The word stay close barely left Jayden's lips before Aria's body reacted.
She didn't remember deciding to move. One second she was frozen in place, heart hammering violently in her chest, and the next she was being pulled forward, her hand locked in Jayden's grip as they sprinted into the night.
Cold air tore into her lungs. Her heels scraped against gravel, threatening to betray her with every step. Behind them, the soft elegance of the estate shattered.
A car door slammed.
Voices followed. Low, sharp, unmistakably male.
Fear surged so fast it made her dizzy.
"Jayden…" Her voice cracked.
"Stay with me," he said quietly, never breaking stride. "They haven't seen us yet."
That didn't calm her. If anything, it made the danger feel closer like something stalking them in the dark.
She risked a glance over her shoulder.
Three figures moved near the SUV, their outlines dark and purposeful. One of them lifted something that caught the light for just a second.
Metal.
Her stomach dropped violently.
She stumbled, panic clawing at her chest.
Jayden reacted instantly, tightening his grip and pulling her forward before she could fall. "Eyes ahead," he said, firm but controlled. "Fear makes people sloppy."
They veered sharply off the main driveway and into a narrow hedge-lined path. The tall greenery swallowed them whole, branches scratching at Aria's arms and snagging her dress. The night seemed to close in, shadows thick and heavy, every sound amplified.
Her breathing grew uneven.
She tried to slow it, but her body refused to cooperate.
"Who are they?" she whispered.
Jayden didn't hesitate. "People who don't ask permission."
That answer sent a chill down her spine.
They moved deeper into the property, away from the lights and manicured beauty, into an older section of land that felt untouched and secretive. The ground dipped unevenly, roots breaking through soil.
Aria's dress tore with a sharp rip as it caught on a branch.
She gasped and stopped.
Jayden turned instantly, concern flashing across his face. "Are you hurt?"
"No just my dress."
"Forget the dress." His voice softened, but his eyes stayed sharp. "Nothing you're wearing is worth your life."
They moved again, slower now but quieter. Jayden clearly knew the terrain, guiding her around obstacles she never would have seen in the dark.
They reached a stone wall half-hidden by ivy. It looked decorative—harmless.
Jayden pressed his palm against it.
The wall shifted.
Aria froze. "What is this?"
"A way out," he replied calmly.
Before she could ask more, he guided her through the opening. The panel slid shut behind them, sealing them into darkness.
Her breath caught painfully.
Then soft lights glowed along the floor, revealing a narrow underground corridor carved from stone.
Aria stared in disbelief. "Your house has secret tunnels?"
Jayden didn't smile. "My life requires them."
The air underground was cool and damp, carrying the scent of stone and metal. Their footsteps echoed softly as they moved deeper, Jayden leading with confidence that bordered on unsettling.
"How long has this been here?" she asked, trying to steady her breathing.
"Longer than me."
That answer only raised more questions.
Her fear began to shift—hardening into awareness. Jayden wasn't reacting on instinct alone. He was following a plan.
They entered a wider chamber lined with screens. Security feeds illuminated the space, showing every angle of the estate.
Aria's stomach twisted when she saw the men clearly now, moving with coordination and purpose.
"They're searching," she said quietly.
"Yes."
"And they're armed."
"Yes."
She turned to him slowly. "This wasn't random."
"No."
"Does this happen often?"
Jayden's jaw tightened. "Often enough to prepare for it."
The implication settled heavily between them.
"You knew this might happen tonight," she said.
"I knew tonight carried risk."
"Because of me?"
He met her gaze. "Not because of you. But your presence changes the variables."
She didn't know whether to feel relieved or guilty.
Jayden crossed to a console, fingers moving swiftly across the controls. His ease unsettled her. This wasn't chaos for him—it was management.
"Who would do this?" she asked.
"People who think pressure forces mistakes," he said. "They're wrong."
Aria hugged herself, a shiver running through her.
Jayden noticed immediately. Without comment, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
The warmth—and the care—hit her harder than fear ever had.
"Thank you," she murmured.
"You don't need to thank me for protecting you."
She swallowed. "You didn't have to."
"Yes," he said simply. "I did."
Time passed slowly underground. Jayden monitored the screens, occasionally speaking into a device clipped to his ear. Aria stood nearby, watching him, trying to reconcile the man before her with the one she thought she knew.
Earlier that evening, he had been polished, controlled, untouchable.
Now he was something else entirely.
Prepared. Dangerous. Protective.
She broke the silence. "Why didn't you tell me any of this before?"
Jayden's fingers paused briefly over the console.
"Because once you know," he said carefully, "you don't get to unknow it."
"And now?"
"Now you're already involved."
Her chest tightened. "I didn't choose this."
"No," he agreed softly. "But neither did I."
The honesty in his voice made something ache deep inside her.
On the screens, the men eventually retreated. The SUV pulled away, disappearing into the darkness beyond the gates.
Aria exhaled shakily, her body finally allowing the fear to surface.
Jayden didn't relax until ten full minutes passed.
"They're gone," he said.
Her knees weakened. He caught her instantly, steadying her.
"I'm okay," she said, though her voice trembled.
"You were brave," he said quietly.
She laughed weakly. "I was terrified."
"Bravery isn't the absence of fear," he replied. "It's moving despite it."
He led her into a secure bedroom built into the underground level. Warm lighting, soft fabrics, understated luxury. It felt impossibly normal after everything.
"This is where you'll rest," he said.
"You're not staying?" she asked before she could stop herself.
"I'll be nearby."
She nodded, exhaustion crashing over her.
He handed her a glass of water. "Drink."
She obeyed.
"Tomorrow," Jayden continued, "we talk. I'll explain everything—who they are, what they want, and why tonight happened."
"And tonight?"
"Tonight, you sleep."
She lay back on the bed, her body heavy, her mind still racing.
As Jayden turned to leave, she called his name.
"Jayden?"
He looked back.
"Thank you… for not letting go."
Something dark and unreadable crossed his face. "I don't let go easily, Aria."
He closed the door softly behind him.
She stared at the ceiling, heart slowly calming, knowing deep down that nothing about her life would ever be simple again.
For now, she was safe.
But safety, she was learning, was temporary.
Aria awoke to the faint hum of machines beneath the floor and the soft glow of lights embedded in the ceiling. The events of the night seemed both distant and terrifyingly immediate. Her heart still raced, her mind replaying every footstep, every shadow, every sharp metallic clink of weapons outside. For the first time, she realized just how dangerous the world she'd been thrust into truly was.
She sat up slowly, muscles stiff from the night's frantic escape. Jayden had left a small tray by the bedside: a glass of water, a simple breakfast, and a note that read only, "Rest. We talk soon."
Aria's hands trembled as she picked up the note. We talk soon… but about what? Who are these people? She sipped the water, feeling the cool liquid calm her frayed nerves, though the questions swirling in her mind refused to settle.
The bedroom door opened quietly, and Jayden stepped in, his presence filling the room in a way that was both protective and commanding.
"Morning," he said softly. "Did you sleep at all?"
Aria shook her head. "Not really. I kept thinking… about last night. About them. About you."
Jayden's gaze softened, but there was an edge of steel beneath it. "It's normal. They're professionals. What they did was calculated. But we're prepared. That's why we escaped."
Aria shivered. "Prepared… but what if they come back? What if they find us again?"
"They won't," he said firmly. "Not tonight, at least. We have time to plan."
Aria's pulse quickened. Plan… What kind of plan? And why am I part of it?
Jayden moved to the screens along the wall, fingers flying across the controls. Cameras, security feeds, encrypted lines he monitored everything with an ease that made Aria feel both awed and terrified.
"They won't find us here," he said, noticing her gaze. "This place is off every standard map, hidden beneath the estate. Even if they knew about it, they wouldn't be able to get in without me knowing first."
Aria exhaled shakily, though unease still gripped her. Hidden tunnels, secret rooms, live feeds… this isn't just a billionaire it's like he's running a fortress.
"Why me?" she finally asked, voice barely above a whisper. "Why involve me in all of this? I'm just… me."
Jayden turned to her, expression unreadable. "Because you're not 'just you.' You're brave. You made choices last night that most wouldn't have. And more importantly… I trust you."
Aria felt her chest tighten. Trust. She had never felt such an overwhelming mixture of fear, admiration, and something else something unnameable toward a person before.
She tried to focus on his words, on the calm logic behind them, but the questions in her mind refused to fade. Who are these people? Why do they want me? And what does he mean by 'trust'?
Hours passed in quiet planning. Jayden explained that the men from last night were part of a private organization with ties to both legal and illegal operations, a network of power that operated in shadows. Their goal wasn't just intimidation it was testing. Testing Jayden, testing him as a protector, and testing Aria, for reasons she didn't yet understand.
"They want to see how we react under pressure," he said, voice calm but firm. "And to see if I have allies I can rely on."
Aria listened intently, absorbing every detail, her mind spinning. Allies? Me? What could I possibly contribute?
"You'll learn," Jayden said softly, as if reading her thoughts. "For now… you rest and observe. We move carefully, step by step. One mistake could be fatal."
The hours passed with tension threading every second. Aria observed Jayden work: monitoring security feeds, coordinating small teams via encrypted communication, and making strategic calculations that seemed almost impossible. He moved with precision, a mixture of intelligence and instinct that left her both amazed and intimidated.
By afternoon, Jayden finally gestured to her. "You need to eat. Then rest. We plan in detail tomorrow. Today is just… recovery and observation."
Aria nodded, taking the meal he offered with trembling hands. Her stomach felt tight, but hunger overcame nerves. She forced herself to eat slowly, trying to calm her racing thoughts. Every sound in the underground complex the hum of machines, the faint creak of the structure settling—kept her alert.
"Are you okay?" Jayden asked, sitting across from her.
"I… I think so," she replied. "But I keep thinking about last night. About them. About what could've happened."
Jayden's gaze softened, but his tone was still firm. "Fear is natural. It's important. But it can't control us. You survived last night because you trusted instinct—and because you trusted me. That's the first step. The second step is preparation."
Aria exhaled, feeling the weight of the night pressing down on her. Preparation… I have no idea what that even means in his world.
The afternoon passed slowly. Jayden gave her instructions: stay alert, observe patterns, rest, and absorb as much as possible. Aria followed obediently, though her thoughts never stopped racing. She kept stealing glances at him and how his jaw tightened when focused, how his eyes darted across screens, how his hands moved with precision across keyboards. Every movement exuded control, confidence, and power.
As evening fell, the underground complex dimmed into soft lights. Jayden finally gestured to her. "Time to rest. We start early tomorrow. We have work to do work that could determine not just your safety, but your life."
Aria nodded, swallowing her fear. She climbed into the bed, feeling its warmth and softness, a stark contrast to the chaos that had consumed the night.
Jayden sat nearby, reviewing more information on the screens, but his eyes occasionally flicked toward her. His presence was grounding, yet it also made her heart pound in ways she didn't understand.
This is my life now, she thought. I'm not safe anywhere. And yet… I can't stop trusting him.
Hours passed in silence. Aria tried to rest, but her mind was a whirlwind of questions, theories, and fears. She thought about the men, their intentions, and the network of power they represented. She thought about Jayden, about his past, about the quiet strength she could sense beneath his calm exterior.
And she realized something terrifying: she didn't want to imagine facing any of this without him.