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“I’ve heard whispers.”
The blood in my veins turns cold. If he’s heard whispers, has Damian? Marlena?
“Xavier, you know I wouldn’t intentionally put any of you in harm’s way.”
He crosses his arms and flares his nostrils. “Save it. I can’t stand being kept in the dark.”
I decide to come clean about the web of alliances and deceptions, hoping to rebuild the trust that seems to be slipping away.
“Marlena is targeting Dylan, the mayor, and Damian’s sister. We need to tread carefully. As for Damian, he?—”
Xavier holds up a hand. “Damian doesn’t have a sister. What are you talking about?”
I sigh. “I checked out his story. He’s not lying. He has an adopted sister. It seems even the mighty Xavier can be out of the loop sometimes,” I tease.
“Excuse me?”
“Xavier, please.”
He scowls at me.
As tensions rise, I find myself walking a precarious tightrope, trying to balance the fragile alliances within the Penumbra Legion. The revelations about Marlena’s actions and the delicate dance of truth and deception threaten to unravel the bonds that have held us together. The shadows cast by my own intricate web grow longer, and the consequences of my choices become increasingly unpredictable.
“You’ve made enemies of both of them?—”
“That’s not it at all,” I protest. “They both think I’m on their side!”
“Which side are you really on?”
“Ours!”
“Marlena’s a ticking time bomb from what I hear.”
“Don’t worry. I have a plan. Marlena and Damian are both under the impression that they can manipulate me. Little do they know, I’m the one pulling the strings.”
“And what if Marlena decides she’s had enough of being manipulated?”
“That’s where you come in. Keep a close eye on her. If she even thinks about making a move, I want to know.”
He shakes his head. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I always do. Now, let’s focus on our next move. Marlena won’t make a move until after Fortune Oasis opens. We have time.”
“Time? The casino opens tomorrow!”
The tension between Xavier and me lingers as Dylan, Jesse, and Alex hurry over, clearly drawn by the sound of our fighting.
As the mastermind behind the intricate dance of alliances, I must navigate the complexities of power, loyalty, and betrayal. The shadows cast by my own maneuvers grow deeper, and the stakes become even higher.
“What’s going on here?” Dylan asks.
“Just a difference of opinion, Dylan. Xavier thinks I’m playing too dangerously, but I’ve got everything under control.”
Dylan turns to Xavier. “Spill it. What’s the issue?”
“I just think Vanessa is taking unnecessary risks. Marlena is a wildcard, and Damian is no fool. She’s playing them both, and she’s going to get burned.”
“Maybe Xavier has a point,” Jesse says. “Not that I ever thought I would say that, but we can’t afford to underestimate them.”
