CHAPTER 37: TREACHERY

Chapter 37: Treachery

Ethan was half-awake, half-bored, one arm lazily rested behind his head while a woman with chestnut hair traced soft circles across his bare chest.

"You don’t sleep much," the woman whispered in a sweet voice.

Ethan smiled with his eyes still closed. "Sleep is for people with nothing worth thinking about."

She giggled, pressing a kiss on his shoulder. "You talk like a man with too many secrets."

He opened his eyes, so blue and cold. "I am a man with too many secrets."

The woman smiled again, but it faded when there was a sudden knock at the door.

The rhythm of knocking was impatient. Ethan sighed. "Enter," he said without raising his voice.

The door opened and Jackson stepped in, glancing first at the woman before he looked at Ethan.

Jackson looked nervous but also desperate, like someone who had already made a deal with the devil and now needed to pay the price.

"Ethan," Jackson greeted him cautiously. "I didn’t mean to interrupt, but it’s important."

Ethan sat up slowly, the silk sheet slid down his chest. "It always is, isn’t it?" He motioned toward the woman. "Give us a moment, darling."

She pouted. "Now?"

He gave her a thin smile. "Now."

She obeyed, slipping from the bed and collecting her dress from the floor. Ethan’s lighter opened, and he lit a cigarette and leaned back, blowing smoke toward the ceiling.

"Speak," he ordered Jackson.

Jackson shifted his shoulders uneasily. "I came because we have a common enemy. The Geiger family."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Common enemy? You’ll have to be more specific, Jackson. A lot of people hate that family."

Jackson nodded quickly. "I tried to assassinate the president once, you know. Not because of politics, but because of what he...Because of what they did to my family. They took everything."

"And now you want revenge?"

"Yes. Especially against Danielle Geiger."

Ethan’s interest sharpened. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Danielle," he repeated slowly. "That’s an interesting choice of target."

"She’s not as innocent as people think. She has her father’s arrogance, her mother’s vanity. She hides behind that sweet little face, pretending to be kind. But she’s poisonous. And I think you could help me destroy her."

Ethan smiled, the corner of his mouth curved like a blade. "Destroy her, hm? That’s quite a word."

"I mean it...She’s fragile now. I heard she was almost killed a few nights ago. Your brother was there, wasn’t he?"

Ethan’s smile disappeared. "My brother always shows up where he isn’t wanted."

Jackson took another cautious step forward. "That’s why I came to you. You know how she thinks, how he thinks. You’ve been inside their world. And I have resources. Together, we can make her crumble."

Ethan’s eyes flew toward the window, looking at the sunlight painting, and Jackson noticed a line across his jaw. "What makes you think I care about Danielle Geiger?"

"Because of the letters," Jackson replied. "The ones I sent you weeks ago. The ones about her trying to end her life."

Ethan’s cigarette paused halfway to his lips.

Jackson continued, lowering his tone. "I told you everything I found out about her mental state, her failed attempts, her fear. I told you how she hides behind Theo, how she clings to him like he’s her savior. And you replied once, remember? You said to keep watching. To keep feeding her weakness."

Ethan inhaled deeply, his eyes blinked too many times. Smoke drifted through the room like fog. "Yes," he said finally. "I remember."

Jackson nodded eagerly. "She’s vulnerable now. And Theo’s protecting her like she’s some fragile little treasure. That’s not just duty, Ethan. That’s emotion. I think your brother is in love with her."

Ethan’s eyes lifted slowly, his bright-blue turned bigger. "Love?" he repeated.

Jackson nodded again. "He won’t admit it, but it’s clear. He’s not sleeping, not eating, he’s with her all the time. If you want to break him, she’s the way."

"You’re smarter than you look."

Jackson’s chest rose with hope. "So you’ll help me?"

Ethan stood up, walking past him toward the window. He took another drag of his cigarette and exhaled, watching the smoke twist into the sunlight.

"Love," he said again quietly. "Theo doesn’t know what that word means. He thinks saving someone makes him pure. He thinks protecting them erases his sins. But he forgets that the more you love, the easier you are to destroy."

He turned toward Jackson, his smile looked way colder than before. "Tell me everything you know about Danielle. Every secret, every wound, every nightmare."

Jackson straightened. "You’ll help me?"

Ethan chuckled. "I’ll help myself. But for now, we want the same thing."

Jackson started talking. He told Ethan about the dorm incident, about Danielle’s panic attacks last year, her isolation, her father’s distance, and her attachment to Theo. Every word made Ethan’s heart beat faster.

When Jackson finally finished, Ethan walked back to his bed and stubbed the cigarette out on the glass ashtray.

He sat down and moved a little forward, talking in a chilling tone. "You did well, Jackson. I might actually enjoy this partnership."

Jackson smiled weakly. "So what happens next?"

Ethan leaned back on his elbows, the sunlight caught his wide grin. "Next, I remind Theo what happens when he forgets who he’s dealing with."

He reached for another cigarette but paused midway. "You said Danielle’s afraid of being alone, right?"

"Yes. Terrified."

"Good...Let’s make sure she has every reason to be."

Jackson frowned. "What do you mean?"

Ethan’s smile widened like a mad hienna’s. "You’ll see soon enough."

He turned his head toward the door. "Tell my men to keep their eyes on her dorm. I want every move reported. And Jackson..."

Jackson paused at the door. "Yes?"

"If Theo gets in the way, don’t try to fight him. I’ll handle my brother myself."

Jackson nodded quickly and left the room.

Ethan sat back, his fingers tapped lightly on the side of his glass.

He whispered to himself, almost lovingly, "If Theo loves her... then she’s already dead."

And with that thought, Ethan smiled again...because for him, love was never a weakness. It was the perfect weapon to enjoy torturing his enemies.