Chapter 37 — The Call That Changed Everything
"Kiera, wake up."
Her eyes fluttered open slowly. For a split second, she didn't know where she was—only that something felt wrong.
"Kiera," Kade said again, this time sharper. "Wake up."
She sat up with a gasp. "What—what happened?"
He was standing beside her bed, phone in his hand, his face tight in a way she had never seen before. Not anger. Not fear. Something worse.
Control cracking.
"Did I wake you?" he asked, though the answer was obvious.
"Yes," she said, heart pounding. "Is Leo okay?"
Leo.
That was always her first thought.
Kade hesitated. Just a fraction of a second too long.
"Kade," she said urgently. "Is Leo okay?"
"Yes," he said quickly. "He's asleep. He's fine."
Her chest loosened, but the unease didn't leave. "Then what's wrong?"
He looked at his phone again, like it might explode. "I just got a call."
"At this hour?" she whispered.
He nodded. "From a private number."
Something cold slid down her spine.
"Was it… her?" Kiera asked.
Kade's jaw tightened. "No."
That didn't comfort her.
"Then who?"
He met her eyes. "Someone who knows your name."
The room felt smaller.
"My name?" she repeated. "Why would—"
"They knew where you live," he interrupted quietly.
Her breath caught. "That's not funny."
"I'm not joking," he said. "They said it very clearly."
Her hands trembled as she pulled the blanket tighter around herself. "What exactly did they say?"
Kade exhaled slowly, like he was choosing each word carefully. "They said… I should tell you to be careful."
A pause.
"And?"
"And that some people don't like women who forget their place."
Silence slammed between them.
Kiera felt it then—the old, familiar fear. The one that never fully left. The kind that made your body react before your mind could catch up.
"This is about Vivienne," she said.
"I don't know," Kade replied. "But I don't like coincidences."
Neither did she.
"Kade," she whispered, "I'm scared."
He sat down on the edge of the bed immediately. "I know."
She looked at him, really looked at him. "What aren't you telling me?"
He hesitated again.
"Kade," she insisted.
"There was something else," he admitted.
Her throat tightened. "What?"
"They said," he continued slowly, "that this is just a warning."
Her heart slammed violently against her ribs. "A warning for what?"
He didn't answer.
"Kade," she said sharply. "Say it."
"For you to remember," he finally said, "that you don't belong in my world."
The words hit her like a slap.
She shook her head. "No. No, this is—this is intimidation."
"Yes," he said. "And it worked."
She swung her legs off the bed. "I can't stay here."
"What?" he asked immediately.
"I can't be the reason someone threatens you," she said, standing. "Or Leo."
"Kiera," he said firmly, standing too, "don't do this."
"This is exactly what they want," she replied, panic bleeding into her voice. "To scare me. To make me leave."
"And are you going to let them win?" he demanded.
She laughed bitterly. "I've been losing my whole life. I don't know how to fight this."
He stepped closer. "You don't fight it alone."
"You can't protect me from everything," she snapped.
"I can try," he said quietly. "And I will."
She turned away, pressing her palms to her temples. "This is too much."
"Kiera," he said, softer now, "look at me."
She didn't.
"Please."
She turned.
"I need you to trust me," he said. "Just for tonight."
Her eyes filled. "And tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow," he said, "we figure out our next move."
She swallowed. "What if there isn't one?"
"There is," he said firmly. "There's always one."
A knock echoed through the penthouse.
Both of them froze.
Kade turned toward the door, instincts flaring. "Did you order anything?"
"No," Kiera whispered.
Another knock. Louder.
"Kade Nightwell," a man's voice called out. "We need to speak with you."
Kade's eyes darkened. "Stay here," he said.
"Kade—"
"Stay," he repeated.
He walked toward the door, each step controlled, deliberate.
Kiera followed anyway—quietly, heart racing.
When Kade opened the door, two men stood there. Dark suits. Expressionless faces.
"Mr. Nightwell," one of them said. "We're here regarding a report."
"What report?" Kade asked coldly.
"About a threat made against someone living in this residence."
Kiera's stomach dropped.
"Who made the report?" Kade asked.
The man glanced past him.
"At her request," he said, nodding toward Kiera.
Her vision blurred. "What?"
Kade turned sharply. "Kiera?"
"I didn't report anything," she said, voice shaking. "I swear."
The second man checked his tablet. "The report was anonymous."
Kade's expression hardened. "Anonymous?"
"Yes," the man replied. "But it was very detailed."
"What kind of details?" Kade asked.
The man hesitated. "About her schedule."
Kiera felt dizzy. "My… schedule?"
"Where she goes," he continued. "Who she meets. When she's alone."
Kade clenched his fists. "That information isn't public."
"No," the man agreed. "Which is why we're concerned."
The first man looked directly at Kiera. "Miss Frost, do you recognize this number?"
He held up his phone.
Her heart stopped.
She recognized it.
"That's… that's the number that called me," she whispered.
"When?" Kade demanded.
"Just now," she said, barely audible.
The man nodded grimly. "Then I suggest you pack a bag."
"What?" Kiera and Kade said at the same time.
"For your safety," the man continued. "We believe this situation may escalate."
Kade stepped forward. "She's not leaving."
The man met his gaze. "Then you're putting her at risk."
Silence.
Kiera felt something snap inside her.
"I'll go," she said.
Kade spun toward her. "No."
"I won't be the reason something happens to Leo," she said, tears spilling now. "Or you."
He shook his head. "You're not disposable."
"Maybe not," she whispered. "But I'm not reckless either."
She looked at him one last time. "You taught me that."
The men stepped aside to give her space.
Kade grabbed her wrist gently. "This isn't goodbye."
She met his eyes, heart breaking. "I hope you're right."
As she walked toward the door, her phone buzzed in her hand.
A new message.
Unknown Number:
You chose wrong.
Her breath hitched.
She turned back toward Kade—but it was already too late.
The door closed behind her.
And somewhere in the city, someone smiled.