LOGINThe floorboards beneath my feet shook violently.Below my bedroom, the heavy thunder of automatic gunfire erupted in the main lobby.I did not run to the secret panel.I sat at my mahogany desk, my eyes locked on the glowing laptop screen."Dante, do you copy?" I barked into the tactical radio."Cora? Get off this channel!" Dante’s voice crackled back, drowned out by the sound of shattering plaster."Shut up and listen, Dante," I commanded."I have the analog thermal cameras running on backup battery," I said."The Bratva are breaching the east corridor conservatory," I added."There are six thermal signatures moving fast," I warned.A brief pause of static cut through the receiver."Are you sure?" Dante demanded."They are carrying heavy breaching charges," I said, watching the glowing red dots on my monitor."If you don't redirect your men, they will flank your lobby barricade in thirty seconds," I added."All units, pivot to the east conservatory!" Dante roared over the main channe
The darkness in my bedroom was absolute.The constant hum of the security console had vanished, replaced only by the howling wind outside.I stood frozen in the freezing room, my hand instinctively resting over my lower stomach.Suddenly, a soft scraping sound echoed behind the wardrobe.The secret panel slid open.A thin, focused beam of white light cut through the pitch-black space, reflecting off the dark wood.Rocco stepped out of the passage, his breathing heavy and his face tense in the shadows."Cora," he whispered urgently, his hand immediately grabbing my arm with a grip of steel. "We leave right now.""The generators are dead," I said, my voice barely above a whisper."The outer gates have lost pressure," Rocco said. "The Bratva are already crossing the gravel.""We are running out of time," he added, trying to pull me toward the wardrobe.I dug my heels into the heavy carpet, resisting his grip. "No."Rocco stopped, his flashlight beam shaking slightly as he aimed it at my
The heavy mahogany door to my bedroom didn't just unlock.It exploded open, slamming against the plaster wall with a violent thud.I threw myself back onto the pillows, pulling the duvet up to my chin.Roman strode into the room, his massive frame radiating raw, lethal fury.He was covered in soot, his black tactical coat smelling heavily of burnt rubber and gunpowder."Roman," I gasped, forcing a wave of sleepy confusion into my voice. "What happened?""The highway was a kill zone," Roman growled, his gunmetal eyes scanning the dark room.He walked toward my bed, his heavy leather boots leaving wet tracks on the rug.He grabbed my shoulders, his grip tight as he pulled me upright."Are you hurt?" he demanded, his breathing ragged. "Did anyone breach this wing?""No," I said, my heart hammering against my ribs. "The guards have been outside my door all night."Roman released my shoulders, his hands trembling slightly from the adrenaline."They knew the route, Cora," he said, pacing ba
The clock on my vanity showed exactly midnight.I sat on the edge of the mattress, my fingers digging into the heavy fabric of my blanket.The silence in my locked bedroom was suffocating.Suddenly, a quiet scraping sound came from behind the wardrobe.I spun around, my chest tightening in anticipation.The wooden panel slid open without a sound.Rocco stepped out of the dark gap, a heavy black tactical coat draped over his massive shoulders.He smelled of damp rain, cold metal, and gun oil."Rocco," I whispered, rushing toward him."Stay back from the wardrobe, Cora," Rocco commanded, his voice a low, raspy growl."Did anyone see you?" I asked, my heart hammering against my ribs."Dante has his men on a five-minute patrol loop in the main courtyard," Rocco said."And the corridor guards?" I asked."I bypassed them easily," Rocco said, pulling off his leather gloves."How?" I demanded. "Dante said the physical motion sensors were fully activated tonight.""I designed this entire secur
The pale morning light fought its way through the narrow gaps in my steel shutters.I sat at my mahogany desk, my eyes fixed on my phone.The anonymous text message was still glowing on the glass screen."Marco was only the warm-up," I read silently."Your husband will be dead before dawn," the second line added.The threat was active, and the sun was already rising over the estate.The heavy lock on my bedroom door clicked loudly.The door swung open, and Roman stepped into the room.He had showered, but his gunmetal eyes were bloodshot and dark with fatigue.He didn't wear his tactical armor, only a clean black shirt and his leather holster."You are awake," Roman noted, his voice deep and raspy."I didn't sleep," I said, standing up from my chair.I picked up the phone and walked straight toward him."You need to see this," I said, handing him the device.Roman took the phone, his brow furrowing as he read the glowing screen."Where did this come from?" Roman demanded, his jaw lock
The hallway was pitch-black.I stepped out of my bedroom.The lock had been left unbolted after Dante's sweep.I heard a faint scratching sound from the end of the corridor.I walked quietly toward the dim light of the hallway alcove.Roman stood in front of the marble basin.He was scrubbing his hands with frantic, heavy movements.He didn't notice me approaching.His jaw was clamped shut, his chest heaving under his black shirt."Roman," I said softly.He spun around instantly, his hand dropping to his waist.His fingers gripped the handle of his weapon before he recognized my face."Cora," he muttered, his hand slowly sliding off the gun."What are you doing out of bed?" he asked, his voice rough and tired."I heard the noise," I said, looking at his hands."Go back to your room," Roman commanded, turning back to the basin."You're shaking," I said, taking a step closer."I am fine," he spat."No, you aren't," I said.I looked at the water draining from his hands.It was stained wi
I stood in front of the master bathroom mirror, staring at my pale reflection. I turned on the cold water tap and splashed it over my face.Dark red bruises mottled the sensitive skin of my neck, glaring physical evidence of last night's transaction.I opened the heavy mahogany drawer and took out
The grandfather clock in the downstairs hallway chimed exactly eleven times.I lay completely frozen in the center of the massive king-sized bed. The master bedroom was pitch black, save for a single sliver of cold moonlight cutting across the Persian rug.I watched the heavy brass handle of my bed
I stood outside the heavy oak door of Roman’s study.A sliver of warm amber light bled through the gap at the bottom.I had been summoned here like a disobedient servant called before the master of the house.I smoothed down the silk of my dress, forcing my spine completely straight. I refused to l
My heels clicked sharply against the white marble stairs.The grand spiral staircase was framed by cold, black iron railings. I began my tactical mapping of the estate as I descended into the foyer.I counted three Pan-Tilt-Zoom cameras mounted in the ceiling corners. Their dark lenses rotated sile







