Chapter 12 : Put On A Show

24HRS ago, Alisa:I didn't think it could get any worse than the warehouse. Bound, gagged, and dragged into the night like a piece of cargo, I clung to one thought: Zane would find me. He always did.But when Lucas's men hauled me into a dark room and locked the door behind me, I started to wonder if this time was different.Hours passed. Maybe days-I couldn't tell anymore. Then the door creaked open, and Lucas stepped inside, carrying that unnerving calm like it was armor.He wasn't the man I remembered from the club. There, he was just a guy. Normal but venomous, fighting with Zane like little girls over a boy. Now, he was something else entirely. A predator,monster,manipulator..."I hope they've been treating you well," he said, his voice smooth as silk.I glared at him, my throat too dry to answer.Lucas crouched in front of me, his dark eyes narrowing. "I can see why he's so obsessed with you. You're tougher than you look."I spat at his feet, earning a low chuckle."Feisty. Good. You'll need that." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone. One swipe, and the screen lit up with a photo of my aunt and uncle.Smiling, happy, alive."I want you to understand something, Alisa," he said, his voice turning icy. "I don't want to hurt them. But I will. Every single one of them. Your aunt, your uncle... Zane."The mention of Zane's name made my chest tighten.He leaned closer. "And do you know what the best part is? You'll be the one who kills him.""No," I croaked, shaking my head. Zane was manipulative, asshole,possesive but he was all that only too me, only me not to mention I never felt protected like that in my life like I was with him.Even though I wanted to bite,punch and kick him in the balls sometimes."Yes." Lucas's smile widened. "You'll do exactly what I say, or I'll kill them all. One by one. Starting with your so called parents. I'll send you videos, so you'll know it's real. And when there's no one left, I'll save Zane for last. Just to make sure you fully understand the price of defying me."I couldn't stop the tears that sprang to my eyes. I hated him for seeing my fear. For savoring it."I don't care what you want," I snapped. "I'll never betray him."Lucas tilted his head, studying me like a curious animal. Then he stood and gestured to one of his men, who dragged in a laptop and set it up on a table."Are you sure about that?" Lucas asked, stepping aside so I could see the screen.A live feed flickered to life. My family's house. The camera zoomed in on the front window, where my aunt , oblivious to the man standing in the shadows outside.I swallowed hard, my stomach twisting into knots.Lucas leaned close, his breath cold against my ear. "You're a pawn, Alisa. Nothing more. I used you to distract Zane's mind, and now I'm going to use you to break him. Do what I say, and your family lives. Refuse, and they don't. It's that simple."He handed me a gun. I stared at it, my hands trembling."Zane will come for you," Lucas said with absolute certainty. "When he does, you'll play your part. Make him think you're one of mine. If you try anything stupid-" He gestured to the screen. "You know what happens."The hours that followed were a blur. Lucas's men cleaned me up, dressing me in plain clothes, hiding the bruises. They rehearsed me like I was an actress in a play, telling me exactly what to say, how to move, how to act.But they didn't need to teach me fear. That came naturally.When the time came, they locked me in a cargo hold, leaving just enough slack in the ropes for me to slip free. Lucas had thought of everything. He'd even arranged for Zane to see me with a gun in my hand, just long enough to plant the seed of doubt.Back to the PresentZane stared at me, his face pale, his eyes wide with disbelief."Alisa," he whispered, his voice raw. "Tell me this isn't real."I tightened my grip on the gun, hating myself with every second that passed. The lines between what was real and what wasn't blurred as Lucas's voice echoed in my head.Play your part, or they die."Zane," I said, forcing myself to meet his eyes. "I've been working with Lucas from the beginning."The words tasted like ash.He flinched, the betrayal cutting deeper than any blade could. "No... you wouldn't-""Wouldn't I?" My voice cracked despite my best efforts to stay cold. "Did you really think I liked you? You psyco,derranged,nimphomaniac! You were a means to an end.""Liar."Lucas appeared behind me, clapping slowly. "Bravo, Alisa. I couldn't have said it better myself."Zane's gaze flicked between us, the fury in his eyes hardening into something dangerous. "You think I'll believe this?"Lucas grinned. "Believe it or not, she's telling the truth. But don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to sort through your feelings... if you survive."Before Zane could react, the cargo hold lurched. The ship was moving. Lucas stepped back, disappearing into the shadows, leaving me alone with Zane and the gun in my trembling hands."You have to trust me," I whispered, lowering the weapon.Zane froze. "What?""Lucas is watching. If he thinks I've gone soft, he'll kill them all-yourself included."Zane's jaw tightened. For a moment, I thought he'd lash out, but then his expression softened just enough to let me see the doubt fading."Then we give him a show," he said, his voice low and determined."What kind of show?"A ghost of a smile played on his lips. "The kind where we win."