All Chapters of The Ricci Heir: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

The office felt too small with all of us inside, Ciara’s brothers, Salvatore, Wolf leaning against the wall, arms crossed, eyes sharp. Ciara stood beside me, her presence grounding even with the tension still humming between us from the hallway.The door opened, and Wolf stepped in, guiding Ghost forward like he was herding a distracted kid. Ghost had three phones in his hands, two cords hanging from his pocket, and a look on his face that said he hadn’t slept in… ever.“I’ve got something,” Ghost announced, dropping into a chair and spinning it around backward. “Isolde’s phone is a mess; encrypted, double‑locked, wiped in places but she’s not as smart as she thinks she is.”Salvatore smirked. “Most people aren’t.”Ghost held up the phone. “I found a number she’s called. A lot. And it’s called her back. International. Blocked. Rerouted through at least four countries.”Cedric leaned forward. “Can you trace it?”Ghost shrugged. “Eventually. It’ll take time. Whoever this guy is, he know

It had been three days since the interrogation.Three days since I slapped Isolde.Three days since Matteo told me he was putting us on lockdown.Three days since I’d heard his voice.The hotel floor was quiet, too quiet. Matteo owned the entire building, and this floor was sealed off, private elevator, private kitchen, private security. No one in or out unless he allowed it.It should have made me feel safe.Instead, it made me feel… distant.Cut off from him.Kat dropped onto the couch beside me, tossing a stack of bridal magazines onto my lap. “You’re spiraling,” she said. “So we’re redirecting.”GreenLee appeared from the kitchenette with tea and a plate of pastries. “And feeding you. Stress burns calories, sweetheart.”I tried to smile. “I’m fine.”Both women gave me the same look, the one that said you’re lying and we know it.Kat nudged me with her shoulder. “He’s fine, Ciara. Matteo doesn’t go more than a day without checking in unless he’s buried in something important.”“I k

The room was still buzzing with the shock of Hector Marquez’s name when Matteo dismissed us with a sharp nod.We had our orders.And I knew exactly where we needed to be.I caught Cormac’s eye. He understood before I said a word.“Let’s go.”Our younger brothers Liam, Ronan, Aiden, and Sean fell in behind us as we headed down the hall toward the room where Isolde and Siobhan were being held. The guards stepped aside the moment they saw us coming.Cormac opened the door.Isolde jumped to her feet like she’d been waiting for him. Siobhan didn’t move she just sat on the edge of the bed, hands folded, eyes empty in a way that made my skin crawl.I didn’t waste time.“Take her,” I told the younger four, nodding toward Isolde. “Get her to the others. We’re moving out soon.”Isolde’s eyes widened. “Cormac...”He didn’t look at her.She tried again, voice cracking. “Cormac, please. Help us. Help me. Help Mother. We’re your family.”That word hit him like a slap.He stepped back from her, jaw

I shouldn’t be this close to them.Not yet. Not when the timing isn’t right, not when Matteo’s eyes are sharp enough to cut through steel, not when Cormac watches every shadow like it owes him blood.But I move among them anyway.Quiet. Useful. Invisible.They don’t see me, not really. They see what they expect to see. A soldier. An ally. Another body in the room preparing for war.If only they knew.If only they understood how close death stands to them now.I tighten the strap on my vest, listening to Matteo’s voice carry through the safehouse. He’s giving orders, dividing teams, planning the strike on Hector’s compound. He’s good at this too good sometimes. That’s why he has to go first. Him and the O’Connells. They’re the spine of this alliance. Break the spine, the body collapses.Isolde told me that.She told me a lot of things.I can still feel her nails dragging down my back, her breath hot against my ear as she whispered the plan. Her plan. Hector’s plan. Our plan.“Help him,

Matteo dropped before I even heard the damn shot.One second he was pushing toward the SUV, stubborn as always, insisting he was fine. The next, his legs gave out and he crumpled like someone had cut his strings.I lunged and caught him before he hit the dirt.“Matteo..... hey, hey, look at me.”Nothing. His head rolled against my shoulder, dead weight.For a heartbeat, the world froze.Then everything hit at once the shouting, gunfire, Wolf yelling for cover, Shamrock dragging Cedric toward the truck, Cormac swearing through clenched teeth as blood soaked his shirt.I hauled Matteo into the SUV, my hands already slick with his blood.Two hits — one in the side, one in the stomach. The vest caught one, but the other… the other was bad.“Stay with me, fratello,” I muttered, pressing my hand to the wound. “You don’t get to check out on me. Not today.”Wolf slammed the door and jumped into the driver’s seat. Shamrock climbed in beside him. Cedric slumped against the opposite door, pale,