Semua Bab Forged In Fire: Bab 51 - Bab 60

JAMESONThe adrenaline crash hit about an hour after we got back to the compound.I sat in my office with Cat curled against my side on the leather couch, both of us still processing what had happened. The doctor had cleaned and bandaged the cut on her shoulder—superficial, thank God—but I couldn't stop replaying the moment I'd seen that second shooter take aim.The moment I'd thought I might lose her."Stop," Cat said quietly, her hand finding mine."Stop what?""Thinking about what could have happened." She shifted to look at me, her dark eyes serious. "We're both alive. We're both fine. That's what matters.""You were exposed," I said, my voice rougher than I intended. "That second shooter—""Was neutralized before he could take the shot," she finished. "Your team did their job. Marco's men did their job. The plan worked.""Barely.""But it did." She cupped my face, forcing me to meet her eyes. "Jameson, I was terrified too. When I saw you drugged in that restaurant, when I thought

JAMESONThree days had passed since that night—three days of relative calm that should have made me suspicious.In our world, calm never lasted.Grandfather, Cat, and I sat in the formal dining room, discussing our next moves against Patrick and Fiona. The latter had gone to ground after the failed hit, but we had people looking. It was only a matter of time."Patrick's surveillance hasn't turned up anything useful," I said, cutting into my steak. "He's been careful. Too careful.""Which means he knows we're watching," Grandfather observed.Cat nodded, reaching for her wine. "He's waiting for something. Or someone.""Fiona," I said. "He's waiting for Fiona to make contact.""If she's smart, she won't," Cat said. "She has to know we're—"She stopped mid-sentence, her hand frozen halfway to her fork.I looked up. "Cat?"She was staring at her plate with an expression I'd learned to recognize—the one that meant something was wrong."What is it?" I asked, my own hand moving instinctively

CATARINAI woke at 4:47 AM, my body coiled tight with restless energy.The bed beside me was warm where Jameson slept, his breathing deep and even. I watched him for a moment in the darkness—the strong line of his jaw, the way his hand rested on the pillow where I'd been sleeping.Someone had tried to poison me.In our own home.The fury that had been simmering since last night flared hot in my chest. I needed to move. Needed to hit something. Needed to work this rage out of my system before I did something reckless.Carefully, I slipped out of bed and pulled on workout clothes in the dark. Jameson didn't stir. Good. He needed the rest after the stress of yesterday.The compound was silent as I made my way to the gym, my bare feet soundless on the hardwood floors. The guards nodded as I passed, but didn't speak. They knew better than to question me at this hour.The gym was empty and dark. I flipped on the lights and headed straight for the heavy bag.I didn't bother with wraps or glo

JAMESONThe nightmare started around 2 AM.I woke to Cat thrashing beside me, her body rigid, a low sound escaping her throat—not quite a scream, but close. Her hands were clenched into fists, her breathing rapid and shallow."Cat." I touched her shoulder gently. "Cat, wake up."She jerked awake with a gasp, her eyes wild and unfocused in the darkness. For a moment, she didn't seem to recognize where she was."Hey." I kept my voice soft, non-threatening. "You're safe. You're home."Her breathing was still too fast, and I could see the tremors starting—fine shakes that ran through her entire body. Her hands were shaking so badly she had to press them against her thighs."Fuck," she whispered. "I'm sorry, I—""Don't apologize." I pulled her against me, wrapping my arms around her. "Just breathe."She buried her face in my chest, and I felt the tremors intensify. This wasn't fear—I'd learned that much. This was her body's response to taking a life. A physical reaction she couldn't contro

JAMESONThe dining room at the Connelly estate had been set for eight, the long mahogany table gleaming under the chandelier. It wasn't often we hosted formal family dinners anymore—not since I'd taken over leadership—but tonight felt important. A send-off before Cat and I disappeared for two weeks.Grandfather sat at the head of the table, looking more relaxed than I'd seen him in months. Carmine and Rosa occupied the seats to his right, with Marco beside them. Declan sat to Grandfather's left, and Cat and I took the remaining seats across from her parents.The first course had just been served—a light antipasto that Rosa immediately praised—when Carmine leaned forward."So," he said, swirling his wine. "Two weeks in Italy. Where exactly are you taking my daughter?"I smiled. "Rome first. Then Florence, Venice, and we'll end in the Amalfi Coast.""Ambitious," Marco commented. "That's a lot of ground to cover.""We're not rushing," I said, glancing at Cat. "We'll take our time. See wh