Rene’s fingers tightened on the door just as his jaw unclenched.Josh and Victtoria stood there with polite masks stretched over tension. Rene was just about to move aside, to allow them in, if only to keep the peace.Thump. Thump. Thump.Footsteps. Fast. Uneven.He turned just in time to see her.Maria.She rushed down the stairs barefoot, the oversized hem of his shirt swaying with each urgent step, her hair a wild mess around her shoulders, her breath shallow.But it was her eyes that stopped everything, red, glassy, wide with fear.“Maria?” Rene asked, his voice catching in his throat.She pushed past him and grabbed him by the shoulders, scanning him like he might be bleeding, like she expected to find something wrong.“Are you okay?” she asked, her hands moving over his chest, his arms, up to his face, cradling his jaw.“Hey-hey-” Rene reached for her wrists. “Maria, I’m okay. I’m fine.”She was shaking. Tears brimmed over her lower lashes, and then they began falling, hot and f
The golden light of dawn slipped through the sheer curtains, painting long streaks across the bedroom. But Rene didn’t see it. He had been staring at the ceiling for hours, mind adrift and eyes wide open.Sleep had refused him. Thoughts of Maria. Of Rome’s warning. Of the blindfolded men locked in the basement.Of the truth, he still hadn’t told her.He turned toward her... her body curled in gentle sleep beside him, breaths soft and even. In sleep, she looked untouched by the weight of the world he carried. And for just a moment, he let himself forget. Pretend. Just be her husband.But he couldn't.Not really.He shut his eyes the second he felt her shift. Her leg brushed his, then a warm weight settled on top of him, and he slowly raised his lid.Maria straddled him slowly, her tousled morning hair falling like a curtain around her face. Shadows and sunlight danced between the strands as she leaned over him.Rene reached up, fingers gentle as he tucked the messy strands behind her e
The door to the underground chamber hissed open with a low hydraulic breath, cold. Matthew stepped inside, the glow from a single overhead bulb casting his sharp features in stark shadows. The room, deep beneath the estate, was bare save for two chairs bolted to the floor, a metal table along one wall, and the distinct scent of metal and restraint in the air.The two men sat perfectly still, wrists and ankles bound, heads slumped slightly forward. Their faces were covered in thick black blindfolds, heavy enough to block out all light. The longer they wore them, the more disoriented they’d become. That was the point.Matthew closed the door behind him and stood there for a beat, letting the silence close in. The fluorescent light above buzzed faintly, like a distant wasp.He finally moved, his boots clicking softly as he approached.“Wake up,” he said calmly, dropping a thick file onto the metal table with a harsh slam.The men stirred, slightly. Barely. Neither spoke.Matthew circled
The grandfather clock struck four as the chairman office at the Rossi empire and Carlos Ross sat in his high-backed chair, head tilted back, eyes fixed on the ceiling.His fingers tapped against the polished armrests with agitated rhythm, and his brows were knitted in concentration, though his thoughts spun wild and unruly. The Ross name, once untouchable, once revered, was unraveling faster than he could pull the threads back together. Alejandro languished behind bars. Maria had exiled herself from the mansion and the family name. The shame burned deeper than anything the media ever printed.His chest rose sharply. No. He would not allow it.With a frustrated growl, Carlos pushed himself from the chair and stalked across the room. The wine decanter trembled slightly as he poured himself a generous glass. Crimson ripples swirled in the crystal. He brought it to his lips.Suddenly, his phone vibrated, and he sighed, picking it up.The name on the screen made his eyes narrow. He answere
The surveillance feed dimmed as the SUV was hauled off, swallowed by the distance and shadow. The street outside the Ford estate returned to stillness.Rome straightened, his hands slipping into his pockets as the monitors blinked back to the main perimeter feed.“Matthew,” he said without turning, “handle the interrogation.”Matthew, just stepping back into the room, gave a quick nod. “Yes, sir.”“I want them questioned, but keep them blindfolded for now. I want them disoriented, not terrified. No physical coercion. Not yet. We investigate deeper first.”Matthew’s eyes flashed with understanding. “No torture. Got it. I’ll keep them isolated until we know who sent them.”“Good.” Rome finally turned. “We’re not barbarians. We’re precision.”And gave him a hard glance, the kind that didn’t need words, and Matthew inclined his head respectfully before disappearing down the hallway to execute the plan.Rene, meanwhile, had turned back to the monitors. One of the feeds showed the dining ro
The surveillance room hummed with quiet urgency. Rene and Rome stood shoulder to shoulder, the shifting glare of monitors casting flickers of cold blue light over their faces. Matthew remained a step ahead, fingers dancing over a touchscreen control panel.Rome studied the still image of the SUV one final time before stepping back, his voice steely with decision. “Matthew. Get a cleanup crew.”Matthew nodded once. “Understood.”“"I want that car gone from my street in the next twenty minutes. Take them to the High Isle. Make sure the team you send has their identities sealed before they even touch the job. This doesn't reach beyond us."“Copy that.”Matthew pulled out his encrypted phone and stepped to the side. “Alpha Six, this is Omega. We’ve got a brushfire at Ford perimeter. The boss needs something cleaned off the street. Full sweep. Code name: High Isle.”The voice on the other end responded with crisp clarity. “Copy that, sir. En route.”As Matthew disappeared to handle the ta