Zane's POV
Maya's sitting in the police station looking small and scared, and I want to kill someone.
My little sister—always so confident, so fearless—is wrapped in a blanket with her hands shaking around a coffee cup. There's a cut on her forehead. Fresh. Still bleeding a little.
"Maya!" Aria rushes past me, pulling Maya into a hug. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Just shaken up." But Maya's voice cracks. She's not fine. Not even close.
I sit down beside them, forcing myself to stay calm. Losing control won't help anyone. "What happened? Your text said someone broke in?"
Maya takes a shaky breath. "I came home from grocery shopping. The door was open. I thought maybe I forgot to lock it, but then I went inside and..." She closes her eyes. "Everything was destroyed. My laptop smashed. Papers everywhere. My clothes thrown around. But here's the weird part—nothing was stolen. My TV, jewelry, cash—all still there."
My blood runs cold. This wasn't a robbery. This was a message.
"Did you see anyone?" Aria asks, her voice tight with worry.
"That's how I got this." Maya touches the cut on her forehead. "I was about to call the police when someone grabbed me from behind. I screamed and fought, and I think I surprised them because they let go. I ran to my neighbor's apartment and called 911. By the time police arrived, whoever it was had left."
"Did you see their face?" I keep my voice steady even though rage is burning through my chest.
"No. They wore a mask. Black clothes. Gloves." Maya's hands shake harder. "But Zane, they said something. Before they grabbed me. They whispered, 'Stop asking questions or next time will be worse.'"
Aria and I lock eyes. The woman at the pier was telling the truth. This is about the bribery evidence. About Senator Chen covering his tracks.
"What questions?" Aria asks carefully. "Have you been investigating something?"
Maya looks confused. "No? I mean, I asked my boss at the internship about some weird financial reports I saw, but that was weeks ago. He said it was just accounting stuff I wouldn't understand. Why?"
"Did you tell anyone else about the reports?" I try to sound casual.
"Just Victoria. We had coffee and I mentioned it seemed strange." Maya frowns. "Wait, you don't think this is connected to that, do you? That's crazy. It was just boring financial documents."
"Probably not connected," I lie smoothly. "But the police should know about it anyway. Any detail might help."
A police officer approaches. "Ms. Hartley? We'd like to ask you a few more questions."
Maya stands, still clutching the blanket. "Will you guys wait for me?"
"Of course," Aria says. "We're not going anywhere."
As soon as Maya's out of earshot, Aria turns to me. "They tried to scare her. This was a warning."
"I know." My jaw clenches. "And it worked. Maya's terrified."
"What do we do? We can't tell her the truth. If she knows she saw evidence of crimes, she'll be in even more danger."
"We need to get her somewhere safe. Somewhere Senator Chen can't reach her." My mind races through options. "My family has a lake house three hours north. Remote. Private security. I can take Maya there tonight, tell her I'm worried about her safety after the break-in."
"She'll ask questions. She's not stupid."
"Let her ask. I'll lie." The words taste bitter, but necessary. "Better she thinks I'm being overprotective than knowing she's a target for assassination."
Aria's phone buzzes. She checks it and her face goes white. "It's Victoria. She says we have four hours until midnight. And she attached a photo."
She shows me. It's Maya at the police station. Taken from outside. Taken minutes ago.
The message below reads: "Tick tock. Make your choice soon. Things could get much worse for poor Maya."
Fury explodes in my chest. Victoria's been watching us this whole time. Knew about the break-in. Maybe even ordered it.
"That's it." I stand up. "We're meeting Victoria. Now. Not at midnight. Right now."
"Zane, we need to think this through—"
"There's nothing to think through!" My voice rises and several people look over. I lower it. "She just threatened Maya with a photo taken five minutes ago. She's here, Aria. Nearby. Watching us like we're some sick game."
"All the more reason to be careful. If we walk into her trap angry, we'll make mistakes."
She's right. I hate that she's right.
I sit back down, forcing deep breaths. "Okay. We stay calm. We wait for Maya. Then I take her to the lake house while you—"
"While I what? Let you handle Victoria alone?"
"You'll be safer away from this."
"Absolutely not." Aria's eyes flash with determination. "We're in this together. You don't get to protect me by pushing me away."
"Aria—"
"No. Listen to me." She grabs my hand. "Maya's my best friend. She's in danger because of me. Because Victoria's using me to control her. I'm not running away while you fight this battle alone."
I stare at this woman who was crying in my arms just days ago, who thought she was broken and worthless. Now she's ready to face down a corrupt senator and his dangerous daughter.
I'm definitely in love with her.
"Together," I finally agree. "But we do this smart. We record everything Victoria says. Get evidence. Then we take it to someone who can actually help."
"Who? The police? Senator Chen probably has half of them on his payroll."
"There's someone else. A journalist my father knows. Investigates political corruption. If we can give her proof of the bribes, she'll expose Senator Chen publicly. He can't kill Maya if the whole world's watching."
"Will she believe us?"
"If we have evidence, yes." I pull out my phone. "I'll call Marcus. Have him dig into Senator Chen's finances. Find something concrete."
"And Victoria? Do we still meet her tonight?"
Before I can answer, my phone rings. Unknown number. My stomach drops.
"Zane Hartley?" A man's voice. Cold. Professional. "This is Senator Chen. I believe we need to have a conversation about my daughter and your... relationship."
My blood turns to ice. How does he have my number? How much does he know?
"Senator Chen. What can I do for you?"
"You can stop playing games with Victoria's heart. She's told me everything. How you seduced her, promised her marriage, then betrayed her with some nobody girl." His voice drips with contempt. "I've already spoken with your mother. We've agreed the engagement announcement will proceed as planned next week."
"Engagement? I never—"
"Don't interrupt me, boy. You're going to marry Victoria. You're going to stand beside her at the charity gala and smile while she announces your engagement. And you're going to cut off all contact with Aria Chen."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then people you care about will get hurt. Your sister, for example. Such a bright young woman. Would be a shame if something happened to her."
The threat is clear. Marry Victoria or Maya dies.
"You can't threaten me," I say through gritted teeth.
"I'm not threatening. I'm stating facts. Victoria wants you. I want an alliance with your family's business empire. We both get what we want, or..." He pauses. "Well. Accidents happen. Brake failures. Break-ins. Sometimes people don't survive their second close call."
He hangs up before I can respond.
I sit there frozen, phone in my hand. Aria's watching me with worried eyes.
"What did he say?"
"He wants me to marry Victoria. Announced publicly at the gala. And if I refuse..." I can't finish the sentence.
"He'll kill Maya," Aria whispers.
Maya chooses that moment to return, looking exhausted. "Officer said I can go home. Well, to a hotel since my apartment's a crime scene. Can I crash with you tonight, Zane?"
"Actually, I was thinking you should go to the lake house. Get away from the city for a few days."
Maya frowns. "That's a bit extreme for a break-in, don't you think?"
"Humor me. I'm your big brother. I'm allowed to be overprotective."
She studies my face, and I can see her mind working. Maya's always been too smart for her own good. "What aren't you telling me?"
"Nothing. I just want you safe."
"Zane—"
"Please, Maya." My voice cracks. "Just trust me. Go to the lake house for a week. Let me handle everything here."
Something in my expression must convince her because she finally nods. "Okay. But you're both acting really weird."
"Weird is my specialty," I try to joke.
Maya manages a small smile, then yawns. "Can we go? I'm exhausted."
"Yeah. Let's get you packed and on the road."
We leave the police station, Maya leaning on Aria for support. My mind's spinning with impossible choices.
Marry Victoria and save Maya's life. Or refuse and risk losing my sister forever.
There's no good option. No way to win.
Unless...
An idea starts forming. Dangerous. Possibly stupid. But it might be our only shot.
"Aria," I say quietly while Maya's in the bathroom at a gas station. "I need you to do something for me. Something that might get you in trouble."
"What?"
"I need you to seduce Senator Chen."
Her eyes go wide. "What?"
"Not literally. But I need you to get close to him. At the gala. Wear a wire. Get him talking about the bribes. About threatening Maya. If we can record him confessing, we have evidence."
"Zane, that's insane. He'll never—"
"He will if he thinks you're trying to save Maya. If you offer to break up with me in exchange for her safety." I grab her shoulders. "It's risky. But it might be our only chance to get proof before the midnight deadline."
Aria's quiet for a long moment. Then she nods.
"Okay. I'll do it. For Maya."
And just like that, we're committed to a plan that could either save everyone I love or destroy us all.