Jealous Of The Billionaire's Dog

The weight of betrayal settled heavily in Daphne's chest as she watched Celeste disappear down the grand hallway of Blackthorn Manor, ledger in hand. The flickering candlelight cast ominous shadows against the stone walls, amplifying the suffocating silence left in her wake.

Elias leaned casually against the doorway, but Daphne could see the tension in his jaw. He exhaled, running a hand through his tousled hair.

"So," he said, voice dry. "How does it feel to serve up a man on a silver platter?"

Daphne glared at him, her stomach twisting. "I didn't have a choice."

Elias scoffed. "There's always a choice, sweetheart. You just didn't like the alternatives."

She turned away, arms crossed tightly. He wasn't wrong. Graves had been a necessary sacrifice, a pawn in a much bigger game. But that didn't make the guilt any easier to swallow.

Elias pushed off the wall and stepped closer, his voice lowering. "Look, I get it. This is how the game is played. But something tells me you're not the type to sleep easy knowing you handed someone a death sentence."

Daphne's fingers curled into fists. "We need to get to him before they do."

Elias blinked. "Wait—you want to save him?"

She turned to face him fully now, determination burning in her gaze. "I didn't come this far just to become another one of Alaric's pawns. If he wants Graves dead, that means Graves still has value. And if we get to him first…"

Elias chuckled, shaking his head. "You are insane."

She arched a brow. "That a yes?"

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine. But when this goes sideways, I want it on record that this—" he gestured wildly in her direction, "—was your bad idea."

The Race Against Death

They had less than an hour.

Alaric never waited long once he decided someone was disposable. If they were going to get to Graves before the hit was ordered, they needed to move now.

Elias and Daphne slipped out through the manor's side entrance, past the roaming guards. The sleek black Aston Martin was parked near the gates, waiting like a predator in the dark.

Elias slid into the driver's seat, revving the engine. "Where does Graves hole up when he's not ruling over his casino empire?"

Daphne was already dialing. "I'm about to find out."

The call rang twice before a familiar voice answered.

"I swear, if this is another threat from Alaric—"

"Graves, it's me."

A pause. Then, low and sharp: "Daphne?"

She didn't have time for pleasantries. "You need to get out of wherever you are. Now."

A bitter chuckle. "Why? So you can hand-deliver me to him instead?"

She clenched her jaw. "I'm trying to save your life, you idiot."

Silence.

Then, reluctantly, "Meet me at the abandoned rail station on Westbridge. Thirty minutes."

The line went dead.

Elias shot her a look. "This better not be a trap."

She didn't answer—because honestly? She wasn't sure.

The Meeting in the Dark

The abandoned Westbridge station was a ghost of the past—rusting tracks, shattered windows, graffiti-covered walls. The scent of damp concrete and decay clung to the air.

Elias parked the car a few streets away, just in case they needed a quick getaway.

"Remind me again why we're risking our lives for a man who literally held us at gunpoint an hour ago?" Elias muttered.

Daphne ignored him, scanning the empty platform.

A shadow moved in the distance.

Theodore Graves stepped into the dim moonlight, dressed in a dark coat, hands shoved in his pockets. His sharp features were unreadable, but his eyes were wary.

"Never thought I'd see you two again," he muttered. "Didn't peg you as the 'second chances' type, Daphne."

She held his gaze. "I'm not."

Graves smirked. "Then why are you here?"

She exhaled. "Alaric's going to kill you. Tonight."

Graves chuckled darkly. "Yeah, no kidding."

Elias folded his arms. "We came to get you out before he does."

Graves eyed them both, suspicious. "And why the hell would you do that?"

Daphne took a step forward. "Because if Alaric wants you dead, that means you have something he still wants. And I want to know what."

For the first time, something flickered in Graves' expression—something almost like respect.

He glanced between them before sighing. "You're playing a dangerous game, Daphne."

She smirked. "Yeah. And I plan on winning."

Graves studied her a moment longer, then nodded. "Alright. But if I'm putting my life in your hands, we do this my way."

Elias groaned. "Oh, fantastic. Another stubborn control freak."

Daphne ignored him, her pulse quickening.

This was it. The moment they truly turned against Alaric.

The moment they became the hunted.

And there was no turning back.