6. Luella
Chapter 6
Luella
M y heart pounds against my ribcage as I move swiftly through the darkened hallways of the Blackwood mansion. Every creak of the floorboards sends a jolt of terror through me, and I clutch the folder tighter to my chest. The girl’s cries echo in my mind, a haunting reminder of what I’ve just witnessed and my own cowardice in not intervening. I’m as bad as them. The girl’s cries weren’t just a reminder of the horrors I’ve seen—they were Sophia’s. I couldn’t save her either. The weight of my failure threatens to drown me, but I must keep moving. This time, there will be justice.
I’ll redeem myself; he won’t have the chance, even if he has the inclination.
Guilt and anger rage within me as I search for a safe place to hide, to regroup. The folder feels heavy in my hands, its contents a potential key to Xavier’s downfall. But at what cost? The image of that poor girl, broken and violated, sears itself into my brain. I couldn’t save her, but I swear to myself that her suffering won't be in vain.
I pause at a crossway of hallways, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps. The enormity of what I've just done—stealing from Xavier Blackwood—threatens to overwhelm me. I lean against the wall, trying to steady myself. The cool surface against my back grounds me, reminding me of my purpose.
“Focus, Luella,” I whisper to myself, using my real name as a to ground myself. “You've come too far to falter now.”
I take a deep breath, centering myself. The folder in my hands could be the key to bringing down Xavier's empire. But it's also a death sentence if I'm caught with it. I need to find a safe place to hide it, and fast.
As I round a corner, a familiar scent stops me dead in my tracks. That sickening cologne.
Xavier .
My heart leaps into my throat, pounding so hard, I fear he might hear it. My skin prickles with cold sweat, and my breath catches in my chest. I can taste terror on my tongue as my eyes lock onto his looming figure. Every muscle in my body tenses, ready to flee, but I’m frozen in place, like a rabbit caught in the gaze of a predator.
“Mary,” his voice slides over me like oil, “what a pleasant surprise to find you here.”
I force my face into a mask of subservience, praying he can’t hear the thundering of my heart or notice the sweat on my brow. “Mr. Blackwood, sir. I was just finishing up my cleaning rounds.”
His eyes, cold and calculating, sweep over me. There’s something predatory in his gaze that makes my skin crawl. “I trust you’ve been doing your job well, Mary. No wandering where you shouldn’t be, I hope?”
I swallow hard, willing my voice to remain steady. “Of course, sir. Just cleaning.”
A smile spreads across his face, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Good girl.”
The term of endearment makes bile rise in my throat. I want nothing more than to spit in his face, to drive my blade into his black heart. But I can’t. Not yet. The stakes are too high, and one wrong move could cost me everything.
Xavier takes a step closer, and I fight the urge to back away. His cologne is overpowering, threatening to choke me. “You know, Mary,” he says, his voice low and intimate, “I’ve noticed your dedication. Perhaps we could...expand your duties.”
My blood runs cold at his implication. I force a smile, hoping it doesn’t look as sickly as it feels. “That’s very kind of you, sir, but I’m quite happy with my current position.”
He chuckles, the sound devoid of any real amusement. “Now, now, don’t be so hasty to refuse. I can be very...generous to those who please me.”
Xavier looms closer, the air around me thick with the weight of his power. I’m trapped, his shadow swallowing mine. But then Colton’s voice cuts through the tension, sharp and cold. Xavier’s smile falters, just for a second, but it’s enough to give me a sliver of hope.
“What’s this?”
Xavier’s attention turns to Colton, his tone laced with mockery. “Always so aloof, my boy. So many opportunities to enjoy, and yet you refuse them. It’s a shame.”
Colton’s face remains impassive, but I catch a flicker of something—disgust?—in his eyes. “I’ve told you before. I’m not interested in what you do.”
Interesting.
I stand frozen between them, acutely aware of the danger surrounding me. Colton’s defiance intrigues me, a potential weakness in Xavier’s armor. But can I trust him? Or is he just another threat?
Xavier’s eyes narrow at his son’s insolence. “You forget your place, Colton. Everything you have, everything you are, is because of me. It would serve you well to remember that.”
Colton’s jaw tightens, but he says nothing. The tension between them is palpable, years of resentment and power struggles bubbling just beneath the surface.
Xavier turns back to me, his smile now tinged with malice. “We’ll continue our discussion later, Mary. I have some ideas I’d like to...explore with you.”
As he walks away, his footsteps echoing in the hallway, I feel my knees go weak with relief. But the relief is short-lived.
Colton’s eyes lock onto mine, the intensity of his gaze making me want to shrink away.
I stand my ground, knowing that any sign of weakness could be fatal.
A smirk plays at the corner of his mouth. “You’re walking a dangerous line, Mary. Be careful where you step…or you might fall.”
My pulse quickens.
Does he know?
“I don't know what you mean,” I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
“You will,” he replies softly, before turning and walking away.
Left alone in the hallway, I finally allow myself to breathe. My mind races, trying to make sense of what just happened. Colton is an enigma, unpredictable and potentially just as dangerous as his father. But his apparent dislike for Xavier’s extra-curricular activities... Could it be an opportunity?
I clutch the folder tighter, my resolve hardening. I came here with a purpose, and I won’t let fear or uncertainty deter me. Xavier Blackwood will pay for his crimes, for every life he’s destroyed. And if I must use Colton to do it, so be it.
As I make my way back to my room, a grim determination settles over me. I’ll take them both down, one way or another.
In the safety of my small room, I finally allow myself to examine the folder. My hands shake as I open it, revealing a treasure trove of incriminating documents. Financial records, blackmail material, even evidence of murders—it’s all here. My breath catches in my throat as I realize the true extent of Xavier’s depravity.
But with this knowledge comes an even greater danger. If Xavier discovers what I’ve taken, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll kill me. And it won’t be quick or merciful.
I need to find a way to use this information, to bring Xavier down without exposing myself. And Colton...he could be the key. His strained relationship with his father, his refusal to participate in Xavier’s sick games—it’s a weakness I might be able to exploit.
But the question is, can I trust him? The memory of his intense gaze, the cryptic warning he gave me, sends a shiver down my spine. He’s a wild card, unpredictable and potentially just as dangerous as Xavier.
I hide the folder in a secret compartment I’ve created in my room, my breath shaky.
I’m fucking terrified, but I’ve come too far to turn back now. Xavier Blackwood’s days are numbered, and I’ll be the one to bring him down or die trying. Colton’s earlier words echo in my mind, refusing to fade.
Does Colton know? Was it a threat? A warning? Or is he playing a deeper game?
In this house, I can’t afford to trust anyone—especially not him.
I take a shaky breath and try to gather myself, but I’m distracted by the sound of shuffling right outside my door.
I stiffen, every muscle in my body coiled tight like a spring. My ears strain to catch any sound, any hint of who might be approaching. The air feels thick, almost suffocating, as I hold my breath. I wonder if Xavier or Colton have come to destroy me. My eyes dart frantically while my fingers twitch, ready to reach for my concealed weapon at a moment’s notice.
They can try.