The car door slammed harder than necessary.
Teresa flinched.
The sound echoed louder than it should have—like a gunshot in the silence that had settled between them.
No one spoke.
Not Lester.
Not Marcus.
Not even her.
The tension in the car was suffocating.
Heavy.
Waiting.
---
"Out."
Lester's voice was cold.
Controlled.
They had arrived at his place—a towering glass mansion that screamed power and privacy.
Teresa stepped out slowly, her legs feeling weaker than she wanted to admit.
Marcus stayed close.
Too close.
Like she might suddenly turn into a threat.
That hurt more than she expected.
---
The moment they stepped inside—
Lester stopped.
Turned.
And looked at her.
Really looked at her.
"Talk."
One word.
Sharp.
Demanding.
No escape.
Teresa swallowed.
"I don't even know where to start—"
"Start with the money."
Her heart stuttered.
Of course.
That.
Her secret.
The one she had buried so deep she almost convinced herself it didn't exist anymore.
"I…" she hesitated.
Lester didn't move.
Didn't blink.
"Now, Teresa."
Her name felt heavier this time.
Not soft.
Not curious.
But edged with something dangerous.
---
She exhaled slowly.
"There was an offer," she said quietly.
Marcus stiffened slightly.
Lester's gaze darkened.
"From who?"
Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.
"I didn't know at first," she admitted. "It was anonymous."
Silence.
Then—
"How much?" Lester asked.
Her throat went dry.
"Half."
Marcus frowned. "Half of what?"
Teresa forced the words out.
"Half of what you offered me."
The room went still.
Lester's expression didn't change.
But something behind his eyes did.
Something colder.
"You're saying," he said slowly, "someone offered you money… before you met me?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
Her heart pounded.
"For information."
The word dropped like a bomb.
---
Marcus swore under his breath.
Lester didn't react immediately.
Which somehow made it worse.
"What kind of information?" he asked quietly.
Teresa shook her head quickly. "I didn't take it."
"Answer the question."
Her voice trembled slightly now.
"…About you."
Silence.
Sharp. Heavy.
Dangerous.
---
"I didn't accept it," she repeated quickly. "I refused. I blocked the number. I thought that was the end of it."
Lester took a step closer.
Slow.
Measured.
"Then why are they still contacting you?"
"I don't know!" she snapped, her emotions finally cracking through. "Everything was fine until tonight!"
"Was it?" he asked softly.
That stopped her.
Because suddenly—
Nothing felt certain anymore.
---
Marcus crossed his arms.
"This isn't coincidence."
"I know that!" Teresa shot back. "But I didn't set this up!"
"No one said you did," Lester replied.
But the way he said it—
Made it sound like he wasn't completely sure.
---
That hurt.
More than it should have.
---
"I told you the truth," she said quietly, her voice shaking now. "I could've hidden it. I could've lied."
"But you didn't," he said.
She looked up.
Something in his tone had shifted.
Not fully trusting.
Not fully cold.
But… conflicted.
---
"Why?" he asked.
The question caught her off guard.
"What?"
"Why didn't you take the money?"
Her breath caught.
Because the answer…
Wasn't simple.
"…Because I didn't want to be that person," she said softly.
"And now?" Marcus asked.
Teresa turned to him sharply.
"I'm still not."
---
Silence stretched.
Tense.
Fragile.
---
Then—
Lester sighed quietly.
A small sound.
But it changed everything.
Because it wasn't anger.
It wasn't suspicion.
It was… something else.
Frustration.
Concern.
Maybe even—
Fear.
---
"They're using you," he said finally.
Her chest tightened.
"I figured that out."
"They knew you were desperate," he continued. "They knew you'd cross my path."
Her heart skipped.
"You think this was planned?"
"I don't think," he said.
"I know."
---
Before she could respond—
Marcus's phone buzzed.
He checked it.
And froze.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
Lester noticed.
"What is it?"
Marcus hesitated.
Too long.
Then—
"There's been a breach," he said.
"Where?"
A pause.
"…Here."
---
Everything shifted.
Instantly.
Danger.
Real.
Immediate.
---
"How?" Lester demanded.
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"I'm checking now—"
But Lester was already moving.
Fast.
"Lock the place down."
Marcus nodded and moved toward his comms.
Teresa's heart started racing.
"What's happening?"
"No idea," Lester replied, scanning the room. "But you stay close."
Close.
The word hit differently now.
---
A sudden noise echoed from upstairs.
A crash.
Loud.
Violent.
Teresa flinched.
Lester grabbed her wrist instinctively—
Pulling her behind him.
The contact sent a jolt through her.
Warm.
Firm.
Protective.
Her breath caught.
---
"Stay behind me," he said.
His voice was low.
Dangerous.
---
Footsteps.
Fast.
Coming closer.
---
Marcus turned—
But it was too late.
A loud bang.
The lights flickered—
Then went out.
Darkness swallowed everything.
---
Teresa gasped.
Her grip tightened around Lester's sleeve.
"Lester—"
"Quiet."
His hand found hers in the dark.
Strong.
Steady.
Grounding.
---
Another sound.
Closer this time.
Right behind them.
---
Marcus cursed.
"Someone's inside!"
---
Before anyone could react—
A figure lunged out of the darkness.
Fast.
Precise.
Teresa screamed—
But it was cut short.
A hand clamped over her mouth.
Her body jerked as she was pulled back—
Hard.
---
"Teresa!"
Lester's voice broke through the chaos.
Sharp.
Panicked.
For the first time—
Panicked.
---
She struggled.
Kicked.
Fought.
But whoever held her was strong.
Too strong.
---
"Let her go!" Lester shouted.
No response.
Just movement.
Dragging her.
Away.
---
Her heart pounded violently.
Her vision blurred in the darkness.
She tried to scream again—
But the grip tightened.
---
Then—
A whisper.
Right against her ear.
Cold.
Familiar.
"You should've taken the money."
Her blood ran cold.
---
The same voice.
The caller.
---
Her body went still.
Just for a second.
And that was enough.
---
Something sharp pressed against her neck.
Not enough to cut.
Just enough to warn.
"Don't fight," he murmured.
"Or he dies first."
Her breath hitched.
---
Lester's voice echoed again—
Closer now.
"Teresa!"
She tried to respond—
But the blade pressed harder.
---
"Shh…" the man whispered. "Let's not make this worse."
---
And then—
Everything went black.
---
END OF CHAPTER 4