn’t handle them.”

My blood boiled at his accusation. “I handled it,” I spat, barely able to keep my voice level. “You’re the one who caused the mess in the first place. You were greedy. You went after more than we agreed, and because of you, I had to clean up that nightmare.”

He didn’t respond right away, just sat there, running a hand through his hair. It was rare to see Marcus rattled, but tonight he seemed worn down, like the weight of the world had finally caught up to him.

“I had my reasons,” he finally muttered, his voice almost pleading. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me,” I snapped, crossing my arms. The memory of that night, the chaos, the bloodshed, and the lives lost… It was all too fresh. And Marcus thought he could just walk in here, flash that smirk, and everything would be forgiven?

But as always, he dodged the question. “Now’s not the time for this,” he said, his voice lowering again. “You need to protect yourself. The situation is worse than you realize.”

I stared at him, my mind racing. He was avoiding the real issue. But his warning? It carried weight. And as much as I hated to admit it, Marcus had a point. This was bigger than a few bad deals. It was bigger than whatever happened two years ago. And if everyone knew who I was now, it was only a matter of time before my enemies came knocking.

The underground world had its own rhythm, its own rules. And the undercurrents were shifting. Something was coming. I could feel it, like a storm brewing just beyond the horizon. The groups, the deals, the alliances—they were all shifting. And the ghosts of my past, the mistakes I’d tried to bury, were clawing their way back to the surface.

I stood up, walking toward him, my heels clicking on the floor, each step calculated. “I’ll handle it,” I said, my voice hard as steel. “Stay out of it. I don’t trust you, Marcus. Not now. Not ever.”

His eyes flashed, but he didn’t argue. He knew better.

I left the room without looking back, my mind already racing ahead. The music outside hit me like a wave as I pushed through the crowd. People danced, oblivious to the storm building around them. I spotted Jason at the entrance, his face a mask of concern.

“Get the car,” I ordered, my voice steady despite the turmoil churning inside me.

Jason nodded, quickly disappearing to fetch the car. As I stepped outside into the cool night air, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get worse. Much worse.

And then there was Marcus—his reappearance wasn’t a coincidence. He wasn’t just here for idle chatter. He was part of this mess. I could feel it in my bones.

As Jason pulled up with the car, I climbed in, my mind racing. The past I had tried so hard to bury was clawing its way back to the surface, and the battle that was coming? It wouldn’t just be fought with guns and knives.

It would be personal.

The car moved through the city streets, but my thoughts lingered on the darkness creeping closer. I closed my eyes, exhaustion taking over, but even in the darkness of sleep, I knew one thing for sure:

The storm wasn’t just coming—it was already here. And when it hit, the underground world would never be the same again.