SAND LINES IN THE GROUND

Samantha's POV Lila's comments hung in the darkly lit room, heightening the suspense. He is already on motion. And he possesses knowledge beyond what we would consider. It served as a reminder that Marcus was out there, weaving his plans, closing in on us, every second we were strategizing. The weight of the uncertainty was downer than ever, and I could feel pressure developing in my chest. Alex stood close by, his jaw tightly closed. His eyes showed effort; he was attempting to keep under control and look as though Marcus had not blinded him. But I knew him enough to know that his expected pace was not matching the speed at which things were collapsing. I watched him intently in search of some indication of comfort. But all I saw was the same terror that has started to chew at me since Jared left. "Then we're running out of time," Alex remarked, his voice low, slicing through the anxious quiet. His gaze narrowed, he turned toward Lila. You have to tell us everything you know. There are no more cryptic responses or half-truths. If we are to stop Marcus, we must see the whole picture. Lila crossed her arms, her face inscrutable, yet there was a flash of something—hesitation, maybe. She seemed not as sure of her next action, as though for the first time. She had always held herself like someone several steps ahead of everyone in the room, but suddenly it seemed as though Marcus had thrown even her off balance. She peered between Alex and me, giving her remarks great thought. Her voice lower than before, she continued at last, "I'll tell you what I know." You must realize, though, Marcus is unlike anyone you have encountered previously. He does not merely engage in game play. He is the player. He oversees the board, the parts, and the policies. And throughout everything we have been playing on his terms. Her comments made my spine shiver, but I stayed focused. "We're not asking for miracles," I murmured, my voice firm despite the terror snarling at my core. "We only ask for a fighting chance. Lila's keen eye fixed on me, and I could sense her evaluating, computing. People maintaining their ground in front of her were not familiar to her. Still, I was not going to back off. Not quite anymore. The previous me might have let the approaching threat of someone like Marcus paralyze her, or she might have let fear control her actions. But I was no longer that lady. Too much had I survived to fall apart now. Lila nodded, a sliver of approval visible in her gaze. Right now. Marcus has fingers in everything, including politics, business, the underworld. He is engaged if there is potential for power. And layers of allegiance shield him. People know what occurs when they do, hence they do not turn on him. I forced myself to remain concentrated by hard swallowing. But someone has to know something—something we might utilize to surpass him. "Marcus's weakness is control," Alex said, his tone harsh. "We might have a chance if we can somehow challenge his influence." Lila lifted an eyebrow. "Disturb his influence?" You sound really simple. Marcus manages people not only with threats or financial means. He enters their head and gives them the impression they need him. One finds it difficult to break that kind of control. My pulse accelerating, I moved ahead. "Then we locate the one person close enough to him to be aware of his movements. Someone is really necessary. Lila stopped, and I could see the wheels in her head turning. She had existed in Marcus's universe. She was aware of the folks he kept close. "There is someone," she remarked gently. "A man going by Julian Cross. Marcus used to have him as one of his enforcers, but he has been absent for some time. Marcus operates; if anyone knows how, it's him. "Where is he now?" Alex asked, his voice sharp with urgency. Lila offered him a sad grin. "That is the issue. Julian has vanished into hiding. Years ago he destroyed his bridges with Marcus; now he runs constantly. "So we find Julian," I murmured, a determined feeling washing over me. "He is our method of arrival." Lila shook her head and groaned. It will not be that simple. Julian is psychotic. He puts no one in trust. Getting to him will very certainly prove difficult. Alex crossed his arms and fixed his eyes fiercely. "Nearly impossible is not exactly the same as impossible. We have handled less favorable conditions. Lila laughed briefly, austerely without humor. You truly do think you could achieve this? "We have no choice," I remarked softly. Marcus won't stop until he owns everything. He cannot be allowed to win. The room was still for a minute, our circumstances hovering over us like a storm cloud. We were up against a man who ruled everything from the shadows, a force apparently insurmountable. Still, I experienced a fleeting hope for the first time. Should we locate Julian Cross and be able to upset Marcus's control, we might just have a shot. Lila uncrossed her arms, her attitude softening just a little. Right now. I will assist with your Julian search. Still, you shouldn't expect this to stop with him. Marcus is not the kind to let loose ends go quietly. He will come after you with everything he owns once he understands what you are doing. I nodded, the terror still lurking in the rear of my mind, but it was insufficient to keep me from acting. no more. Alex strolled silently next to me as we left Lila's refuge and re entered the crisp night air. He seemed tense, the weight of all we were going through pushing down on both of us. Still, there was something else too—something unsaid between us. A few minutes later I lost control. "Why didn't you share with me earlier Marcus?" My voice was gentle but weighted with my frustration, I asked. Alex groaned and ran a hand over his hair. "I wanted you not to be dragged into this any deeper than you now were. Marcus, he is unique. Keeping you away from him seemed like a way I might shield you. I turned to face him, stopped walking. "I am already in this, Alex. We both are. Keeping things from me merely makes it more difficult for me to trust you; it does not protect me. His eyes softened, regret flickering over his face. You're correct. I should have said to you. But I've spent so long battling to keep people safe, to keep them out of Marcus's reach... It's hard to let go of that impulse. Putting a palm on his arm, I felt the strain under his skin. Alex, you are not alone going to have to accomplish this. Right now we are in this together. We will confront it together whatever comes next. He fixed me for a minute, and I could feel the barriers he had erected around himself gradually falling apart. He had borne this weight on his own for so long, attempting to protect everyone else from the threat encircling him. But he was starting to see that he didn't have to bear it by himself. "Together," he said, his voice gentle yet charged. My heart steadying at our common commitment, I nodded. Whatever followed would be side by side. And that would have been sufficient. My phone buzzed in my pocket as we started to walk once more. I brought it out and glanced at the screen. That came from an unidentified number. Do not trust her. My pulse skipped a beat as dread crept into my bloodstream. My pulse accelerating, I stared at Alex. Those who had sent the note were observing us. And they possessed knowledge absent from us.