ZOE DEAN'S POV
Sleep refused to come. I had turned and twisted so many times that the sheets were now a mess of wrinkles and sweat. It had been a week and a day since Nero left, and still, not a single word from him. No message, no call, nothing. Even Emily didn't know where Benny was, but she seemed unbothered, like it was normal. I couldn't understand how she could be so calm when every hour felt like a slow unraveling inside me.
I exhaled shakily and gave up on sleep.
The air in the room felt suffocating, heavy with thoughts I couldn't quiet. I slipped out of bed, grabbed my robe, and padded toward the door. The mansion was silent, shadows stretching long and still across the hallway. My footsteps sounded too loud as I made my way to the kitchen.
When I pushed the door open, the faint glow of the kitchen lights surprised me. Someone else was awake.
Elena sat at the marble counter, one hand wrapped around a glass of what looked like champagne, the other scrolling through her phone. Her expression was unreadable, but her shoulders were tense.
"Elena," I said softly.
She lifted her head, met my eyes briefly, and then, without a word, stood up, gathering her glass and phone as if I wasn't even there.
She brushed past me, but I instinctively reached out and caught her wrist.
"Get your hands off me," she said, her tone sharp enough to slice through air.
Her eyes—cold, hard, burning with something I didn't understand—met mine.
Slowly, I said, "I'm not your enemy, Elena." I couldn't understand why she hate me so much.
For a while, she didn't say anything, only stared daggers at me before she said with a dangerous voice. "You're not my friend either."
"I'm not here to fight with you," I whispered, releasing her slowly. "I don't know what you think I did, but I'm not against you."
For a moment, she said nothing. Then a bitter laugh escaped her lips. She stepped closer, her perfume sharp, her voice icy.
"You became my enemy the day you took my position."
Before I could respond, she turned and walked out—heels clicking against the tiled floor, her words echoing in my head long after she was gone.
Her position?
What does that even mean?
Was she talking about Nero?
I let out a shaky sigh, trying not to overthink it. I poured myself a drink from the fridge, and sat where she had been.
The clock on the wall ticked louder with every second. I stayed there for a while, staring into space, my thoughts circling like restless birds. Eventually, I got up, deciding I should at least try to rest.
I carried my drink with me, scrolling absently through my phone as I walked down the long corridor. The air felt oddly still, heavier than before.
Then I heard it—footsteps.
At first, I thought I was imagining things. But when I took another step, the sound followed.
My stomach tightened. I stopped, listening. The silence stretched. Then—another step. Closer.
My pulse spiked. I turned my head slightly, scanning the dimly lit hallway. Nothing. Still, the hairs on my arms stood.
I started walking faster. So did the footsteps.
A sharp breath escaped me as fear gripped my chest. My heart pounded so hard it hurt. My palms were slick with sweat. By the time I reached my door, I was almost running. I fumbled for the knob—
A hand grabbed me from behind.
I screamed. The glass slipped from my hand and shattered on the floor.
"Let me go!" I shouted, thrashing, pushing at the person's chest with all my strength.
"Zoe—Zoe, it's me!"
The voice stopped me cold.
I froze, chest heaving, and blinked up at him. "Benny?" My voice trembled. He was wearing a white shirt and black pants.
He nodded, his expression serious. "It's me."
"What the hell, Benny?" My voice cracked as tears welled up in my eyes. "You scared me half to death." He actually did. I thought I was going to die.
"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "But you have to come with me."
I frowned, still panting. "Come with you? Where? Where's Nero?" If Benny was here, then that meant Nero was around too.
"I'll explain on the way. Just—please, Zoe, we need to go now."
Something in his tone made my blood run cold. He wasn't panicking, but there was urgency—real urgency—in his eyes. Do we have to escape again?
My throat tightened. "Benny…" I whispered, stepping closer. "What's going on? Where is he?"
"Nero's fine," he said firmly. "But I need to get you out of here. I'm trying to save your life."
The words didn't register immediately.
Save my life? From what? From who?
But I knew better than to argue. In Nero's world, you didn't stop to ask questions—you moved when told.
I swallowed hard and nodded. "Okay." My phone lay where it had fallen near the broken glass. I snatched it up.
"Good," he said, taking my hand gently this time.
He led me outside to the driveway. By now, I could guess he was taking me to Nero. Where else would he lead me to if not to meet Nero.
The night air was cold against my skin. A black Range Rover waited with its engine already running. Benny opened the back door for me. I climbed in, my heart thudding against my ribs.
As the car pulled away from the mansion, I looked back through the tinted window. The house was shrinking behind us, its lights growing faint until it was swallowed by the night.
A lump formed in my throat. I had come here with Nero, and now I was leaving without him, without knowing why.
I turned to Benny, voice small and trembling. "Benny… are we going to meet Nero?"
He was quiet for a long moment. Then he sighed and said softly, "Zoe, I'm sending you home."