8

SOFIA

My heart nearly jumps out of my chest as the gun stays pointed directly at my forehead. I raise both hands slowly, trying not to make any sudden movement that could make Emilio pull the trigger. “I'm Anne Wolfe,” I say, forcing my voice to remain steady. “Hector's new personal assistant. I was hired to work for him. I don't know what you think I've done, but you have the wrong person.”

Emilio's eyes remain fixed on mine. There is no smile on his face now, and that makes him even more frightening. “Is that what you want me to believe?” he asks. His finger rests dangerously close to the trigger. “Because something tells me you are not who you say you are.”

“I just told you who I am.” I swallow hard, feeling the dryness in my throat. “I came here because Hector asked me to. You can check with him if you don't believe me.”

One of the men who brought me here finally steps forward. “Sir, she's telling the truth. Mr. Reyes personally promoted her yesterday. She's the woman who warned the boss about the attack at the hotel.”

Emilio doesn't even look at him. “I wasn't talking to you.”

The man immediately goes quiet.

I can almost hear my heartbeat over the faint hum of the air conditioner. “Look, I don't know what you think you know about me, but I have no reason to hurt Hector. If anything, I helped save his life.”

“That doesn't prove anything.” Emilio's voice remains calm, which somehow makes the gun feel even heavier in the air between us. “People can save a man's life for all kinds of reasons.”

“Then what reason do you think I have?”

His lips curve slightly. “You tell me.”

I stare at him, trying to understand what game he is playing. “I came here for a job. That's it. I had an interview, I got hired, and now I'm here. There is nothing else to explain.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“What else am I supposed to say?” My patience is starting to crack despite the gun. “Should I invent another story just to make you happy?”

His eyes narrow. “You are hiding something.”

My stomach twists. Does he know? Does he somehow know I'm FBI?

I force myself to breathe normally. “Everyone has things they don't tell strangers. That doesn't make me your enemy.”

“You still don't understand.”

“Then help me understand.”

Before he can answer, a calm voice cuts through the room.

“Emilio.”

The single word sends a strange silence through the house.

I turn toward the staircase and see Hector coming down slowly, his eyes immediately landing on the gun pointed at me.

His expression barely changes, but somehow the entire room feels colder.

“What exactly are you doing?” he asks quietly.

Emilio finally looks away from me.

“Relax, brother. I was only—”

“Put the gun down.” There is no shouting in Hector's voice, but there is something far more powerful than anger in it.

Emilio hesitates for a moment.

Hector takes another step down the stairs. “She's Anne Wolfe. My new personal assistant. Lower the gun.”

For the first time since this madness began, I finally breathe. Emilio slowly lowers the weapon.

Emilio suddenly bursts into laughter as he lowers the gun completely. “Relax, relax. I was only messing with her.” He slips the weapon back under his jacket like he didn't just have it aimed at my head. “I wanted to see if Hector's new assistant could handle a little pressure. She didn't exactly look fearless.”

I force a laugh, even though my legs still feel weak beneath me. “Well, you definitely know how to welcome someone into a new job.” My voice comes out lighter than I feel, and I hate how obvious my fear probably is. The two men who brought me here exchange quick looks but wisely keep their mouths shut.

Hector doesn't laugh. He simply stares at his brother with a look that could make a grown man rethink every decision that brought him into the room. “You call pointing a gun at someone's head a joke?”

Emilio raises both hands with an innocent smile. “Come on, Hector. It was harmless.”

“Harmless?” Hector's voice stays quiet, but the warning underneath it makes the room feel smaller. “You don't pull a gun on people who work for me. Not in my house.”

Emilio's smile fades for a second before returning. “Fine. Message received.” He looks at me again, and there is something strange in his eyes that makes the back of my neck prickle. “Welcome to the family, Anne. Try not to take everything so seriously.”

I manage a small smile. “I'll keep that in mind.”

“Good.” He gives Hector a playful pat on the shoulder before walking away. “You know where to find me if your new assistant decides to shoot someone before breakfast.”

The joke earns nothing from Hector. Emilio disappears through another doorway, leaving the smell of his expensive cologne hanging in the air.

I release a breath and finally realize how tense my body has been. My fingers are cold, and I can still feel the imaginary pressure of the gun against my forehead. I look toward the doorway Emilio disappeared through, wondering what exactly he thinks he knows about me. Something about that man tells me he wasn't simply playing around.

“Come with me,” Hector says.

I turn to him. “Where are we going?”

“My study.”

I nod and follow him through the mansion, forcing myself to focus on the surroundings instead of Emilio. Every corner looks like it belongs in a museum, from the tall marble columns to the expensive paintings hanging beneath soft golden lights. The polished floor reflects our footsteps, while two armed guards stand quietly near a side entrance.

I make mental notes of every door, staircase and hallway we pass. There are cameras positioned in places that are easy to miss, and the main entrance has at least four guards watching everyone who comes and goes. The mansion is beautiful, but underneath all that beauty is a fortress.

Hector suddenly stops in front of a dark wooden door and opens it. “Come in.”

I take one last look around before stepping into his private study.

The moment I step into Hector's study, my eyes begin working before my mind can stop them. Dark shelves cover one wall, expensive books fill them, and a large desk sits near the window overlooking the grounds. I notice a few files, a laptop, and a security screen before forcing myself to look away.

Hector takes his seat. “Your new role is simple, but your schedule won't be.”

I sit across from him. “How bad can it be?”

“You'll find out soon enough. A car will pick you up from your apartment every morning. You come here first, then you follow me wherever I go. Office, meetings, hotels, business appointments. Anywhere.”

I blink. “Everywhere?”

“Unless I tell you otherwise.”

My mind races. This is exactly what the FBI wants. I'll have access to his daily movements and the Reyes family, but it also means I have almost no freedom to work independently or contact Hugh whenever I want.

“Why do I suddenly have to be around you this much?” I ask carefully. “Is it because of what happened between us that night? Because if you're worried that I'll make things awkward, I can—”

“Can we forget that night ever happened?” he cuts in, his voice firm. “You are still suspicious to me and I feel the need to keep you close to me at all times.”

I go quiet.

He watches me for a moment before leaning back. “You need to be available, discreet and loyal.”

I nod, suddenly aware that one wrong move could expose everything.

He studies me for another second. “Now for your first task of the day…”