Chapter 4: The Secrets We Keep

The night had fallen by the time Riley and Alex found themselves in a small, dimly lit café tucked away from the city's bustling streets. The hum of quiet conversations filled the air, but Riley's focus was entirely on the man sitting across from her. Alex had been silent since they left the field, his usual confidence replaced by a brooding intensity that made her uneasy.Riley studied him as he stared into his untouched coffee. The shadows under his eyes were more pronounced now, and there was a tightness in his jaw that spoke of the stress he was carrying. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was looking at a man on the edge of something dangerous.Finally, Alex broke the silence. "There are things you don't understand, Riley. Things that could get you hurt."Riley leaned in, her voice steady despite the tension between them. "Then help me understand, Alex. You've been dodging my questions, but I know there's more to your story. Who was that man in the photo?"Alex's eyes flickered with something she couldn't quite read—fear, maybe, or regret. He let out a slow breath and leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "He's someone I've been trying to forget for a long time. But he's not the kind of man you can just walk away from."Riley's pulse quickened. "So, he's connected to your past. What did he want from you?""Control," Alex said bitterly. "He wanted to control everything—my career, my life. And for a while, he did."Riley's mind raced. She had expected something dark, but this sounded more sinister than she'd imagined. "How did you get involved with him?"Alex's gaze hardened. "I didn't have a choice. When I was younger, I made some bad decisions—trusted the wrong people. He was one of them. At first, he seemed like he wanted to help me, but it didn't take long before I realized that his help came with strings attached. By the time I tried to get out, it was too late."Riley's stomach churned as she listened. The Alex Carter she had gotten to know—or thought she had—wasn't the same person who had lived through this nightmare. "And now? Is he still in your life?"Alex hesitated, then nodded slowly. "He never really left. I've been trying to keep him at bay, but he's always there, lurking in the shadows. And now that you've started digging, he's noticed. That's why I've been trying to reach you, Riley. You're in danger."Riley swallowed hard, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She had known that uncovering the truth about Alex would be risky, but she hadn't anticipated this. "What does he want from me?""To stop," Alex said, his voice a low, urgent whisper. "He wants you to back off, to leave this story alone. But Riley, I know you won't do that. And that's what scares me."Riley's mind was reeling, but she forced herself to stay calm. "If I stop, what happens to you?"Alex shook his head, his expression bleak. "He'll find another way to get to me. But at least you'll be safe."Riley couldn't believe what she was hearing. This was bigger than she had imagined, more dangerous than she had prepared for. But as much as she wanted to walk away, to leave this mess behind, she knew she couldn't. Not now. Not when she was so close to the truth."I'm not going anywhere, Alex," she said quietly, but firmly. "We're in this together now."For the first time that evening, a flicker of something like hope crossed Alex's face. "You don't know what you're getting into, Riley.""Maybe not," she admitted, "but I'm not backing down. I'll help you fight him, whatever it takes."Alex looked at her for a long moment, as if weighing her words, then finally nodded. "Alright. But from now on, we do this my way. No more going off on your own. You have to trust me."Riley nodded, though she knew that trust wouldn't come easily. But as she sat there, staring into the depths of Alex's troubled gaze, she realized that she didn't have a choice.Whatever secrets he was hiding, they were now her secrets too.