Chapter 17: The Shadow in the Dark
The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the city. Leo sat by the window of his office, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand. The day had been chaotic, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching him.
Kai had left earlier after their latest heated argument, leaving Leo with a mix of frustration and longing. He downed the rest of his drink and turned back to his work. But just as he began to focus, his phone buzzed with a message from Marco.
"You need to see this," it read, accompanied by a blurred photo of a man lurking outside Leo's estate.
Leo frowned, enlarging the image. The figure was tall and cloaked in shadows, but something about the way he stood sent a chill down Leo's spine. He immediately called Marco.
"Who is this?" Leo demanded.
"We don't know yet," Marco admitted. "But he's been spotted near your office and your home several times this week."
Leo gritted his teeth. "Find out everything about him. I don't like being watched."
---
That night, Kai returned to Leo's estate, carrying groceries. He was unusually quiet as he moved around the kitchen, preparing dinner. Leo leaned against the counter, his eyes fixed on Kai's back.
"You cook for me now?" Leo asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What's next? Poison?"
Kai smirked, glancing over his shoulder. "If I wanted to kill you, Leo, I wouldn't need poison."
Leo's sharp laugh echoed in the room. "Always so confident, aren't you?"
Kai didn't reply, focusing instead on the sizzling pan in front of him. The aroma of garlic and herbs filled the air, and Leo had to admit—begrudgingly—that it smelled good. As Kai set the table, Leo's phone buzzed again.
"Another message?" Kai asked casually, but there was a hint of curiosity in his tone.
Leo glanced at the screen and saw another image of the mysterious man. This time, the figure was closer—standing at the edge of the garden.
---
Later that night, Leo couldn't sleep. He stood by the window of his bedroom, staring out into the dark. The wind rustled the trees, and for a moment, he thought he saw movement. He grabbed his gun from the bedside table and stepped out onto the balcony, scanning the grounds.
"Looking for someone?"
Leo spun around to see Kai standing in the doorway, arms crossed. His eyes glinted in the moonlight.
"Someone's been following me," Leo admitted, lowering the gun slightly. "I don't like it."
Kai stepped closer, his expression unreadable. "Do you think it's related to your business? Or... could it be someone from mine?"
Leo narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"
Kai shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "Just a thought."
Before Leo could respond, the sound of a car engine roared to life outside. Both men rushed to the window to see a sleek black car speeding away from the estate.
---
The next morning, Marco reported that the surveillance cameras had captured a partial license plate. But the lead only deepened the mystery. The car was registered to a fake name, and the trail led to a dead end.
Leo's frustration grew, but he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that Kai knew more than he was letting on. Yet, whenever he tried to press him for answers, Kai would deflect with a smirk or a flirtatious remark.
"Stay close," Leo finally ordered Marco. "I want to know who this shadow is and what they want."
As the day wore on, Leo couldn't shake the feeling that his world was closing in. The mysterious man—whoever he was—wasn't just watching. He
was waiting. And Leo couldn't afford to let his guard down.