Falling for my Enemy's Brother-Chapter 47: Welcome to the dark

"Are you sure?" Merlina’s voice was soft, laced with doubt. She glanced across the street, eyes distant, deep in thought. How far was she really willing to go for the truth?

Craig gave a slow nod, hands shoved deep into his pockets. "Yeah."

He didn’t elaborate. Didn’t say how Eclipse Club wasn’t exactly a place you stumbled into by accident.

Truth was, the moment the word slipped out of his mouth, he regretted it.

Did he really want her going there?

To him?

But it was too late. The look on Merlina’s face said she’d already made up her mind.

She took a step forward, then hesitated. The construction site looked like a place people walked into and never came out. She glanced back at him. "Fine," she said, quieter this time. "I’ll go find him."

Craig took a step with her. "You need me to take you there?"

Merlina shook her head. "No. I got it from here."

He didn’t move. "Merlina—"

"No, Craig," she cut him off too quickly, the words escaping before she could pull them back. "I don’t need you there, trying to sway my thoughts."

The moment after hung in the air, cold and awkward, like a chill brushing against her skin.

She blinked. Had she really just said that out loud?

Craig tilted his head, his eyes searching hers like he was trying to decide if her words had meant more than even she realized. Did he really have that kind of hold over her?

"Okay," he said finally, voice low and steady. "Just... call me if you need anything."

He paused, jaw tightening as if swallowing something unsaid. Then, almost too quickly, he added, "Or call Louis."

It was a small correction, but one loaded with meaning. He knew she wouldn’t call him, at least, not yet. Louis was her boyfriend, the safe choice. Craig wasn’t sure if he’d ever truly earned her trust.

But the flicker in his eyes betrayed him—he wanted to be the one she reached for. To be the one she could count on when things got real.

He pushed the thought down, not ready to admit it aloud.

Merlina’s eyes narrowed. "You said your brother was incapable of murder," she said slowly, like she was trying to put a puzzle together. "Yet you’re warning me to be careful just for talking to him?"

Craig sighed, running a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "It’s not about Conor. It’s Eclipse. That place attracts the wrong kind of people. Dealers. Creeps. The desperate."

She squinted at him, skeptical. "And that’s the kind of place your brother likes to hang out?"

His face snapped toward hers, eyes sharp and tense. "Stop being judgy."

She held up a hand quickly. "I’m just trying to understand."

He took a breath, frustration tightening his voice.

"He didn’t do it. But fine—go ahead, hear it from the horse’s mouth yourself."

He turned, his footsteps crunching softly on the gravel as he started to walk away.

Merlina’s heart tightened. She didn’t want the conversation to end like this.

"Craig." She called out.

Her voice stopped him mid-step. He turned fully this time, eyes finding hers across the space between them.

A glimmer of curiosity sparked in his eyes, edged with something gentler, like hope trying not to be let down.

"Thanks," she said softly.

He looked at her, genuinely puzzled. "For what?"

Merlina didn’t answer right away. Instead, she slowly raised her arm—the one wrapped neatly in the white bandage. She held it there for a second, just enough for him to see. She hadn’t forgotten, not even for a second.

Craig’s eyes dropped to it, then back up to her face. And in that moment, the air between them became different.

His chest tightened. Her simple gesture said more than words could—she remembered, she noticed, she cared.

His expression softened, the edge in his features easing into something almost tender.

Her heart beat a little faster, unsure why this moment felt heavier than it should. His did too, though he tried not to show it.

They didn’t need words. The moment was enough, and something real moved quietly between them.

He gave her a quiet nod, a silent I got you, before turning away again—slower this time, like he didn’t really want to leave.

Merlina watched him go, a slow breath escaping her lips. Her heart stirred in a quiet, unfamiliar way. The way Craig looked at her—like he wanted to be the one she could reach out to, even if he wasn’t sure she would—stayed with her long after he was gone.

She glanced across the road, her gaze drifting over the quiet streets beyond.

It was time to face the truth.

Or whatever version of it Conor Lesnar was willing to tell.

The Eclipse Club was hidden deep underground, tucked beneath the city like a secret people weren’t supposed to find. Its neon sign flickered above, buzzing weakly in the thick air. Inside, Inside, it was just like Craig had warned her. Everything about it felt wrong, dark, messy, and crawling with the kind of energy that made her skin prickle.

The kind of place that felt like trouble the second you stepped in. Shadows moved like they had minds of their own, and cold stares followed her every move.

The lights inside were dim and pulsing, barely bright enough to see clearly. Most of the room was buried in darkness. People huddled in corners, whispering in harsh tones. Their laughter sounded fake, too loud, too sharp. Smoke filled the air, mixed with a strange sweet smell that made her stomach turn.

If this place was any colder, it’d be a morgue for secrets. A shiver crept down her back. She suddenly wished Craig had come with her. But it was too late now. She took a shaky breath, glanced behind her, and kept moving forward—half expecting something to jump out from the shadows.

At the VIP entrance, the bouncer stood like a wall—silent, imposing. He glanced at her once, eyes sharp and unreadable.

"Looking for someone?" he asked gruffly.

"Yeah uh....Conor Lesnar," she replied.

He studied her for a moment, then shifted just enough to let her pass without a word.

As she stepped inside, Merlina couldn’t shake the thought that maybe saying Conor’s name was like a secret password, granting her passage into a world she had no business being in.

She spotted a blonde girl leaning against the bar, the kind of girl who looked like she owned every bad decision she’d ever made. They called her Holly, Merlina had heard. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Taking a breath she didn’t feel, Merlina approached.

"Hey....I’m looking for Conor Lesnar," she said, voice steady but careful.

The girl’s eyes flicked up, sharp and cold. "And who’s asking?"

"I am, Merlina," she replied, keeping her tone even.

Holly scoffed, arms crossed, looking her up and down like dirt. "And who the hell is Merlina supposed to be? Conor’s new charity case?"

Merlina’s throat tightened, but before she could answer, she shook her head. "Never mind," she muttered, turning away. As she moved, her eyes caught a girl passed out on the sticky floor—bare legs, smudged makeup, nobody stopping to help. This world wasn’t hers. She didn’t belong here.

"Where do you think you’re going, Princess?" Holly snapped, grabbing her arm. "Let me guess. You’re one of those sleazy girls who like to throw themselves at Conor, huh?"

"No, I’m not..." Merlina began, trying to pull free. For a moment, she wondered—was that how she looked? Just another girl who’d lost her way chasing a Lesnar?

The girl’s grip tightened. "What do you want with him, then?"

Merlina swallowed hard, searching for calm in the chaos. "Look, I’m not into this boy drama. I just need to find Conor Lesnar."

A voice cut through the tension from just behind her, low and smooth. "He’s right behind you."