Chapter 3: Unfinished Business

Mia’s hands trembled as she clutched the silver bracelet Ethan had returned to her. Her mind spun with the weight of his words.

They were targeting you.

It didn’t make sense. Who would want to hurt her? She was just an ordinary woman, living an ordinary life.

Wasn’t she?

Her voice was barely above a whisper. “You’re wrong.”

Ethan’s expression didn’t change. “I’m not.”

Mia shook her head. “It was probably some random creep at the bar. That happens, right? This doesn’t mean someone was specifically after me.”

Ethan exhaled, running a hand through his dark hair. “I’d agree with you—except for one thing.”

Mia swallowed hard. “What?”

Ethan leaned in slightly, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers. “Because the guy who drugged you wasn’t just any random predator. He was watching you. The entire night. And when I stepped in?” His jaw tightened. “He looked like he knew me, too.”

A chill ran down Mia’s spine.

“I don’t—I don’t understand.”

Ethan tilted his head slightly. “Neither do I. But what I do know is that last night wasn’t an accident.”

Mia’s pulse raced. “You’re making it sound like I have enemies or something.”

Ethan’s gaze darkened. “Do you?”

Mia hesitated. “No.”

She wasn’t lying.

At least, she didn’t think she was.

Ethan studied her, his eyes searching for something beneath the surface. After a long pause, he sighed. “Alright. Let’s say you don’t. Then that leaves one question.”

Mia’s throat went dry. “What?”

His voice was low, firm. “Who do you know that does?”

Mia blinked. “What are you talking about?”

Ethan folded his arms across his chest. “People don’t get targeted for no reason, Mia. Either you have enemies, or you’re caught up in something bigger than you realize.”

A strange unease settled in her stomach.

“I—” Mia hesitated.

And that’s when it hit her.

Her father.

She sucked in a sharp breath.

Ethan noticed her reaction instantly. His eyes narrowed. “Mia.”

She looked away, gripping her arms as a deep sense of dread crept in.

Her father, Daniel Hart, had died under mysterious circumstances nearly a decade ago. The official cause had been labeled a car accident.

But she’d never believed it.

She’d always suspected there was more to the story.

And now, a memory she had long buried clawed its way to the surface.

A conversation she had overheard when she was sixteen. Her father, on the phone, voice urgent, almost panicked.

“It’s not safe anymore.”

“If anything happens to me, she can never know.”

At the time, she hadn’t understood. She’d written it off as paranoia or stress from work.

But now?

Her stomach twisted.

Could it be connected?

Had she been wrong to ignore the warning signs?

Ethan’s voice snapped her back to reality. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Mia hesitated, her mind racing.

She had two options:

1. Tell Ethan everything and risk dragging herself deeper into something dangerous.

2. Walk away and pretend last night had been a random incident.

But deep down, she already knew—

This wasn’t something she could ignore.

She met Ethan’s gaze. “I think my father was hiding something before he died.”

Ethan’s expression didn’t flicker, but something in his eyes shifted. “Go on.”

Mia inhaled deeply. “He died in a car accident ten years ago. At least, that’s what the police ruled it as. But… I don’t think it was an accident.”

Ethan watched her carefully. “Why?”

Mia hesitated before finally admitting, “Because he knew something was coming. And whatever it was… he was afraid of it.”

A heavy silence filled the space between them.

Ethan was the first to speak. “Did he ever say what it was?”

Mia shook her head. “No. He never told me anything. But I remember overhearing a phone call once. He said something about it ‘not being safe’ and that ‘I could never know.’”

Ethan exhaled slowly. “And you’re just now telling me this?”

Mia glared. “I didn’t think it mattered. Until now.”

Ethan’s jaw tensed. He glanced toward the door, then back at her. “If this is connected to your father, then we’re in deeper than I thought.”

Mia shivered. “We?”

Ethan smirked slightly, but there was no humor in his eyes. “I saved your life last night. Like it or not, I’m involved.”

Mia swallowed. “So what now?”

Ethan’s expression turned serious. “Now? We figure out who’s after you.”

Mia exhaled shakily. “And how do we do that?”

Ethan’s smirk returned. “Simple.”

Mia arched a brow. “Simple?”

Ethan leaned in, his voice low and dangerous. “We bait them.”

Mia’s stomach dropped.

“You can’t be serious.”

Ethan’s smirk didn’t falter. “Oh, I’m dead serious.”

Mia stared at him. “You want to use me as bait for some mysterious person who may or may not have tried to drug me?”

Ethan grinned. “Now you’re getting it.”

Mia groaned. “This is a terrible idea.”

Ethan shrugged. “Maybe. But it’s the fastest way to get answers.”

Mia exhaled, rubbing her temples. This was insane. Completely, utterly insane.

But then again—so was pretending this wasn’t happening.

She met Ethan’s gaze. “If we do this, we do it my way. No unnecessary risks.”

Ethan smirked. “No promises.”

Mia rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the small thrill of adrenaline rushing through her veins.

For years, she had buried her suspicions about her father’s death.

But now?

Now, she had a chance to finally uncover the truth.

Even if it meant trusting a stranger.

Even if it meant putting herself in danger.

And for the first time in a long time—

Mia felt like she was finally ready.