Chapter 10
The days passed in a strange blur inside Daniel’s hidden basement. The place was stocked with enough supplies to last weeks, yet it felt suffocating. I wasn’t used to the company, much less the constant planning and discussions that surrounded me.
I stayed quiet most of the time, observing the Obsidian Knights from the sidelines. Daniel moved with precision, delegating tasks and reviewing intelligence on his screens. The way he operated was nothing short of brilliant, and I couldn’t help but marvel at how he‘ d built such a cohesive
team from scratch.
“Hey,” a voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see Blake standing beside me, holding out a drink. “You look like you could use this.”
“Thanks,” I said, taking the cup.
Blake leaned against the table, studying me
905 13:16
1/7
Chapter 10
with an easy smile. “You‘ ve been
watching us like a hawk. Still figuring us
out?”
“Maybe,” I admitted. “I’m not used to working in a team. I’ve always been on my own.”
“That explains the hesitations.” Blake said, his tone light but understanding. “It s different here. We re like a dysfunctional family.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Family?”
Blake laughed. “Okay, maybe not the kind you re thinking of. But we’ve got each you’re
other‘ s backs, even if we don‘ t always. get along.”
I sipped my drink, contemplating his words. “How’d you end up here, Blake?”
He paused for a moment, his smile fading. “Long story.”
“I’ve got time,” I said, leaning against the
table beside him.
905 1316
217
Chapter 10
Blake sighed. “I grew up in a mess of a family. My dad was addicted to gambling, couldn’t stay away from the tables. At first, I thought it was just bad luck, you know? But then I found out he was in debt -huge debt–to some shady casinos.”
I frowned. “That‘ s on him, though. He chose to gamble.”
Blake shook his head. “That’s what I thought, too. Until I realized he wasn‘ t in his right mind. These places, they manipulate people. They promise just enough hope to keep you coming back, no matter the cost.”
“And the Obsidian Knights?” I asked.
Blake‘ s expression hardened. “Let’s just say I wanted to do something about the people who destroy lives for profit.”
I nodded slowly, processing his story. It was clear Blake had his demons, just like the rest of them.
After our conversation, I found myself
905 13:16
3/7
Chapter 10
wondering about the others. Everyone here had a story–a reason they’d ended up with the Obsidian Knights. I couldn’t help but feel like an outsider among them, my own baggage heavier than I’d realized.
I pulled out my phone, its screen lighting up with unread messages and notifications. Friends, relatives, acquaintances–they‘ d all been reaching out, curious and horrified by what I’d done. My thumb hovered over a message from Marco, my husband.
His tone was furious, as expected. The texts were a mix of accusations, threats, and feigned heartbreak. But it was the public’s reaction that made my stomach churn. The media had painted me as a villain, a cold–blooded murderer who‘ d taken the life of a respected man.
Scrolling through the posts, I saw theories flying left and right. Some were wild and ridiculous, but a few came unnervingly close to the truth.
90% 13.16
4/7
Chapter 10
None of them, of course, knew the full
story.
Switching to the computer Daniel had set up for me, I logged into an anonymous account I’d created earlier. I skimmed through articles and posts about Marco Salvani. The world saw him as the grieving victim, a man betrayed by his own wife.
The hypocrisy was nauseating.
One article, in particular, caught my attention. It painted Marco as a devoted husband who was blindsided by my ruthlessness. The comments were full of sympathy for him and outrage toward me.
My hands clenched into fists as memories of his infidelity surfaced. I thought of Prosecutor Amanda Banes, his not–so- secret lover. The thought of them basking in public pity while I bore the brunt of their sins made my blood boil.
An idea began to form. If Marco wanted to play the victim, I could destroy that
90% 13:16
5/7
Chapter 10
illusion. Quickly, I crafted a post using a stolen account with a large following. I attached damning photos of Marco and Amanda, exposing their affair in explicit detail.
The caption was simple but cutting, “The grieving widower and his mistress.”
The backlash was immediate. Comments flooded in, turning the tide against Marco and Amanda. Their betrayal overshadowed my supposed crime, and for the first time, I felt a small sense of satisfaction.
“What are you doing?” Daniel’s voice startled me.
I turned to see him standing behind me, his arms crossed.
“Nothing,” I said, closing the screen.
Daniel frowned. “You can‘ tact impulsively like that. Everything you do has consequences, not just for you but for
all of us.”
90% 12-16
6/7
1:16
90
Chapter 10
I met his gaze, unflinching. “He deserved
it.”
Before he could respond, the monitors around us began to flash. A breaking news alert appeared, the anchor’s voice filling the room.
“Breaking news: Alleged assassin Daphne Rodriguez has resurfaced, sparking outrage as new revelations about Marco Salvani‘ s personal life emerge.”
The screen shifted to photos of Marco and Amanda, the same ones I’d leaked. Then, my face appeared again, accompanied by Daniel‘ s and the rest of the team.
“They ve identified all of us,” Sue said, her voice tense.
“We’re officially public enemy number one,” Blake muttered.
I stared at the screen, my chest tightening. The walls felt like they were closing in, and for the first time, the weight of my actions. truly hit me.
90% 13:16
