Chapter 15
The wire ropes he hit played her part – V.
The phone clipped from his hand.
Chutside the windows, the city pulsed cold, brilliant, unaware.
per mod slowly, staring at his reflection in the glass. The once–invincible Ares Calloway, disarmed by a woman who knew exactly where to drive the knife.
“You wanted war,” he whispered to no one. “You’ll get it.”
But something gnawed at the edge of his fury.
Why had she nursed him? Stayed for months while he lay half–dead?
Why the hell would she spend her time her power being his caretaker, only to betray him now?
His gut twisted.
There was more. There had to be more.
“Selene…” he whispered her name like a curse, like a prayer. “What did I miss?”
His phone lit up again unknown number, no name.
He hesitated. Then answered.
“You saw the footage,” a voice rasped.
Victor.
“Did you enjoy the show?”
“You bastard,” Ares growled. “I trusted you.”
Victor chuckled. “And I trusted you to stay in your lane. But you had to play hero, Ares. Had to chase your little ghost.”
“You planned this?”
“No. She did.”
Silence.
Then Victor added, “Don’t you get it yet? She’s not your shadow anymore. She’s the fire, and you’re just the ash.”
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Chapter 15
The line went dead.
Ares hurled the phone across the room, shattering it against the wall.
But something clicked.
That last line Selene used to say that.
Back when she was nobody. Back when her touch still trembled, back when she used to curl next to him on hospital beds and whisper comfort through the night.
“She’s the fire, and I’m just the ash…”
He stared into the flames of the fireplace.
Her words. Victor had quoted her words.
So either he knew too much…
Or Selene was feeding him every line.
And if that was true…
His fists clenched.
Then she knew what she was doing the moment she stepped into his life. Every night she stayed beside him, every bath she gave, every time she kissed his cheek it was all part of the game.
He reached for the decanter of scotch, poured himself a shot, and tossed it back like water.
The burn didn’t help.
He paced, his mind tearing through possibilities, trying to rearrange the puzzle.
What was real?
What had been a lie?
Was he so broken that he’d failed to see the knife at his throat?
He stared at the USB again.
It sat like a silent sentinel on the desk.
What if this wasn’t the end?
What if this was her beginning?
Ares grabbed the house phone, dialed a secure line.
O
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11:58 Sun, Oct 12
Chapter 15
“Get me everything on Selene Laurent. Now. Every alias, every deal, every asset she’s touched. I want to know where she sleeps, who she talks to, and what she bleeds.”
“Yes, Mr. Calloway.”
He hung up and looked again at the blank screen.
Somewhere in the shadows, Selene was watching. Calculating.
Victor had sent the message.
But Selene had sent the storm.
And Ares Calloway didn’t plan to drown.
Not again.
The air shifted.
A low chime.
His laptop flickered.
Another file appeared.
Not from the USB.
From an unknown drive.
A single clip.
No title. No sender.
He hesitated.
Clicked.
Selene’s face filled the screen again.
Only this time, she wasn’t across from Victor.
She was alone.
And she looked… different.
Eyes red. Jaw clenched. A cigarette between her fingers, unlit.
She leaned in, speaking directly to the camera.
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“If you’re watching this, Ares… then you finally know.”
She exhaled. Not smug this time. Not cruel. But raw.
“Good.”
Static.
End.
No explanation.
No context.
Just her voice. Her pain.
Ares stared at the screen long after it went black.
And for the first time that night…
He doubted everything.
Not just Selene.
But himself.
Was she playing him?
Or was he the one who’d already lost?
He sat back down, fingers steepled, eyes burning.
And waited for the next move.
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