I need your help

RYAN

"You want me to do what?"

Lucas leaned against his desk. "You heard me. I want you to get close to Rafael. Learn about him. And when the time is right, come back and tell me how to win his heart."

I blinked, waiting for him to say he was joking. When he didn’t, I let out a sharp laugh. "Yeah, no. That’s not happening. Why the hell would I do that?"

Lucas exhaled, his fingers drumming against the desk. "Because I’ve been secretly in love with Rafael for years, although he wasn't into guys. And for a long time, no one heard a damn thing about him. People thought he was dead. But now, he’s back."

I shook my head. "That’s your problem, not mine."

Lucas narrowed his eyes. "It is your problem, Ryan. Because this might be your one chance to find out the truth about your mother’s murder."

That made me freeze.

"What?"

Lucas stepped forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Ricardo and Rafael know something. One of them ordered the hit. If it was Ricardo, I’ll handle it. But if it was Rafael…" He let the words hang in the air. "Then you have your answer. You can go ahead and kill him."

My hands clenched into fists. The thought of my mother’s killer breathing, walking, living his life while she rotted in the ground made my stomach turn.

But getting close to Rafael? Earning his trust? That was playing a dangerous game.

"No. I’m not doing this. I want to kill the bastard who murdered my mother, not cozy up to him."

Lucas’s expression hardened. "And how do you plan to do that if you don’t know which brother pulled the trigger?"

I swallowed hard, my pulse pounding in my ears.

Lucas’s voice softened. "I know this isn’t easy. But if you do this, at least you’ll know the truth. No mistakes. No regrets. Just the right target."

I hated it. Hated that he had a point.

After a long silence, I exhaled, pacing the room. “Even if I agreed to this insanity, I’m not a doctor. How the hell am I supposed to survive in Rafael’s world without blowing my cover?”

Lucas didn’t think twice before he responded. “You’ll have help. Your girlfriend, Bella.”

I froze. “What?”

Lucas nodded. “She’s a doctor. She can coach you through it. If anyone can make sure you pull this off, it’s her.”

I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to slam one into his smug face. This wasn’t just reckless… it was straight-up suicidal.

My life was already hanging by a thread, and now he wanted me to step into the lion’s den with a fake identity, play house with a man who might’ve killed my mother, and on top of it all, spy for a lovesick bastard?

This was beyond fucked up.

But did I have a choice?

No.

Ricardo had given me five hours. Five damn hours to meet up with him. And the rival gang I had counted on for backup? They weren’t coming.

It was either this or end up buried six feet under.

I dragged a hand down my face. “I hate this.”

Lucas smirked. “Yeah, well, life’s a bitch.”

I turned away, my mind racing.

I had no idea how I was going to pull this off. No idea how I was supposed to get close to Rafael, play the part, and not lose myself in the process.

But one thing was clear.

I needed my girl.

Bringing her into this was the last thing I wanted to do.

She had no part in this mess.

********

Bella’s apartment was a quiet escape from the storm brewing in my head, but I had no time to appreciate it. She was curled up on the couch, her hair still damp from a shower, reading some medical book like she had no idea I was about to throw her world into chaos.

She looked up as soon as I walked in, her brows knitting together. “Baby? What’s wrong?”

I shut the door behind me and wasted no time.

“I need your help.”

She sat up straighter, placing her book aside. “With what?”

I hesitated for half a second before I told her everything- Lucas’s insane plan, the deal I had to make just to stay alive.

When I finished, she stared at me and I braced myself for the explosion. For her to tell me I was crazy. For her to refuse and tell me to find another way.

But to my shock, she didn’t.

Instead, she reached for my hand, gripping it tightly. “I’ll stick with you.”

I blinked. “Babe, this isn’t a game. It’s dangerous.”

“I know,” she replied. “But I can’t let anything bad happen to you.”

“You don’t understand…”

She cupped my face, forcing me to look at her. “I do understand. And I’m not leaving you to face this alone.”

A lump formed in my throat.

Of all the things I had prepared for, this wasn’t one of them.

I had expected a fight. A plea for me to walk away.

Instead, she was standing by my side without hesitation.

I let out a slow breath, running a hand through my hair. “You really want to get involved in…”

Before I could finish, the door to Bella’s apartment burst open with a violent crack.

“What the…?” Bella gasped, scrambling backward as armed men stormed into the room.

I shot to my feet, instinct kicking in, but it was already too late. Five men, all in black, spread out, weapons drawn.

And then he walked in.

Ricardo.

His dark eyes swept across the room before locking onto me with a smirk that sent a chill down my spine.

“What the fuck, Ricardo?” I growled, fists clenching. “It’s not even five hours yet.”

Ricardo chuckled, stepping further inside as if he owned the place. “Did you really think I was going to wait? Time is money, Ryan, and I don’t have the patience for games.” His gaze moved to Bella, and his smirk faded. “Who the fuck is this?”

Bella’s breathing hitched, but she didn’t shrink away. She was scared… I could feel it, but she held her ground.

Ricardo turned to his men. “Kill her.”

Bella inhaled sharply.

My mind snapped into action. No. No fucking way.