Dinner that evening was silent, almost unnaturally so. The clinking of silverware against porcelain plates echoed across the long dining table, but for Amira, each sound felt louder than it should. She barely touched her meal, her fork tracing idle circles through the sauce as her mind churned relentlessly. What had Montez done to Nathan? He had been calm, too calm, when she had last brought it up. The look in his eyes when she asked had sent a chill down her spine. She knew what he was capable of, and she also knew he wouldn’t hesitate if he thought someone had crossed a line. Still, the thought of Montez going after Nathan made her stomach twist with dread. Across the table, Montez ate with his usual composure, shoulders straight, his focus entirely on his meal. To anyone else, he looked like a man without a care in the world. But to Amira, every tiny movement spoke of restraint. He was hol
The night air carried a sharp chill as Montez adjusted his cufflinks and slipped into his private study. The room was dim, only the soft glow of a desk lamp illuminating his face as he picked up the phone. His voice was low, almost dangerous. “Is he there?” Montez asked. The man on the other end hesitated before answering. “Yes, boss. We have him at the warehouse.” Montez’s jaw tightened. “Good. Keep him on his knees until I arrive.” He ended the call without another word, sliding the phone into his pocket as he grabbed his jacket. His steps were measured, deliberate, echoing down the long marble hallway. Rage brewed quietly in his chest, not just at Nathan, but at the possibility—however slim—that Amira had lied to him. The drive to the warehouse was silent. His driver knew better than to speak when Vitalio’s expression carried that familiar storm. By the time the car rolled up
“You’re drunk.” Amira’s words were soft, almost disbelieving, as Montez slumped against her shoulder. His weight nearly toppled her, forcing her to steady both of them against the wall. The sharp smell of whiskey clung to him, sharp and smoky, making her nose wrinkle. His head drooped, dark hair brushing her cheek as he leaned into her without shame. She sighed, her hand instinctively rising to cradle the back of his head. “Montez… what happened to you tonight?” His eyes, heavy-lidded and dark, fluttered open for a second. His voice came out hoarse, fragile in a way she had never heard. “I miss you.” Her chest tightened, her lips parting in shock. “What?” “I miss you,” he repeated, this time a whisper that carried the weight of something deeper than alcohol. His breath was hot against her skin. Her throat ached, her heart betraying h
The room was dark except for the faint glow of the laptop screen. Montez leaned back in his chair, one hand pressed against his temple, the other resting on the edge of the desk. His eyes never left the faint line of sound waves moving across the screen. Every word captured by the phone’s mic was distorted, muffled by background noise. He could hear the low murmur of Amira’s voice, then another voice — deeper, male — responding. But the words were impossible to piece together. Montez’s jaw tightened. He knew that voice. He would know it anywhere. Nathan. The faint sound of Enzo’s footsteps broke his focus. He stepped into the study, carrying a glass of whiskey in one hand which he had previously gone out to get. He raised an eyebrow at the sight of Montez hunched over the laptop. “Don’t tell me you’re still listening,” Enzo said, his tone half amused, half exasperated. “Boss, this is
The coffee shop was warm, filled with the gentle hum of conversation and the sharp hiss of the espresso machine. Amira sat tucked in the corner, her fingers tracing the rim of the mug in front of her. The cappuccino inside had long gone cold, untouched and forgotten. Her stomach twisted with every second that ticked by, and though she told herself to breathe, her chest felt tight. She had picked this place because it was out of the way, hidden from the watchful eyes of Montez’s men and far from the familiar streets she used to know. A neutral ground. Yet, even here, she felt the weight of what she was about to do pressing down on her like a storm. The bell over the door rang, and her heart skipped a beat as Nathan walked in. He was exactly as she expected him to look: crisp suit, polished shoes, that smug smirk on his lips that once charmed her but now made her stomach turn. His gaze swept across the
The sun filtered lazily through the tall windows of the mansion, spilling light across the dining room where Montez sat with a glass of black coffee in hand. He had barely touched his breakfast. His mind was already racing with the day’s work ahead when Amira entered quietly, her steps light but hesitant. He looked up immediately, his eyes softening just slightly at the sight of her. She took the seat opposite him, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She looked nervous, as though she had been rehearsing something all morning. “I want to talk to you,” she said finally, her tone steady but gentle. Montez leaned back in his chair, studying her face. “Go on.” Amira folded her hands together, forcing herself not to look away. “I’ve been living here for two months now. The mansion is beautiful, and I’m grateful for everything you’ve given me, but… I’d like to go home.” The words hit him