Chapter 3 Three

Alexa's POV

"Mom, I want to step out for a bit. Rodney has a few of my books, and I need to pick them up," I say as I walk back into the living room.

Dinner is over, and the air in the room is light. My mom and Mr. Jackson are sitting together on the couch, talking quietly, both of them still wrapped up in that glow of being newly married.

Mr. Jackson looks up at me with that protective sternness of his. "I'll ask one of the men to go with you."

I shake my head, almost laughing. "That won't be necessary. Rodney's a nerd, Mom knows him-he wouldn't hurt a fly. The only dangerous thing about him is the number of comic books he owns."

My mom gives me a worried glance anyway. "Stay safe, Alexa. It's already past seven."

I just smile at her reassuringly, grab my purse from the couch, and step out of the house.

Outside, the evening air is cool and still. I call Rodney, but he doesn't answer. A second later, a text buzzes in: Come here. I'll meet you at this address.

I frown slightly, but I type the address into my phone's map and start walking toward the main road. That part of the trip is easy. The difficult part is hailing a cab, because Mr. Jackson built his mansion tucked deep in the quieter side of the city. It always feels like civilization is a mile away.

I'm halfway to the road when a sharp scream cuts through the air. It's high-pitched and desperate, the kind that makes your stomach tighten.

I freeze, heart hammering. For a moment, I debate whether to ignore it. But my curiosity is stronger. Carefully, I push through the bushes that divide the road, and that's when I see it-an old iron hatch hidden beneath the leaves.

Against my better judgment, I crouch and tug it open. A ladder leads down. The scream echoes again from below.

I climb down.

The tunnel is damp and narrow, the air thick with dust. A faint strip of light glows at the far end. That's where the scream came from.

I move toward it slowly, every step echoing. My hand brushes against the wall for balance. When I get closer, I hear voices.

"Do you think stealing my supplies will save you? I have men in every corner of this country. You can't run."

I peek through a crack. A man in a black suit is standing in front of another man tied to a chair. Several armed guards flank the room.

The man in the chair is shaking his head desperately. "Please-I swear I've never betrayed you. I've always been loyal."

The one in the suit sighs, as though bored. "I'm tired of your excuses." He pulls out a gun, raises it, and without hesitation, fires.

The sound makes me flinch. My hand presses against my mouth to keep from screaming.

I stumble back, but my foot kicks against a bottle on the ground. The clatter echoes down the tunnel.

"Someone's here!" one of the guards shouts.

"Find the intruder!"

Panic jolts through me. I turn and run for the hatch, but a deep voice cuts through the chaos. "Move another step and you're dead. Turn around."

My whole body stiffens. Slowly, I lift my hands and turn. Every gun in the room is pointed at me.

"It's a girl," one of them says, almost confused.

"She could be a spy. Shoot her."

I gasp.

Before they can fire, a hiss fills the tunnel. A cloud of gas explodes through the room, burning my throat, making everyone cough and stumble. I feel a hand grab mine through the smoke.

"Come with me," a low voice whispers.

I let him pull me. Through the haze, I see a figure dressed in black, face hidden behind a mask. We dart through a side door.

Inside, he starts tearing down the barricades against another exit. "Help me," he says urgently. His voice is strangely familiar.

Footsteps thunder closer. My fear outweighs hesitation, and I help him shove the planks aside. He kicks the door open, drags me through, and shoves a bag into my hands.

He pulls out a grenade, tosses it back into the tunnel, and slams the door shut. The explosion rumbles behind us as we run.

Finally, when we're far enough away, he stops, breathing heavily. "Sometimes I think you get yourself into trouble just so I'll have to save you."

The tone makes me blink. That voice-I know it.

"Baron?" I whisper.

He pulls off the mask. His familiar scowl greets me.

Relief and confusion swirl in me at once. "How did you even know I was here?"

"I heard you were planning to see your friend. I also knew the Skull gang was moving through those tunnels tonight. It wasn't hard to figure out where you'd end up."

My heart pounds harder at the mention of the gang. "How do you know their name? You said it so easily, like you're... connected to them."

Baron doesn't answer right away. His eyes flicker. Finally, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a gun.

I take a step back. "Why do you have that?"

His gaze is steady, voice firm. "Because I'm not who you think I am. I belong to the Mafia. And what I'm about to tell you could cost both of us our lives."