The city lights beckoned in the distance as Marcus maneuvered the car down the highway. I stared at those lights, contemplating Marcus’s words from earlier. He told me the only thing that mattered was survival. His, mine. Everyone else could burn.
I hated it, but I also understood it. A month ago I would have run away screaming from someone who said this. But now I just mourned the end of my naïve view of the world. I could have died. I could have lost Marcus. And even just thinking about the possibility made me was to destroy everyone in our way.
The things I’d seen. The things I’d done.
I peered at my reflection in the dashboard. Same face. Same hair in desperate need of deep conditioning. But I was not the same Olivia who caught Marcus’s eye across a busy dancefloor. And deep inside, I liked the new me.
“Liv, you’re thinking so loud over there. What’s up?”
I smiled and turned to look at Marcus. “Just processing everything.”
“Okay.” His voice was soft and tender. I loved this side of Marcus, the private one he didn’t show the world. But I loved his fierceness too, the ferocious way he went after what he wanted. In work and life. His empire. And me.
I shifted in my seat to face him, letting a question I’d been trying to keep in escape. “Why do you trust me, Marcus? I could betray you at any moment. I could be the one who led that man to the cabin. I could be leading you into a trap right now.”
“Could you?” He met my gaze. “Would you?”
“No. But looking at it from the outside, there have been reasons for you to doubt me. Yet you never did.”
“Trust is a luxury I can’t always afford,” he admitted, his eyes never leaving the road. “I don’t know if I fully trust anyone, including myself. If you lied or betrayed me, it’d drive me mad. There are people close to me who wish I hadn’t brought you into this mess.”
“Then why…?” I began, but he cut me off.
“Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. I need you, Olivia. Like air. Having you close, emotionally and physically, even if you’re lying to me, it’s worth the risk.”
His words seeped into me, heat through my skin. The intensity in his voice filled my heart to bursting. He needed me. And I felt the same about him.
The weight of his words seemed to hang in the air, and I found myself reflecting on my new life – the risks, the adrenaline, the passion. My old life felt like a foggy dream now. “You know,” I said, breaking the silence, “I never thought I’d be this person, but being part of your world… making decisions with you, fighting at your side… It feels damn good.”
“Better than filing paperwork at that law firm?” Marcus asked with a smirk, glancing over at me.
“Yes.” I grinned, remembering the days of tedious work and office politics. “This is real, raw, and alive. I can’t imagine going back to that life.”
“Good, because you don’t have to,” he stated firmly, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. “You’re with me now, and I won’t let anything or anyone come between us.”
Sliding across the leather seat, I snuggled close as he wrapped one arm around my waist. Our lips met in a fiery kiss, full of need and possession, as though we were trying to claim each other’s souls.
“Watch the road!” I gasped when the car veered dangerously close to the guardrail.
“Shit,” Marcus said with a chuckle, swerving the car just in time. Glancing at me, he jokingly said, “Imagine that. Marcus Moore taken out not in a battle with the cops or a rival, but done in because he was too busy kissing his girlfriend to watch the road.”
I giggled, but then looked over at him. “Am I your girlfriend?”
He looked into my eyes and replied earnestly, “You’re so much more than that. You are my everything.”
I opened my mouth to say how I felt, but no words came out. It was all too much in a wonderful but terrifying way.
“Clearly, I need more coffee,” Marcus said. He pointed ahead on the road. “Let’s stop at the next exit. We both need to be sharp when we get back to the city. I don’t know what’s coming next.”
“Hey, we’re an unbeatable team,” I assured him, snuggling in close again.
“I certainly hope so.”
***
Marcus pulled into a gas station, the hum of the engine dying as he parked by the pump. “Gonna fill up and grab some water. You want anything?” he asked, his eyes flicking over to me.
“Water’s fine, thanks,” I replied, watching him step out of the car with an air of authority that never failed to send a shiver down my spine. As soon as he disappeared inside the store, I took the opportunity to power up my cell phone – it had been useless since we left the city for the cabin. I hoped we were close enough to civilization now for it to work again.
The screen lit up, flooding my retinas with its unnatural glow. Messages popped up one after another, making me squint in the sudden onslaught.
Most were from Elle. At first I was relieved to hear from her. I’d been so concerned. But as I looked through the messages, my heart sank. Each one was a link to articles and social media posts about Marcus and his businesses. His face was plastered everywhere, and the headlines made my stomach churn.
“What in the world?” I muttered, scrolling through the barrage of accusations and slander. Lies and distortions, accusations of things I knew were impossible for him to have done. The picture painted was a monster. And then, at the end of the string of messages, finally something from my friend.
This is the man you choose over me? I’m ashamed of you. I wish I never met you, Liv. Consider this truth the end of our friendship and my last gift to you. Enjoy your life with that scum of the earth.
Elle’s cruel words felt like a knife twisting in my gut. The messages read like they were from a stranger, not the person I’d known for so long. She didn’t even call me Ol.
“Fuck.” The hurt mingled with anger as I slammed my phone down on the dashboard. This wasn’t the time to wallow in misery. If these stories were out, things had gotten much worse for Marcus. I had to focus on that for now.
I bolted out of the car, barging into the gas station with barely restrained panic. Marcus stood at the counter, handing cash to the attendant, who flinched at the intensity of my entrance.
“Marcus, we have to go. Now,” I panted, my voice wavering under the weight of the dire situation. He didn’t question my urgency, simply nodded and snatched the bag from the counter.
“Thanks,” he barked at the wide-eyed attendant. “Keep the change.”
“What’s going on?” Marcus demanded, his brows furrowed with concern as we rushed back to the car.
“Elle sent me links. Your face is everywhere, and it’s bad. Really bad,” I said, sliding into the passenger seat.
“Great.” Marcus started the car. His grip tightened on the wheel, knuckles turning white as he floored the gas pedal. We sped away from the station, leaving nothing but a blur of color in our wake.
We sat in silence as the car raced down the highway and back into the city. Moments felt like hours until we finally pulled up outside the warehouse. Benjamin’s black SUV was already parked out front.
Marcus threw the car into park and was out the door before I could blink. I hurried after him into the cavernous interior.
Benjamin turned from one of the monitors, his expression grim. “I suppose you saw the news.”
“We did,” Marcus replied.
“Unfortunately, that’s just the tip of the iceberg of bad news.”
“Explain.” Marcus’s tone brooked no argument.
“Half a dozen of your businesses have been raided. Bank accounts frozen, assets seized. Employees are jumping ship left and right. And the news stories – they’re calling you a criminal, a kidnapper, even accusing you of human trafficking.” Benjamin’s mouth twisted. “Someone did their homework. They know exactly where to hit you to cause maximum damage.”
“And the cops?” Marcus asked, his voice deceptively calm. “How deeply are they involved?”
Benjamin shook his head. “Can’t say for sure yet. Could be they’re just reacting to the stories, could be they’re actively working with whoever is orchestrating this campaign against you.”
Benjamin leaned back in his chair, running a hand over his stubbled jaw. “We won’t know the full extent of the damage for a few days, but it’s clear that being connected to Marcus Moore is turning toxic.”
Marcus slammed his fist on the table, making me jump. His nostrils flared, and the cords in his neck stood out as he fought to keep his temper in check. “I built my goddamn name in this city, and now someone wants to drag it through the mud. I can make more money but I can’t get back a destroyed reputation. This shit could be the end of me.”
“Hey,” I said softly, my hand touching his arm. “Whoever’s doing this knows you. They know exactly what buttons to push to get to you. Don’t let them.”
He looked down at me, vulnerability flickering across his face before determination took its place.
“Olivia’s right,” Benjamin chimed in, his calculating gaze locked on Marcus. “They’re trying to distract you by hitting where it hurts the most.”
“I know,” Marcus growled, his grip tightening around my hand. “Let’s stop playing their game and start playing ours. I didn’t start this bullshit, but I am sure as hell going to finish it.”
I didn’t know how to comfort or console him, not that he’d want me to. Marcus was focused on the fight, as he should be. But a part of me still felt lost, like I couldn’t be strong enough, brave enough, whatever enough to stand by his side, the only place I ever wanted to be.