Chapter 4

The night air was thick with tension as Simon, Crisha, and Tristan hurriedly left the mansion, its grandeur now marred by the chaos they had narrowly escaped. They drove in silence, each lost in their thoughts as the car sped through darkened streets. Eventually, Simon pulled into the parking lot of a secluded motel.

The events of the night had left her shaken for Crisha, and the truth she had revealed about her relationship with Mr. Alejandro hadn’t brought the relief she had hoped for. Instead, she felt a growing sense of unease. Simon's expression was cold and unreadable. Crisha followed closely behind, her mind racing. Simon led them inside, where a weary-looking receptionist barely glanced up as Simon requested a room.

"One room. Top floor."

The receptionist barely looked up as he handed over the key. "Room 307," he muttered.

Simon nodded and led the way up the narrow staircase, the wooden steps creaking under their weight. When they reached the door, Simon unlocked it and pushed it open. The room was small and dimly lit, with a single bed, a worn-out armchair, and a flickering ceiling light. It was far from luxurious, but it was all they needed.

"We'll stay here for the night," Simon said, his voice flat. He turned to Tristan. "Keep watch outside. Make sure no one follows us."

Tristan nodded, his expression hard. "Got it." He exited the room without another word, leaving Simon and Crisha alone.

Crisha stood in the center of the room, her heart pounding in her chest. The Simon she thought she had known was calm and calculated, but there was something different about him tonight. The tension between them was palpable, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Simon closed the door and locked it, then turned to face her. His expression was unreadable, his eyes cold and hard. “Sit down,” he ordered, his voice low.

Crisha hesitated for a moment before obeying. She sat on the edge of the bed, her hands trembling slightly. “Simon, what’s going on? Why are you acting like this?”

Simon ignored her question and began searching the room. After a few moments, he found a length of rope in the closet. Without a word, he approached Crisha, holding the rope in his hands.

“Turn around,” he commanded.

Crisha’s heart skipped a beat. “What are you doing?”

“Just do it,” Simon snapped, his patience wearing thin.

Crisha swallowed hard and slowly turned her back to him. She felt him grab her hands and pull them behind her back, then the rough texture of the rope as he began to tie her wrists to the back of the chair. The knots were tight, almost painfully so, and Crisha winced as the rope dug into her skin.

“Simon, please,” Crisha pleaded, her voice trembling. “You don’t have to do this. We talked about everything earlier. I told you the truth.”

Simon finished tying her hands and stepped back, his expression still cold. He walked over to the bed and sat down, the gun now resting on his lap. “You told me what you wanted me to hear,” he said, his voice void of emotion. “Now, I want the real truth.”

Crisha’s heart raced as she realized how dire her situation had become. Simon wasn’t playing games—he was deadly serious. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves.

"Let's talk," Simon said, his voice devoid of any warmth. "I have a few questions, and you're going to answer them."

Crisha swallowed hard, her throat dry. "What do you want to know?"

“Your name, your life, and how do you end up with Alejandro.”

“My name is Crisha Morton,” she began, her voice shaky but determined. “I’m the niece of Mr. Alejandro. I’ve known him my whole life. After my parents died three years ago, he took me in and has been protecting me ever since.”

Simon leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "You claim to be Alejandro's niece, yet you conveniently show up just when I'm about to take him out. Tell me, Crisha, was that rescue a coincidence, or were you setting me up?"

Crisha's eyes widened in shock. "Set you up? Why would I do that? I was just trying to save myself.”

Crisha didn't know how to answer the truth about what happened when she was under her uncle's care. She preferred to forget it because she still owed her uncle a great deal.

Simon's gaze remained steely. "I find that hard to believe. Alejandro has a lot of enemies, and you showing up out of nowhere doesn't sit right with me. So, I'll ask you again. Were you planning to kill me?"

Crisha felt a surge of anger. "No! I don't have any plans to kill anyone. I didn't even know you until the night you tried to kill my uncle. I saw you once at a business meeting, but that's it. I don't know anything about your plans or why you're doing this."

Simon studied her closely, his gaze piercing. “You expect me to believe that? You’re his niece, Crisha. You must know what he’s involved in, the enemies he’s made. How do I know you’re not just another one of his pawns?”

Crisha felt tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m not a pawn, Simon. I’m just trying to survive. My parents were killed because of my uncle’s enemies, and now I’m caught in the middle of all this. I’ve been living in fear for years, always looking over my shoulder, wondering who’s coming after me next. I just want to live my life without fear.”

Simon's expression remained unreadable as he processed her words. "So, you've been living with a man who's made countless enemies, who's been involved in some of the darkest dealings in this city. And you expect me to believe you're just an innocent bystander in all of this?"

Crisha felt a lump form in her throat. "I don't know what you're implying, but I've done nothing wrong. I didn't choose this life. I'm just trying to survive."

Simon leaned back, his eyes never leaving hers. "Survive. That's a word I can understand. But survival often comes at a cost, Crisha. And right now, I need to know if you're a threat to me."

Crisha's breath caught in her throat. "I'm not a threat to you, Simon. I swear it."

Crisha mind is racing. She needed to get through to him, to make him understand that she was telling the truth. But how? How could she convince a man who seemed so determined to see her as an enemy?

Gathering her courage, Crisha spoke again. "Simon, why are you doing this? Why do you want to kill my uncle? What has he done to you?"

Simon didn't turn around, but his grip on the gun tightened. "That's none of your business!"

Crisha’s voice trembling with desperation. "It is my concern! He's my uncle! I deserve to know why you're trying to take him away from me!"

Simon finally turned to face her, his expression hard. "Alejandro is a dangerous man, Crisha. He's hurt a lot of people and ruined a lot of lives. Killing him isn't just about revenge, it's about justice."

"Justice?" Crisha repeated, her voice filled with disbelief. "And what about me? What happens to me if you kill him? Do I just get caught in the crossfire? Is that your idea of justice?"

Simon's eyes softened for a brief moment, but it was gone as quickly as it came. "You'll be safe once this is over. I'll make sure of it."

Crisha shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "Safe? How can I be safe when you're tearing apart the only family I have left? Simon, please... there has to be another way."

Simon looked at her, his expression conflicted. For the first time, Crisha saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes, as if he was questioning his motives. But then, just as quickly, his resolve hardened again.

"There's no other way," he said firmly. "Alejandro has to die."

"If you do that, you’ll be no different from him."

Simon smirked. “You know nothing about me.”

Crisha felt a wave of despair wash over her. She realized that no matter what she said, Simon was determined to go through with his plan. And there was nothing she could do to stop him.

“He’s my uncle, Simon. He’s done everything he can to protect me. He’s not the monster you’re making him out to be.”

Simon’s grip tightened on the gun. “You don’t know him like I do. You don’t know the things he’s done, the people he’s betrayed. I’ve seen it firsthand, Crisha. And that’s why I’m going to kill him.”

Crisha’s heart dropped. The fear she had been trying to suppress now threatened to overwhelm her. “You can’t do that, Simon. Please, you don’t understand—”

“I understand perfectly,” Simon interrupted, his voice cold. “Alejandro is a threat, and he needs to be eliminated. And if you stand in my way, I won’t hesitate to take you down too.”

Crisha’s eyes widened in horror. “Simon, no! You don’t have to do this. We can find another way. Please, just let me talk to him—”

“It’s too late for that,” Simon said firmly. “He made his choices, and now he has to face the consequences.”

Crisha’s mind raced, trying to find a way to reach him, to make him see reason. But Simon was resolute, his eyes filled with a cold determination that terrified her. She realized that nothing she said would change his mind.

“Why, Simon?” Crisha asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why do you want to kill him? What did he do to you?”

Simon’s expression hardened, and for a moment, Crisha thought he wouldn’t answer. But then, his eyes flickered with a hint of something—pain, anger, betrayal.

“He took everything from me,” Simon said, his voice low and filled with venom. “My family, my life, everything I cared about. He ruined me, and now he’s going to pay.”

Crisha’s heart broke at the raw emotion in his voice.

“Simon, I’m so sorry,” Crisha said, tears streaming down her face. “But killing him won’t bring back what you’ve lost. It won’t make things right.”

Simon shook his head, his eyes cold. “Maybe not. But it’s the only thing I have left.”

Before Crisha could say anything else, Simon stood up abruptly, leaving her tied to the chair. He walked to the door, his steps heavy with determination.

“Stay here,” he ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

And with that, Simon left the room, locking the door behind him. Crisha was left alone, her hands tied and her heart pounding with fear and desperation. She knew she had to do something to stop Simon before it was too late.