Chapter 4: The Man in the Hallway
The door handle turned.
Maya instinctively stepped backward.
Marcus moved in front of her.
“Stay behind me.””
The door opened another inch.
Jordan's breathing became audible.
Tiana pressed both hands against the wall, shaking.
Denise stared at the widening gap.
“Marcus,” she whispered, “who is that?””
“I don't know.””
The door opened.
A man stepped into the hallway light.
He was Black, tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a dark charcoal suit. His face was calm, almost unnervingly calm, as if he had been standing in that darkness for much longer than anyone realized.
Marcus's expression changed instantly.
“You.””
The man's eyes moved to him.
“Marcus.””
Jordan looked between them.
“You know him?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Maya tightened her grip on the phone.
Tiana whispered, “Darius…”
The man's gaze snapped toward her.
“Don't.””
One word.
Tiana immediately went silent.
Denise looked at Marcus.
“Who is Darius?””
Marcus finally spoke.
“Darius Cole.””
The name seemed to drain the warmth from the room.
Maya looked at her father.
“Why is he in our house?””
Darius slowly stepped into the living room.
“I was invited.””
Marcus laughed once, without humor.
“Not by me.””
Darius looked at Tiana.
“That isn't what you told me.””
Tiana's eyes filled with tears.
“You said you could handle it.””
Marcus turned sharply.
“Tiana, what is he talking about?””
“I didn't know he would come inside.””
Darius sighed.
“You knew exactly what was going to happen.””
Jordan stepped forward.
“What was going to happen?””
Darius looked at him.
For the first time, his calm expression disappeared.
“You were supposed to be somewhere else tonight.””
Jordan frowned.
“What?””
Marcus stepped between them.
“You're done talking to my son.””
Darius raised both hands.
“I'm not here to fight.””
“Then leave.””
“I will.””
Darius looked toward Maya.
“But first, she needs to show you the rest.””
Maya's stomach dropped.
“The rest of what?””
Darius nodded toward her phone.
“You showed him the part where Tiana attacked Jordan.””
Marcus looked at Maya.
“You said there was more footage.””
“There is.””
Darius smiled faintly.
“Not from that camera.””
Maya's thumb stopped above the screen.
Marcus noticed.
“Maya.””
She looked at him.
“Dad…”
“What isn't on that recording?””
Maya hesitated.
Darius answered for her.
“The part that explains why Tiana did it.””
Tiana shook her head.
“Darius, please.””
He turned toward her.
“You wanted your brother protected.””
Jordan stared at Tiana.
“Protected from what?””
Tiana began crying again.
“Jordan, I swear—”
“Protected from what?””
Marcus grabbed Darius by the front of his suit.
Denise gasped.
“Marcus!””
Darius didn't resist.
Marcus pulled him closer.
“You have ten seconds to tell me why you were hiding in my hallway.””
Darius looked down at Marcus's fist.
Then back at his face.
“Because somebody in this family has been stealing from you.””
Marcus froze.
Darius continued.
“And tonight, they were going to make sure you blamed the wrong child.””
Maya's phone vibrated.
Everyone looked down.
A new message had appeared.
*UNKNOWN NUMBER: STOP PLAYING THE VIDEO.*
Maya's face went cold.
Marcus released Darius.
“Give me the phone.””
Maya didn't move.
“Maya.””
“I didn't send this to anyone.””
Another vibration.
A second message.
*UNKNOWN NUMBER: OR YOUR MOTHER DIES.*
Denise's hand flew to her mouth.
“What?””
Marcus snatched the phone from Maya.
“Who sent this?””
Darius's face had gone pale.
“Marcus…”
Marcus looked at him.
“What?””
Darius pointed toward the phone.
“That's not a threat.””
“What is it?””
Darius swallowed.
“It's a warning.””
The penthouse lights suddenly went out.
Denise screamed.
For three seconds, there was nothing but darkness.
Then the emergency lights flickered red.
And somewhere behind them—
May you like
a woman's voice whispered,
“Too late.””
