FAZER LOGINThe day of the visit
The day arrived faster than Sarah wanted.She stood at the kitchen counter, chopping vegetables with mechanical precision. Her hands moved on autopilot while her mind wandered elsewhere.Upstairs, baby Rachel slept peacefully in her crib. In the living room, Marcus and her husband were setting the table, both practically vibrating with excitement.And in a few hours, Vincent Montrel would be sitting in her home.Sarah's knife slipped. Pain flared as tRachel POVI sat calmly with Leo beside me, drawing next to him and Thalia while I waited for news from Mark. A few days ago, I had told him my plan. Soon I would be able to reach Marcus, but first he needed an excuse to take me out of the safe house without raising suspicion."Mrs. Montrel."I turned to see Miss Clara walking toward me, her face calm but her eyes curious. "I heard you were planning on going shopping for the kids today."I nodded, relieved that this must be Mark's excuse. "Yes, just a few toys to keep them distracted with everything that's happening.""I understand," she said, "but I could go for you. You could stay here with the kids. It's best for you to relax."Leo looked up from his sketch. "You're going shopping?""Yeah, a few toys for you all," I said, pinching his cheek lightly before turning back to Clara. "It's fine. My guard will carry the heavy loads." I stood up. "And I'm tired of being cooped up inside. A little ride won't hu
Rachel POVI sat at the head of the dining table, watching the kids eat.The room was warm. Loud enough, between the scraping of cutlery and Matteo's running commentary about everything on his plate. Thalia ate quietly, methodical as always.But Leo was barely eating at all. He pushed his food around his plate in slow, distracted circles, his eyes somewhere far away.It had been a week since Damien and the others left. A week of waiting, of guards watching my every move, of pretending to be calm for three children who needed someone to be calm for them. The situation hadn't moved. The Raven was still out there. Marcus was still out there.And I was stuck here with no way to reach either of them.I wanted to do something. Fix something. I just didn't know how."Leo, come on. Eat." I nudged him gently.Leo sighed, nodding without enthusiasm, picking up his fork and pushing a piece of food into his mouth like it was the hardest thing he'd done all week.
Damien POVThe room was cold. Concrete walls, a single flickering light overhead. Jane sat chained to a metal chair in the center, her wrists bound, her ankles secured. Blood stained the bandages on her legs where Mark had shot her days ago.She didn't seem to notice.She was smiling.I stood across from her, arms crossed, jaw tight. Alessandro leaned against the wall near the door, observing. Two guards stood by the exit, silent and watchful.Jane's eyes were fixed on me. Unblinking. Hungry."You're wasting your time," she said, her voice light, almost cheerful. "I won't tell you anything about the Master.""The Master," I repeated flatly. "Is that what you call him?"Jane's smile widened. "He's more than a master. He's... everything. Purpose. Salvation." Her voice dropped to a reverent whisper. "He saved me."Alessandro raised an eyebrow. "Saved you from what?"Jane didn't look at him. Her eyes stayed fixed on me. "From myself. From the dark
Marcus arrived at his father's apartment and pushed the door open without knocking.Boxes everywhere. Running away again?"Dad!" Marcus called out.His father appeared from the office, shocked. "Marcus? What are you-""Where is my sister? I heard she was kidnapped and no one told me."His father flinched. "Calm down-""Don't tell me to calm down." Marcus stepped closer. "Do you know where her boyfriend lives? Because if not, we're filing a missing person report. Daniel doesn't have the right to lock her away.""Rachel was here yesterday." His father's voice was quiet. "She's safe. But she's badly injured."Marcus went still. "Injured how badly?"His father looked away."Dad. What aren't you telling me?"His father took a slow breath. "Marcus... I know about your organization. I know you've been attacking the Montrels."Marcus stared at him. "How do you know that?""That doesn't matter. I thought you had moved on. Let go of the past
Marcus POVThe hotel room was dark except for the city lights bleeding through the floor-to-ceiling windows.Marcus stood by the glass, a wine glass loose in his hand, watching the traffic crawl below. He didn't drink. Just held it. The weight was familiar. Grounding.His phone rested on the arm of the chair behind him. The call had been connected for several minutes. Neither of them had spoken for the last two.Finally, the voice on the other end broke the silence."Sir. Jane isn't answering. None of them are."Marcus didn't turn around. "I know.""The compound is lost. Montrel's people swept through. We're still accounting for the missing.""I know." His voice was calm. Too calm. "Jane was captured."A pause. "Then our position may be compromised. If she talks-""She won't.""You don't know that, sir. Under enough pressure-""Jane would cut out her own tongue before she betrayed me." Marcus finally turned, setting the wine glass on t
Damien POVThe apartment door finally opened.I stood immediately, my body tense, my eyes finding Rachel before anything else. She stepped out first, her face pale, eyes red-rimmed but dry. Mark followed close behind her, his expression carefully blank.Neither of them looked at me.Alessandro pushed off the wall, pocketing his phone. "Well?" he asked. "Everything alright in there?"Rachel finally lifted her gaze-but not to me. She looked at Alessandro."I need to go back to the safe house," she said quietly. Her voice was steady, but I could hear the exhaustion underneath. "Leo is waiting. I'm done here.""I'll take you," I said, stepping forward.She shook her head. "No. Mark will take me."The words hit like a slap."Rachel-""You have work to do, Damien." She finally looked at me, and something in her eyes made my chest tighten. Not anger. Not sadness. Something harder. Resolve. "The Raven isn't going to wait. And I need to be with Leo
Rachel POV Marcus’s smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. He leaned back in his chair, fingers folding together, his gaze sharpening into something cold and analytical. The warmth in his voice was gone when he spoke again. “I just find it interesting,” he said mildly, “that
Rachel POVThe day of the gala finally arrived.And at exactly 5 p.m., a small army of stern-faced women swept into my room, arms full of boxes, fabric bags, and accessories. For the next hour, they worked with sharp efficiency, barely speaking except to adjust a curl or fasten a cla
Damien POV He was barely conscious, his face a bloody pulp, one arm hanging uselessly. But in his other hand, held with trembling, unwavering determination, was his smoking gun. For a moment, everything was frozen. The echo of the shot faded into a ringing silence. T
Damien POVI pushed open the white door to Leo’s room, my eyes needing a moment to adjust to the vibrant chaos of colour. A stark contrast to the rest of my manor.Leo was seated on a small stool, arms crossed in a defiant pout. “No bandage till Papa is here.”A frustrated sigh c







