ログイン"We finish dealing with Silva," Dad said, looking up with a sharp grin. "And then we start preparing for the big gala this weekend. Word about tonight's little street party is already going to start leaking through the underground grapevine by sunrise. Everyone in the city is going to want to know who you are, and it's time to make it official."I nodded, pushing off the doorframe. "Good. Let's get it over with."I walked down the hallway to the guest quarters the Cruz family kept for visiting members. The room was simple, clean, and quiet, totally different from the historic, gold-trimmed opulence of the Valteri estate up north. I dropped my bag on the floor, kicked off my shoes, and fell face-first onto the firm mattress, letting out a long breath.My phone Vibrated on the bedside table. I rolled over and picked it up. A new text from Dario.Dario: Still awake? Miss you. Wish I was down there.I tapped out a fast reply, smiling slightly to myself in the dark room.NYXARA: Miss you
Uncle Pascal walked over, shaking his head as he kicked one of the unconscious thugs out of the way with the toe of his shoe. "I'll be damned. Where did you learn that kind of footwork?""Self-defense classes," I said smoothly, brushing a speck of dust off my jacket sleeve. "Since I was eight"My dad let out a short, barking laugh that echoed off the cold concrete walls of the warehouses. He reached out, clapping a heavy hand onto my shoulder with enough force to rattle my bones."Get these trash bags out of the street," my dad snapped, turning his attention to the rest of the security detail who were already securing the area and zip-tying the remaining thugs who tried to run. "Take the survivors down to the lower holding rooms. I want to know which outfit put them up to this before the clock hits midnight.""Right away, boss," one of the guards said, hauling a groaning man up by his collar and shoving him toward the back of an empty van.As the security team swarmed over the site, c
After we finished touring the administrative side, Uncle Pascal drove us down to the active piers where the container ships were actually being unloaded. The noise down there was deafening, the roar of heavy diesel engines, the metallic clank of chains and shipping hooks, and the shouts of dock workers moving heavy wooden crates across the concrete.We walked along the edge of the pier, the salty wind whipping my hair across my face. A group of local foremen were standing near a stack of open crates, arguing over a delayed shipment of imported electronics. When they saw Pedro walking toward them, their voices instantly dropped, and they straightened up, clearing a path."Boss," one of the older men said, nodding respectfully."Report," Dad said, his voice cutting through the noise of the cranes above us."Container 40-B was flagged by customs up in the northern sector," the foreman said, wiping sweat from his forehead with a rag. "They're holding it for an extra inspection. Standard b
After he left I buckled my seatbelt, a few minutes later, the cabin door sealed shut, and the jet taxied down the runway before lifting off into the grey morning clouds. As the Valteri estate shrank into a tiny dot beneath us, I leaned my head against the cool window and let out a quiet sigh of relief. The past few weeks had been a non-stop rotation of poisoned coffee, fake smiles, and wedding planning madness. Escaping to my father's city felt like stepping out of a suffocating room and finally getting a lungful of cold air.The flight was short, barely two hours, but by the time we started our descent, the landscape below had completely changed. Instead of the quiet, rolling hills and sprawling historical manors surrounding the Valteri property, the city below was a sprawl of concrete, steel, and heavy industrial docks stretching out toward the dark water of the harbor. This was Pedro's turf. Everything down there ran on cash, muscle, and absolute, unquestioned loyalty.When the jet
The ride back to the Valteri estate took less than twenty minutes. The security detail parked right outside the main door, and I hopped out before the guys could even reach for the door handle. I pushed my way inside, kicking off my shoes by the front door, and headed straight toward the main living area.I could hear them arguing before I even turned the corner. Elena's voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet of the house. "I am telling you, the midnight blue is too dark for the reception hall. It makes everything look like a mob summit instead of a wedding.""Midnight blue is classic," Grandmother shot back, sounding unbothered. "It sets the tone. We want people to know the family isn't playing around."I walked into the room, shoving my hands into my pockets. They were sitting at the long table surrounded by a literal mountain of thick, glossy paper, fabric swatches, and heavy ring binders. Elena looked up first, her eyes locking onto me with a look of pure urgency."Nyxara," sh
Dario kept his hand on the small of my back, his thumb rubbing a slow circle against my shirt. The black van carrying Nysa had already turned the corner and disappeared down the street, leaving nothing behind except the hum of the car engines from the security details my dad brought along. The air outside felt sharp, and I pulled my jacket tighter around myself, trying to shake off the lingering weirdness of watching my own sister get hauled away by the same men she had hired.Dario looked down at me, his face tight. "Let's go home, Kitten. You've had enough excitement for one morning." he said.I shook my head, stepping out from under his hand. "No. I'm not going back to the home yet. I need to go see Carlton."He frowned, crossing his arms. "You want to go talk to him right now? After all that?" he asked."Yes," I said, meeting his eyes. "I need to check in on him. Make sure he's settled before everything else drops."My dad stepped up beside Dario, his eyes fixed on me with that h







