In the days following the call from the investigator, Thiago moved with a focused, unrelenting energy. Meetings were scheduled, calls made, and more security measures were put in place.I watched him work tirelessly, juggling the demands of the Bermudez Group and the increasing threats from the syndicate without missing a beat. It was as though he had come alive with a fierce purpose, determined not only to protect me but to shield the company from further intrusion.One morning, as I was getting ready for work, Thiago came into the room, his expression unusually solemn.“We need to take a short trip,” he said, his voice low. “I want you to meet someone—an old friend of mine who’s been a crucial part of dealing with these kinds of threats in the past.”“Another business associate?” I asked, curiosity piqued.Thiago nodded. “Let’s just say that this person is someone who knows this syndicate inside and out. I think having you meet him will give you some peace of mind, too. He’s helped m
It was days before we finally started piecing things together. I’d been shaken ever since that night in the parking lot—the masked attacker, his hexagon pendant glinting in the dim light, the coldness of his grip, and the terror of nearly being overpowered. Ever since that night, I’d felt different: nervous, always glancing over my shoulder, afraid of being alone. Thiago, seeing how deeply it affected me, had taken it upon himself to ensure I’d never be left unprotected again. A private driver now took me everywhere, with two elite guards shadowing my every move, and Thiago was unrelenting in making sure I never went to the office without one of them close by. The entire situation weighed on me, but I also felt safer with Thiago’s presence and his determination to root out whoever was behind this.After one of our evening dinners, just as we’d finished eating, Callum arrived with his findings, joining us in Thiago’s study. He was carrying a file under his arm and wore a look of res
FOLLOWING AFTER ALL THAT HAPPENED, the security detail was a constant presence now for me. And Thiago insisted it.After everything that had happened with Jasper and his associates, Thiago wouldn’t let me step foot outside without guards following my every move. Even at the office, they stood in the hall outside my door, always within earshot, which took some getting used to. I was still adjusting to this new way of life when Charles suddenly showed up at my office one afternoon. I barely recognized him at first—he looked different, almost subdued, dressed in a sharply tailored suit that seemed out of character. My guard, Collins, stayed by the door, clearly wary of letting him through.“Bridgette,” Charles began, glancing briefly at Collins before turning back to me. “I just need a moment of your time. I thought we could talk alone.”Collins glanced at me, clearly uneasy. “Ma’am?”“It’s fine, Collins,” I replied, though I was every bit as hesitant. “Just wait outside, but stay close
In the days that followed, I tried to keep my suspicions to myself, but the tension between Thiago and me only grew. Every interaction felt strained, and I found myself second-guessing everything—every kind word, every affectionate touch, every lingering look. It was like a wall had grown between us, one I couldn't cross, no matter how hard I tried. Every night as he held me, I would close my eyes, wondering if his secrets ran as deep as the investigator had hinted. I’d force myself to remember the Thiago I knew—the man who’d protected me, the man who fought tirelessly for his family’s legacy and for us. But these doubts clung to me, whispering just out of reach.One evening, as I was packing up at the office, my phone rang, the sharp tone breaking the silence. It was the investigator I’d hired, his voice crackling with urgency."Bridgette, I found something you might want to see. Are you available tonight?"My pulse quickened. "Yes, where should we meet?"We arranged to meet at a d
The weeks of suspicion and relentless digging had led to this moment, a moment I never would thought I would thought of depending on to find answers that had been bugging up my mind lately.I couldn’t believe that I would end up going to see my father again. Romeo Martinez, my father, was the only person who might hold the key secrets behind my mother’s death. Which was why when the perfect opportunity arose, I quickly grabbed it. A few days later, I told Thiago I’d be on a business trip in Nebraska with Lucia, but in reality, our flight was bound for Miami. I hate to even actually go and lie about it to my husband but I needed answers—answers only my father could give me.When we arrived, Lucia immediately concern etched into her face. She leaned in, her voice low. “Are you sure about this, Madam CEO? You know what kind of man your father is. She might hurt you.”I took a steadying breath. “That’s exactly why I have to do this. He may be a monster, but he’s the only one who can gi
When I returned to Monaco, my mind was a tangled mess of questions and anger. Each step toward the house felt heavier, the confrontation with my father gnawing at me, his words burrowing deep into my psyche. “Thiago murdered her… Avenge her… Bring justice.” They replayed like a terrible song stuck on repeat, one I couldn’t shake, no matter how much I wanted to.The house felt emptier than usual. I looked around, wondering if Thiago was here, if he could see through the mask I now wore. If he could sense the wall growing between us. But as much as I wanted answers from him, a part of me recoiled at the idea. I needed more—proof, clarity, something I could hold on to.Lost in thought, I nearly jumped as my phone buzzed in my pocket. I looked down to see Charles’s name flash on the screen. The last person I wanted to talk to. But something about my conversation with my father, combined with Charles’s involvement, made me feel that he held something I was missing. I hesitated, then an
With all the information I gathered from my father, plus the somewhat related ones I had gathered from Charles, I finally have decided to call my private investigator to ask for updates.The moment the call came in, I froze, my heart lodged somewhere between fear and relief. The investigator’s voice was calm, clinical, as he laid out each piece of evidence he had collected—facts that aligned all too closely with the stories Charles and my father had told me. Each revelation was another blow to my resolve. Every instinct in me wanted to reject it, to deny the truth lurking in those findings.But there was no denying it anymore. Thiago’s secrets, the shrouded details of my mother’s death, and the suspicion that had crept into my life like a silent intruder—all of it had been validated in one damning phone call.I clutched my phone in a white-knuckled grip, barely feeling the sensation in my fingers. My mind raced back to that night in Miami, to my father’s words and the darkness in Char
As I drove away from the mansion, the bitter chill of the night seemed to seep through the car windows, sharpening the anger and determination pulsing through me. The quiet hum of the engine was the only sound breaking the silence, but inside, my mind was chaotic, unraveling Thiago’s words, each one sinking like a blade into the depths of my resolve. He’d admitted to everything—without remorse, without hesitation. I could still see the cold indifference in his eyes as he’d said it, as if my mother’s death had meant nothing more to him than a minor inconvenience.But if he thought he could silence me or manipulate me into staying, he had sorely misjudged me. Whatever small, twisted bond we’d shared was gone, dissolved into nothing under the weight of his betrayal.I wasn’t just going to leave. I was going to make sure Thiago paid for every single life he had ruined—starting with my mother’s.I parked the car at a nearby overlook, the city lights below shimmering in a way that would’v
The ride was silent, save for the hum of the engine and the occasional crackle of the radio. I kept my gaze fixed out the window, watching the city blur past us like a living, breathing entity. But even as the streets unraveled, my thoughts remained tethered to Thiago.His hand rested on mine, grounding me, yet his tension was palpable. He was deep in thought, his jaw clenched and his eyes fixed ahead as though he could see past the horizon and into the Syndicate’s next move.“Thiago,” I murmured, breaking the quiet.He turned his head slightly, his attention snapping to me. “What is it?”“I just...” I hesitated, unsure how to voice the maelstrom of emotions swirling inside me. “I don’t know how you do this—carry the weight of everything and still keep going. It feels... impossible.”His lips twitched into a faint smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s not about feeling ready or capable. It’s about knowing there’s no other choice.” He paused, his gaze softening. “And now, it’s
Thiago didn’t let go of my hand as we ascended the stairs. His grip was firm, grounding me, even as my thoughts spiraled with fear and adrenaline. The Syndicate was no longer just a distant, malevolent force—it was here, closing in on us. Yet, with Thiago at my side, I felt an unshakable determination building within me.When we reached the roof, the cool night air hit me like a wave. The city stretched out below, glittering and oblivious to the danger lurking in its shadows. Thiago scanned the area quickly, his sharp eyes taking in every detail.“Over here,” he said, guiding me toward a corner where a makeshift ladder had been propped against the edge. It led to the adjacent building, lower and less exposed.“Is this part of the plan?” I asked, my voice tinged with sarcasm as I eyed the rickety ladder.His lips twitched. “Improvisation. You’ll love it.”I shot him a look but didn’t argue. Thiago went first, his movements swift and practiced, as if danger was his second nature. Once h
The tension was suffocating as we returned to the safe house, now bolstered with additional security. Thiago didn’t speak much on the way back, his focus razor-sharp, but I caught the occasional glance he threw my way—each one laced with a mixture of worry and resolve.Inside, Raven had set up a makeshift lab, her equipment humming as she worked to crack the device’s encryption. Thiago paced the room, his movements restless and predatory, while I sat with Sebastian, tending to his injuries.“Do you think it’s real?” I finally asked Thiago, breaking the heavy silence.He stopped pacing, his eyes meeting mine. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I’m not willing to bet lives on the chance that it isn’t.”His honesty was both comforting and terrifying. This was the man who never let his guard down, who always seemed to have a plan. Seeing him uncertain made the stakes feel even higher.Raven’s voice cut through the room. “Got it.”We all turned toward her as the device’s screen flickered to
The safe house was no longer safe. The Syndicate's broadcast left us with no illusions about their reach or their intent. Sebastian’s battered face haunted me, but it was the image of myself, bound and helpless, that twisted my gut. The message wasn’t just a threat—it was psychological warfare, designed to break Thiago’s resolve.Raven paced the room like a caged predator, her fingers flying across her tablet as she pulled up surveillance feeds and encrypted communications. “They hacked our network,” she muttered. “But this wasn’t just about showing off—they wanted us to see this.”Thiago stood by the window, his silhouette rigid against the faint glow of city lights. His silence was unnerving, his usual controlled demeanor fraying at the edges.“Thiago,” I said softly, stepping closer. He didn’t turn, but his shoulders tensed at my voice.“We’re running out of time,” he finally said, his voice low and rough. “If we don’t move fast, they’ll kill him.”“They won’t,” Raven interjected.
The weight of her words hit like a freight train. Thiago’s hand found mine again, his grip firm. “Let them try,” he growled. “They’ll regret it.”But even as he spoke, I could see the flicker of unease in his eyes. He was already calculating, planning—looking for the weak link in their chain.“We’ll meet you at the safe house in twenty,” Thiago said before ending the call. He turned to me, his expression resolute. “You stay here.”“No,” I said, my voice firmer than I expected. “We’ve been through too much for me to sit on the sidelines now. I’m coming with you.”“Bridgette, this isn’t up for discussion,” he snapped, frustration lacing his tone. “The Syndicate isn’t playing games. If they get their hands on you—”“Then I’ll fight,” I interrupted, standing my ground. “I’m not some fragile piece on a chessboard, Thiago. I’m in this with you, no matter how dangerous it gets.”For a moment, the tension between us was palpable, a battle of wills neither of us was willing to lose. Then, with
The weight of the moment pressed down like a stormcloud, suffocating the air between us. Thiago’s battered form was still tense, his fists clenched at his sides. Across the dimly lit room stood a figure that could have been his reflection, but something in the stranger's eyes—a darkness, a smirk that bordered on malice—set him apart.Thiago's voice cut through the silence, sharp as a blade. "What the hell are you doing here, Marcus?"The man tilted his head, his smirk widening. "Is that any way to greet your twin brother? You wound me."I froze, the words ricocheting in my mind. Twin brother? How had Thiago kept something like this from me? The thought of another Thiago—one so similar in appearance yet radiating danger—sent a shiver through me.Thiago stepped forward, his body shielding me instinctively. "You're supposed to be gone. You promised you'd never come back."Marcus chuckled, a low, sinister sound that made my skin crawl. "Promises, promises. But then again, you’ve always be
Thiago’s fists clenched at his sides, and I could feel the storm raging inside him. He glanced at me, his eyes softening for a brief moment. Then he turned back to Sebastian, his stance unwavering.“You want me? Fine,” Thiago said, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “But let them go—everyone else. This ends with us.”“No!” I interjected, grabbing his arm. “You can’t just hand yourself over.”Thiago turned to me, his hand covering mine. “Bridgette, I’ve fought men like him my whole life. This isn’t just about me—it’s about keeping you safe.”His words sent a pang through my chest, but I refused to back down. “We’re stronger together. If you go alone, he’ll win. You know that.”Sebastian’s laughter interrupted our moment. “How touching,” he sneered. “But you’re running out of time.”Lila, who had remained quiet until now, stepped forward hesitantly. “Sebastian,” she said, her voice trembling. “There’s no need for this. You’ve already proven your point.”Sebastian turned
The estate fell into chaos, the echoes of the gunshot ricocheting through its halls. My heart pounded as I stood frozen in the control room, Thiago’s command to stay behind warring with the primal urge to follow him. The monitors in front of me flickered, showing Helena, Gabriel, and Thiago splitting up, each taking a different route to secure the house.I clenched my fists. “No. I can’t just stand here.”Ignoring my better judgment, I grabbed a small pistol from the table and slipped out into the dimly lit corridor. The storm outside roared, wind and rain battering the windows, as if nature itself sensed the brewing confrontation.I followed the faint sound of muffled footsteps down a side hallway. Rounding the corner, I found Lila standing over one of our unconscious guards, her face a mixture of guilt and resolve. She was holding a gun, her hands shaking as she stepped toward another door.“Lila!” I called out, aiming my weapon at her.She froze, her head whipping around to face me
Helena drove us to a secluded estate perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks below was almost hypnotic, a stark contrast to the turmoil in my heart.“Inside,” Helena ordered, ushering us through a hidden side entrance.The interior was sparse but fortified, the air heavy with the scent of salt and steel. Gabriel immediately began checking the perimeter, while Helena secured the doors and activated a set of monitors displaying live surveillance feeds.I stood frozen in the middle of the room, my arms wrapped around myself. My thoughts were a whirlwind—Thiago’s face, his voice, the way he’d shielded me without hesitation.Helena approached me, her expression unreadable. “He’ll make it. Thiago always does.”“Do you even care?” I snapped, my voice laced with bitterness.Her eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of pain. “You think I don’t? He’s my brother.”“Then why did you leave him?” I demanded, tears streaming down my face.“B