Mag-log in11:00 a.m. Katherine exhaled sharply, her gaze fixed on Massimo’s empty chair for what felt like the hundredth time that morning. He wasn’t in the office yet and that was unusual. Massimo was never late, not like this. If he was going to be, he’d usually send a quick message. Yet today, nothing. His schedule clearly showed back-to-back meetings, there was no free slot but the chair across from her remained vacant.Her hand hovered over her phone again. She had sent him a message hours ago, a simple check-in, but it sat there, unread, or worse, ignored. Twice she had called him, her finger trembling slightly as she hit “call,” only to be met with silence. A knot tightened in her chest.A tiny voice of panic whispered: What if something’s wrong? What if something bad has happened?They hated each other, yes, but that didn’t interfere with professionalism. Not today. Today, they had a crucial meeting with the CEO of Kathan Group, a partnership they’d been working toward for months. Dami
Chapter Sixty one “Break his head if you have to,” Ariana said firmly, her fingers tightening on the steering wheel as she brought the car to a stop. “And if things get out of hand, if you even feel slightly unsafe, call me immediately. I won’t hesitate to come save you.”She was talking about Massimo.There was no need to say his name.Katherine paused with one hand on the door handle and turned to look at her friend. A soft laugh escaped her, more breath than sound, though her heart wasn’t nearly as light as she tried to make it seem.Ariana’s face was dead serious and protective, the way it always got when Massimo was involved. Unless, when she was teasing her about him, though.Katherine couldn’t help it; her mind drifted back to days ago, to the moment she had caught Ariana and Tyke together. The memory flashed so vividly it almost made her smile wider. Ariana’s expression then had been pure, wicked amusement instead of embarrassment. She’d smirked, eyes glittering with mischief
“What in the actual hell?!” Myles shouted, his jaw dropping as he stared at Tyke, who was calmly recounting everything that had happened to him.“I can’t believe your own father… could shoot you,” Jordan muttered. “Who does something like that?!”“Right?” Willow added. “When we saw him at the hospital, I knew something was off. I didn’t buy the doctor’s story about it being an accident. Now it all makes sense, a freaking gunshot. Everything’s clear.”Tyke looked at Ariana, his expression softening. “I went through so much… more than I can even put into words right now,” he said slowly. “But I’m just glad it’s finally over. I’m back with you guys. And most importantly… I’m back with my love.”Ariana rolled her eyes, but a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.Katherine smiled quietly, watching the little scene unfold. Her circle, her family was complete again. She felt a warmth in her chest, glad she and Ariana had taken that bold step of going after Tyke when they did.“Ugh, I hate anyth
“Get out of here, Kath,” Tyke choked, tears blurring his vision. His hands trembled violently as he aimed the gun at his father. “Help Ari up and get her out of here, fast. She’s lost too much blood already. Go. I’ll handle the rest… please.”His father only laughed. Katherine nodded shakily, wiping furiously at the tears streaming down her face. Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking as she tightened her grip around Ariana’s cold fingers. “But… are you sure you’ll be okay?” she whispered desperately.Tyke swallowed hard. His gaze flicked to Ariana’s pale face, her shallow breathing, and his chest caved in. His eyes brimmed with heartbreak before he forced himself to look back at his father. The laughter had stopped now, replaced by a crazed, hollow stare that made Tyke’s spine stiffen.“Yes,” he said hoarsely. “I will be. Either me or this madman of a father walks out of this room alive today.” His jaw clenched. “If I don’t kill him, all of your lives will be in danger. You don’t even kno
In a building that looked almost abandoned from the outside, Ariana and Katherine tiptoed up the narrow staircase, masks in place. It was the same style of mask they had used months ago when they’d kidnapped Massimo. Now, they were here again but this time, their target was Tyke, the location of whom their informant had confirmed.The mission was deadly, but they intended to make it efficient and even a little thrilling. They hadn’t told their other friends because they wouldn't have allowed them to risk themselves. It was just the two of them, moving fast, because they still had work at the office this morning. Their informant had warned them that morning was the best time as their would be fewer security personnel and minimal foot traffic. They had exactly one hour to accomplish their task.“Be careful, Riri. You don’t want us getting caught,” Katherine whispered, her eyes scanning the dim hallway as Ariana’s fingers trailed along a breathtaking painting mounted on the wall.“We won
Massimo stared in disbelief at the bold boy sitting across from him. The child’s face was alive with mischief, a spectacle far too big for such a small frame, and a streak of unusual color ran across his forehead, almost covering it entirely. Strangely enough, the boy’s eyes were mismatched just like his own and he could catch the odd resemblance even from the small glimpse the boy gave him.The little boy had claimed the seat he wanted the moment he and Ryan found a spot, and he had narrowed his eyes at Massimo as if daring him to say a word. Massimo had called it childish behavior at first, but it had quickly escalated.The boy had audaciously ordered the very food Massimo was about to, telling the waiter to put the bill on his, Massimo’s own account. And when the plates arrived, the boy had done the unthinkable: he dug into Massimo’s food instead of his own and, to Massimo’s horror, even winked at him while doing it.Ryan had been quietly chuckling beside him, clearly entertained b







