Crowded by Fire

The weight of Cole's words followed Annalise as she stepped out onto the moonlit terrace. The ocean roared below, a symphony of chaos she could relate to all too well. In the distance, the faint sounds of laughter and clinking glasses seeped through the open patio doors. But out here, it was cold, quiet—dangerous.

Cole was waiting, his posture casual as he leaned against the balustrade, cigarette still unlit between his fingers. He looked every bit the rogue he was rumored to be—disheveled dark hair, an expensive suit that seemed tailored to arrogance, and a smirk that promised nothing good.

"You took your time," he drawled without looking at her.

"I don't rush for cryptic men with bad reputations," Annalise shot back, stopping just short of the balustrade.

He turned to face her, and for a moment, she swore there was a flicker of something raw in his eyes. But it was gone just as quickly, replaced by the lazy grin that seemed permanently etched onto his face.

"Touché. But tonight, my bad reputation might just save your ass."

"Save me from what, exactly?" she demanded. "Because if you're trying to scare me into some game—"

"This isn't a game," he cut her off sharply, his smirk vanishing. "It's survival, Annalise. Yours. Mine. And whether you like it or not, we're on the same side now."

She folded her arms, refusing to let him see how his intensity unsettled her. "If you want me to trust you, you'd better start talking."

Cole sighed, tossing the cigarette onto the ground and crushing it under his heel. "Fine. Let's start with the obvious: Ethan didn't just leave you for Madeline. He didn't marry up. He married in."

"What does that mean?"

"It means he's not the golden boy everyone thinks he is. He's in deeper than anyone knows—financially, legally. And he's using Madeline and her father to cover his ass."

Annalise blinked, trying to process his words. "Why would I care? I'm not tied to him anymore. His mess isn't my problem."

"Wrong," Cole said, stepping closer. "You're the centerpiece of his mess. Ethan didn't just dump you, Annalise. He betrayed you in ways you haven't even realized yet."

Her stomach churned. "Explain."

"Do you remember the Orion deal?" he asked.

Her eyes narrowed. "Of course. It was the investment that saved my first company."

"Or so you thought," Cole said grimly. "The truth is, that deal wasn't about saving you. It was about controlling you. Ethan handed them everything they needed—proprietary data, vulnerabilities in your operations. He made sure Orion Industries had leverage over you, and when you grew too powerful, they squeezed."

"No," Annalise whispered, shaking her head. "You're lying."

"Am I?" Cole reached into his jacket and pulled out a slim envelope. He handed it to her, his expression unreadable.

She opened it with trembling hands. Inside were documents—emails, financial statements, contracts. As her eyes scanned the pages, the truth slammed into her like a freight train.

Ethan had been feeding Orion information for years. Her intellectual property, her strategies, her weaknesses—all handed over on a silver platter.

"I trusted him," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"That was your first mistake," Cole said, his tone almost gentle. "Ethan doesn't love anyone but himself. And now that you're a threat to him, he's making sure you're taken out of the equation entirely."

Annalise's mind raced. "How do you know all this? Why do you care?"

"Because he tried to screw me over too," Cole admitted. "Only he underestimated just how far I'd go to protect what's mine."

"And what's yours?"

"That's not your concern—yet," he said, a glint of something dangerous in his eyes. "Right now, we need to focus on taking him down before he buries us both."

She looked at him, her resolve hardening. "What's your plan?"

He smiled, but it wasn't his usual smirk. It was colder, sharper. "First, we find the rest of the skeletons in Ethan's closet. And trust me, there are plenty. Then we expose him—publicly, spectacularly. We hit him where it hurts most."

"And where's that?"

"His pride," Cole said simply. "Ethan can survive scandal, even bankruptcy. But he can't survive humiliation."

Annalise's lips curved into a small, bitter smile. "Good. Because I'm done playing nice."

The following morning, Annalise was back in her office, poring over the documents Cole had given her. The evidence was damning, but it wasn't enough. They needed more—something explosive, something undeniable.

Her assistant, Julia, entered the room, a curious expression on her face. "You've got a visitor."

"Who?"

"Madeline Donovan," Julia said, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Annalise froze. "Send her in."

Madeline stepped into the office, her designer heels clicking against the marble floor. She looked every inch the perfect society wife—polished, poised, and utterly impenetrable.

"Madeline," Annalise said coolly. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Madeline smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I thought it was time we had a little chat. Woman to woman."

"About?"

"About Ethan," Madeline said, taking a seat across from her. "And about what happens next."

Annalise leaned back in her chair, her gaze unwavering. "Go on."

Madeline's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. "You think you're going to ruin him, don't you? Expose his secrets, destroy his reputation."

Annalise's pulse quickened, but she didn't let it show. "And if I am?"

"Then you're a fool," Madeline said bluntly. "Ethan's not the only one with secrets. You dig too deep, and you'll find things you wish you hadn't. Things that could destroy you too."

It was a threat, plain and simple.

Annalise's smile was icy. "I appreciate the warning, but I don't scare easily."

Madeline stood, her gaze hard and unrelenting. "You should. Because the only thing more dangerous than Ethan Donovan is the man standing next to you."

Hours later, as Annalise sat alone in her office, Madeline's words echoed in her mind. She didn't trust Cole—not completely. But for now, he was the only ally she had.

Her phone buzzed with a new message.

Cole: "Got a lead. Meet me tonight. This one's big."

Annalise stared at the screen, her pulse racing. She was stepping into a war she didn't fully understand. But one thing was clear—there was no turning back.

And in the shadows, the real game was only just beginning.