Chapter 4
YOU'RE DEAD
Elira's POV
The rays of the sun filtered into my room as I groaned into my pillow.
The scent of coffee drifted under my nose before I even opened my eyes. Then came the sound, soft footsteps, the click of porcelain against the edge of the nightstand, and Aiden’s lazy, velvety voice.
“You always wake up like you’ve got a knife under your pillow.”
I didn’t move. Just blinked. The curtains were open. He stood beside the bed with a cup of coffee, still wearing the same wrinkled shirt from last night, collar open, tie gone.
Dangerously gorgeous.
I sat up. “And you always act like you’ve got a secret to bury.”
He chuckled. Handed me the coffee. Our fingers brushed.
“No secrets this morning. Just caffeine and good company.”
I took the cup. Sipped. It was exactly how I liked it.
And that was the first red flag.
He was being nice. A sharp contrast to the man who was being extremely stoic the first time.e we met so what changed? Was it the short moment of trust that we built after last night?
I didn’t trust softness. Not from him. Not from anyone. I eyed him warily as I raised the cup to my mouth, raising my brow for him to speak. He didn't come here without a reason, I'm sure.
“I got leads on the people that planted the bomb in your room. You need to get dressed immediately and I'll brief you on the way on what I gathered.” I asked.
"Is Nico aware?" I asked cautiously. Usually Nico briefed me on this so why was he doing that job? He was supposed to be my bodyguard only.
My mind replayed what happened last night.
Oh.
He must be with Luca. That's the only reason why he'd send Aiden.
"what time?" I got up from my bed and moved to my closet, picking out my outfit for the day.
“Noon. Remote spot outside the city.”
“And you think it’s legit?”
Aiden shrugged, and his smile faltered, just a little. “Only one way to find out. I’m coming with you.”
“ I understand that you're my bodyguard and all but you must have heard from the rest that I go solo for my missions regarding info. You're not that necessary.”
“That's dumb,”
"Excuse me?" I turned, sharply to him, giving him a stare down. Who does he think he is?
“You go alone, you get dead. I can't risk that."
He said it lightly, but his eyes stayed on me.
I should’ve said no and stood my ground but I let it go just this one time.
---
The estate was lifeless.
Abandoned, but not empty. Old stone walls tangled in ivy. Windows covered with grime and dirt that must have been there for years.
I stepped through the creaking doorway first, my boots silent on the dust-layered floor. Black jeans. Fitted blazer. Twin blades strapped to my back.
“Let's check the east wing,” Aiden said behind me.
I nodded and kept moving. We kept walking for a while, climbing staircases and checking empty rooms but we didn't see a single soul. “You sure this isn’t a trap?”
He scoffed. “You think I’d walk you into one?”
“You’re acting weird today.”
“Define weird.”
“Helpful. Charming. Like you’re trying too hard.”
His jaw flexed. “Maybe I’m just trying not to be a dick for once.”
I snorted. “Now that’s suspicious.”
We stopped in a long hallway where the ceiling was partially collapsed. Aiden stepped closer, eyes flicking to mine.
“You always look at me like you’re expecting betrayal.”
“Maybe because I am.”
His mouth twitched. “You wound me.”
“Not yet.”
The tension cracked between us. His hand brushed mine, just barely and I didn’t move. Neither did he. He leaned closer.
Too close.
I opened my mouth, ready to say something...
Footsteps.
I shoved him back instinctively, grabbing one of my blades. My eyes darted to the far end of the hall.
“Hide,” I hissed, motioning him to the corner behind a crumbling pillar.
We waited for a second before I heard a whistling sound.
"what the hell is that sound--"
A dart whistled through the air, aimed straight for me.
Aiden lunged out, grabbed me by the waist, and yanked me to the floor. The dart embedded itself into the wall behind us.
“Shit,” I muttered. “They know we’re here.”
“Come on.”
He grabbed my hand, and we sprinted down the corridor. We turned a corner and ducked into a dusty room with broken furniture and shattered windows.
I crouched near the wall, catching my breath.
Aiden stood guard by the door, checking the hallway.
I looked up at him, heart still racing. “I’m starting to trust you.”
He glanced down at me but said nothing.
Silence fell again.
He turned to me. “Wait here. Let me check the next corridor.”
“No. We should stick together—”
“If there’s more of them, I need to make sure we’re not boxed in. Trust me.”
I hesitated. His eyes were steady. Convincing.
“Fine,” I muttered. “Two minutes.”
He nodded and left the door open as he slipped out.
I sat down, pulling out one of my blades to inspect it. My gut twisted.
Then—
BOOM.
The room shook. White gas hissed from a vent near the ceiling.
“Shit!”
I stumbled to my feet, dizzy already. The blades fell from my fingers. My limbs went heavy and I could barely feel my body.
I staggered toward the door.
A figure stepped into the doorway.
He had a gas mask on but his eyes, those dark eyes stared back at me.
“Not as cautious as you should be princessa.”
"You Fucker--"
I tried to reach out for my blade but they weren't within my reach.
My eyes slowly closed as he stepped back and closed the door, locking me in the darkness.
I tried getting up and was almost successful when I slanted, feeling myself fall to the ground, vision blurred and it all went dark.
---
I woke up to agony.
Every inch of me screamed. My muscles were pulled taut, my arms suspended above me, my wrists were raw from being chained for too long. My feet barely touched the floor. I couldn’t move, not really.
I turned my head to the best of my ability to take in my surroundings.
Glass. The room was made of glass. A box to display me like an exhibit. My own private hell.
Something dripped from my forehead. Blood? Maybe mine.
Then another drop...
Definitely mine.
My body was a patchwork of bruises, lashes, burns, each throb confirming I hadn’t imagined the pain. And under it all, numbness My head was slow and still foggy. Like I was floating underwater.
Drugs. Of course. Cowards.
Then I saw it.
A camera. Perched high on the wall. The small blinking light letting me know that it was on and recording me.
I let my head hang forward for a moment, gathering what little strength I had. Blood slid from my cracked lips and dripped to the floor. Then, slowly I dragged my head up.
And smiled.
I stared dead into the lens, spat what blood was left in my mouth, and whispered through my teeth...
"You're dead."