CHAPTER 34

The Moretti estate had never felt more dangerous. Every shadow seemed to carry a threat, every whispered conversation a plot waiting to unravel. Maya sat in the nursery, her hands resting on her rounded stomach as she tried to calm the storm of emotions inside her.

She had promised Zane she wouldn’t take unnecessary risks, but the maid’s death weighed heavily on her. The girl had been trying to warn her, and now her silence was another mark on Donovan’s ever-growing list of crimes.

But Maya was done playing the victim.

Down in the study, Zane stood with Alex and a few of his most trusted men. The room buzzed with tension as they reviewed the latest intelligence gathered from Luca and other sources.

“The ambush on the transfer was just the beginning,” Alex said, pointing to a map of the city marked with red pins. “Donovan is tightening his grip. He’s positioning himself for a major strike—possibly here, at the estate.”

Zane’s silver eyes darkened. “He won’t get that chance. I want surveillance on every potential point of entry. Increase the security detail and make sure no one gets in—or out—without clearance.”

Alex nodded, his expression grim. “What about Luca?”

Zane’s jaw tightened. “Keep him isolated. I’ll deal with him personally when the time comes.”

“What about Maya?” Alex asked. “She’s a target, Zane. We need to ensure she’s protected at all costs.”

“She stays in the suite,” Zane said firmly. “I’ll assign extra guards to her, but she’s not to leave the estate until this is over.”

Helena’s Cold Calculations

Helena watched the preparations with a detached air, her icy demeanor never faltering. She stood on the balcony overlooking the estate grounds, sipping tea as the guards moved into position.

When Zane joined her, his expression unreadable, she turned to him with a faint smile.

“You’re handling this well,” Helena said, her tone almost approving. “Though I wonder if it’s enough.”

Zane’s gaze hardened. “If you have something to say, Mother, say it.”

Helena’s smile widened slightly. “Donovan isn’t like the others you’ve faced. He doesn’t play by the rules, and he doesn’t care about collateral damage. If you want to win this, you’ll have to make sacrifices.”

“I won’t sacrifice my family,” Zane said coldly.

Helena arched a brow. “Sometimes, sacrifices are necessary. Even Cocona understood that.”

Zane stiffened at the mention of his late best friend, his anger barely contained. “Leave Cocona out of this.”

“Don’t be so sentimental, Zane,” Helena said with a dismissive wave. “It weakens you. And weakness is something you can’t afford right now.”

Zane didn’t respond. Instead, he turned and walked away, his resolve hardening.

Later that evening, Maya couldn’t ignore the pull of the estate’s west wing. She had avoided the area since her last discovery, but something told her there was more to uncover.

With Zane occupied, she slipped out of the suite and made her way to the hidden passage she had found days earlier. Her heart pounded as she stepped inside, the faint scent of damp stone filling the air.

This time, she ventured deeper into the passage, her fingers trailing along the rough walls. The narrow corridor opened into another chamber, this one larger and more meticulously organized than the first.

A table stood in the center, covered with documents, photographs, and a map of the estate. Maya’s stomach churned as she recognized her own face in several of the photographs, alongside Zane and even Reese.

But it was the file labeled “Operation Breakpoint” that made her blood run cold.

She opened the file, her hands trembling as she scanned the contents. It detailed a plan to infiltrate the estate, targeting Zane’s most vulnerable points—his business, his security network, and his family.

Her name was circled in red ink, accompanied by the words: “Primary target. Psychological warfare.”

Maya’s chest tightened as she read the next line: “Stage the accident. Create chaos. Force the separation.”

They were trying to break her and Zane apart—to isolate her, to make her doubt everything.

As she stuffed the documents into her bag, a noise behind her made her freeze. Footsteps echoed through the passage, growing louder with each passing second.

Maya pressed herself against the wall, her heart racing as she held her breath.

“Maya,” a familiar voice called, low and steady.

It was Alex.

She stepped out of the shadows, her relief quickly replaced by irritation. “What are you doing here?”

Alex frowned, his gaze sweeping over the room. “I could ask you the same thing. Zane’s going to lose his mind when he finds out you’re down here.”

Maya crossed her arms. “I found something. Something important.”

Alex stepped closer, his expression softening slightly. “Show me.”

She handed him the file, watching as his eyes darkened with each page he read.

“This is bad,” he muttered. “They’re escalating faster than we thought.”

“We have to tell Zane,” Maya said.

Alex hesitated, then nodded. “You’re right. But next time, wait for backup. You can’t afford to take risks like this.”

Maya’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. “Let’s go.”

A Deadly Warning

When they returned to the suite, Zane was waiting, his expression a mixture of relief and frustration.

“Maya,” he said, his tone sharp as his silver eyes scanned her. “Where were you?”

She handed him the file without a word.

Zane’s gaze hardened as he read the contents, his jaw tightening with each line. “They’re targeting you directly,” he muttered. “This is worse than I thought.”

“What do we do?” Maya asked, her voice trembling.

Zane turned to Alex, his tone decisive. “Double the guards around Maya and the baby. We can’t let them get close.”

“And the plan?” Alex asked.

“We move faster,” Zane said. “Donovan thinks he’s in control, but we’re going to prove him wrong.”

That night, as Maya lay in bed, she couldn’t shake the image of her name circled in red ink. The words “Primary target” echoed in her mind, a cruel reminder of the danger closing in.

Zane wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. “We’re going to get through this,” he murmured, his voice steady despite the turmoil surrounding them.

Maya placed her hand over his, drawing strength from his presence. “I believe you.”

But as the storm outside raged against the windows, Maya couldn’t help but feel that the worst was yet to come.