Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN THEY THOUGHT HE WOULDN'T SAVE
Maya woke up to darkness.
The first thing she noticed was the cold.
The second thing she noticed was the silence.
Her head hurt.
Her wrists were tied.
And the expensive apartment she had cleaned every day felt like a million miles away.
She tried to move.
A sharp pain shot through her shoulder.
Then memories came rushing back.
The black car.
The stranger.
The hand grabbing her arm.
The voice.
"Julian Croft can't protect everyone."
Maya closed her eyes.
Fear tried to take over.
But she forced herself to breathe.
She had survived too much to break now.
The metal door in front of her suddenly opened.
A man walked inside.
Vincent Hale.
Maya immediately recognized him from the pictures Julian showed her.
Older than Julian.
A colder smile.
A man who looked like he enjoyed watching people panic.
"So."
Vincent sat across from her.
"You're the woman."
Maya stared at him.
"What do you want?"
Vincent smiled.
"Straight to the point."
"I asked what you want."
He leaned back.
"I want Julian Croft to finally understand something."
"What?"
"Everyone has a weakness."
Maya said nothing.
Vincent looked at her carefully.
"And you are his."
Maya's expression hardened.
"No."
The answer surprised him.
"No?"
"You don't know Julian."
Vincent laughed.
"Interesting."
"You think he's a monster."
Maya looked directly at him.
"But you don't know the man who waits up until 2 AM because he thinks someone he cares about is hurt."
Vincent's smile faded slightly.
"You think he cares about you?"
"I know he does."
The confidence in her voice bothered him.
Because Vincent expected fear.
Not loyalty.
"You are defending him?"
"Yes."
"Even after knowing who he is?"
Maya looked away.
"I know who he is better than you do."
Vincent leaned forward.
"Then tell me something."
His voice became darker.
"How much does he know about you?"
Maya froze.
"What?"
"Your debt."
Silence.
"Your mother's hospital bills."
Her face changed.
"Your second job."
A chill moved through her body.
"How did you..."
Vincent smiled.
"Julian isn't the only person who knows how to investigate."
Maya's stomach tightened.
Vincent stood.
"See, Maya..."
"You think you're protecting him."
He walked toward the door.
"But you're actually the easiest way to destroy him."
The door closed.
Maya sat alone.
And for the first time...
She wondered if her secrets had put Julian in more danger than she realized.
Back at the penthouse, Julian stood in the middle of the living room.
Still.
Silent.
Terrifying.
Derek had never seen him like this.
Not when enemies betrayed him.
Not when businesses collapsed.
Not even when bullets were fired at him.
But now?
His hands were shaking.
"Three hours," Julian whispered.
Derek looked at him.
"What?"
"She's been gone three hours."
Julian stared at the empty elevator.
"I should have followed her."
Derek shook his head.
"Julian."
"No."
His voice cracked.
Just slightly.
But Derek heard it.
"I knew something was wrong."
He looked down.
"And I still let her walk out."
That was the moment Derek understood.
This wasn't about business.
This wasn't about power.
Julian Croft was terrified because Maya Torres had become the one thing he couldn't replace.
His heart.
His weakness.
His reason.
Then Julian's phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone in the room froze.
Julian answered.
"Who is this?"
A man's voice came through.
"Relax, Croft."
Julian's eyes turned cold.
"Where is she?"
A laugh.
"That is the first question you ask?"
"Where."
The voice became amused.
"You really are different with her."
Julian said nothing.
"Come alone."
Derek immediately stepped forward.
"No."
Julian raised his hand.
"Where?"
The man gave an address.
Then the line went dead.
Derek looked at him.
"It's a trap."
Julian grabbed his coat.
"I know."
"Then why go?"
Julian stopped at the door.
May you like
His answer was simple.
"Because she's there."
