Chapter 2

A few days later, Leo Maxwell showed up at the estate, uninvited.

He looked like he hadn't slept, his usually perfect hair messy.

He found me in the library.

"Marcus," he began, his voice choked with emotion, "please. You have to let Sera go."

I just looked at him, a minor annoyance from my past, now a major red flag.

"Let her go?" I asked, my tone flat.

"She's miserable, Marcus. She told me you chose her, but she doesn't want this. She loves me."

He actually looked like he believed his own bullshit.

Or maybe he remembered the previous timeline too. The thought sent a chill down my spine.

Just then, Sera stormed in.

She saw Leo, looking pathetic, and me, looking indifferent.

Her eyes blazed. "Marcus! What are you doing to him? Leave him alone!"

She rushed to Leo's side, checking him for injuries I hadn't inflicted.

"Sera, I just came to talk to him," Leo said, playing the victim perfectly.

"Talk? He's probably threatening you!" Sera glared at me. "I told you, Marcus, I will never be with you! Never!"

Before I could respond, the sound of shattering glass and gunfire erupted from outside.

An ambush. Black SUVs screeching to a halt on the driveway, men with guns pouring out.

My training kicked in. "Down!"

Sera hesitated for a split second, her eyes darting between me and Leo.

Then, she threw herself in front of Leo as a bullet whizzed past. It caught him in the leg. He screamed.

At the same instant, a body slammed into me, pushing me to the floor.

Winn.

Her body armor took several hits, the thuds sickeningly loud.

She grunted but held her position, firing back with deadly accuracy through a shattered window.

Other Angels converged, the fight was brutal but short. Our defenses held.

Later, after the estate was secured and Leo was being tended to by our doctor, Winn found me.

Her face was smudged with dirt, a bruise blooming on her cheekbone, but her eyes were clear and direct.

She then turned her attention to Sera, who was fussing over Leo.

"Angel One," Winn's voice was cold, "your primary responsibility is Marcus. You shielded Mr. Maxwell. You hesitated."

Sera flushed. "Leo was hurt! Marcus had other guards."

"Your duty was to the heir, not the estate manager's son," Winn stated, her voice unyielding. "Your loyalty is compromised."

Sera scoffed. "And you think you're so perfect, Angel Ten?"

Winn didn't reply to that. Instead, she turned to me, still unaware I had chosen her.

She looked disappointed, her gaze stern.

"Marcus," she said, her voice low and rough. "You need to be more careful with your affections. Your infatuation with Sera is a liability. She clearly doesn't prioritize you."

She thinks I still want Sera. She thinks I'm a fool.

I almost smiled. The irony was rich.

"Thank you for your counsel, Winn," I said, keeping my face neutral.

She nodded curtly, then her eyes softened for a moment. "Just... be safe, Marcus."

She walked away, leaving me with my thoughts.

Winn was right about Sera. But she was wrong about me.

This time, my eyes were wide open.