Thiago’s arms tightened around me as if he could shield me from the storm brewing just beyond the walls of his estate. But his warmth didn’t soothe me; it only intensified the chaos in my mind.I pushed him back, my hands trembling. “Fix this? Thiago, this isn’t some business deal you can manipulate your way out of. People are getting hurt. My father… He could die, Thiago!”His jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with something between regret and defiance. “I know. And I’m not going to let that happen. But you need to trust me.”“Trust you?” I echoed, the words tasting bitter. “You’re the one who kept me in the dark. You and my father built this mess, and now you’re asking me to trust you to clean it up?”Before Thiago could respond, the study doors burst open. Marcus strode in, his phone in hand, his expression grim.“You both need to see this,” he said, tossing the device onto the desk.A news broadcast played on the screen. The headline alone made my blood run cold:“Martinez Empire in
The sleek black car came to a halt just outside the airstrip, the rumble of the engine fading into the tense silence between Thiago and me. My heart pounded as I glanced out the window, taking in the shadowy figures near a private jet.Agatha was there, unmistakable even under the dim lights. Her sharp features and the confident way she moved sent a wave of fury coursing through me. But it wasn’t just her presence that unnerved me—it was the figure stepping down from the jet.A man.Tall, with an air of authority and menace, he carried himself like someone who was used to being obeyed without question. His face was unfamiliar, but something about him made my stomach twist.“Who is that?” I asked, my voice low.Thiago’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles white. “Lucas Hensley,” he said, his voice grim. “He’s the head of the network I’ve been fighting against. And if he’s here… it’s worse than I thought.”“Worse how?”“He doesn’t come out into the open unless he’s about
Marcus’s grip on my arm was unrelenting as he dragged me toward the far side of the airstrip, where a black SUV sat idling. My feet stumbled over loose gravel, my mind still spinning from the explosion and the impossible choice Lucas had thrown at me.“Marcus, what the hell is happening?” I gasped, wrenching my arm free as we reached the car.“Not here,” he snapped, yanking the door open. “We don’t have time, Bridgette. Get in!”I froze, glancing back toward the smoke-filled chaos. Figures moved in the haze—Lucas barking orders, Thiago fighting to break free from the armed men—but Marcus’s urgency pulled me back.“Bridgette!” he barked.Reluctantly, I climbed into the car. The moment the door slammed shut, Marcus floored the gas pedal, and we shot down the darkened road away from the airstrip. I whipped around in my seat, my gaze locked on the rearview mirror, searching for any sign of pursuit.“Where are you taking me?” I demanded, my voice tight with panic and suspicion.“To safety,
The message on Marcus's phone glared back at me like a sinister omen. "We have your father. Time’s up."My knees buckled, and I slumped into the chair as my heart thundered in my chest. The room felt suffocating, the air thick with dread. I had been chasing pieces of a puzzle for so long—Thiago’s secrets, Lucas’s manipulations, Marlene’s schemes—but now the stakes were sharper, and time had run out.Marcus’s voice cut through the haze. “Bridgette, we can’t act rashly. That’s exactly what they want.”I whipped my head toward him, my voice trembling. “They have my father, Marcus! You expect me to sit here while Lucas—”“We don’t know how deep this goes yet,” Marcus interrupted, his voice level but firm. “Thiago’s working to uncover the rest. Going back now, alone, is suicide.”I clenched my fists, standing abruptly. “I don’t care. If anything happens to him—”“Stop.”Marcus grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. His calm exterior was cracking; I could see it in his eyes.“Do y
Time seemed to freeze as Lucas leveled the gun at me, his finger teasing the trigger. My breath caught, my body stiff, paralyzed by the sheer intensity of the moment. Thiago’s voice cut through the chaos like a sharp blade.“Bridgette, stay down!”The roar of another gunshot shattered the air. It wasn’t Lucas who fired—but Marcus. His aim was sharp, his bullet grazing Lucas’s hand. The gun clattered to the ground as Lucas let out a furious snarl, clutching his injured hand.“Get the girl!” Lucas barked to his men, his voice full of venom.Two of them broke from the fray and made a beeline toward me. Thiago moved faster, stepping in front of me like a human shield. His movements were precise and fluid, his punches landing with brutal efficiency.I scrambled backward, clutching the fake documents. My father was slumped against a stack of crates, his breath shallow but alive. Relief surged through me, but it was fleeting—Lucas wasn’t done.“Enough!” Lucas bellowed, his voice echoing thro
The SUVs behind us roared closer, their engines a deep growl that sent chills down my spine. Marcus swerved sharply, trying to shake them off, but they matched every move, determined to catch us.“Thiago,” I hissed, my voice barely audible over the chaos. “What now?”Thiago reached under his seat and pulled out a handgun. His movements were calm, methodical, as if he had done this countless times before. “We fight.”“What?” I gaped at him. “Are you insane? There’s no way we—”“Stay low,” he barked, cutting me off. “Marcus, take the back roads. I’ll handle the rest.”Marcus nodded grimly and yanked the steering wheel to the left, sending the car skidding onto a narrow dirt path. The SUVs followed without hesitation, their headlights cutting through the dense darkness. The bumpy terrain made it harder to keep my balance, but I held on tightly, my heart pounding in my chest.Thiago rolled down his window and leaned out, firing off a series of shots. One of the SUVs veered off course, cras
The revelation of Marlene's involvement sent shockwaves through me. My stepmother—someone I had thought was distant and disinterested—was apparently orchestrating events far more dangerous than I could have imagined. My mind raced, trying to piece together how Marlene fit into the puzzle.Thiago’s grip tightened on the device, his knuckles white. “We need to find a secure place to disable this before the timer runs out,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “And then, we confront her.”I nodded numbly, my thoughts a whirlwind. “Where do we go?”“There’s a safe house nearby,” Thiago replied, already pulling out his phone to send a quick text. “Marcus will meet us there.”The woods around us felt suffocating, each shadow hiding a potential threat. We moved quickly, Thiago keeping me close, his gaze scanning the surroundings. Every crack of a twig or rustle of leaves made my heart leap, but Thiago’s calm presence kept me grounded.Finally, we reached the edge of the woods, where a black ca
The cold night air stung my lungs as Thiago led me through the dense forest. His grip on my hand was firm, almost bruising, but I didn’t complain. The distant sound of shouting and barking dogs sent chills down my spine.“They’re tracking us,” I whispered.“They won’t catch us,” Thiago replied, his voice a mix of determination and fury.We moved swiftly, our footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of pine needles. The device in my arms beeped softly, its persistent glow casting an eerie light. Thiago glanced at it, his jaw tightening.“We’re not out of this yet,” he muttered.Ahead, the forest opened into a narrow clearing. A rusted truck sat abandoned at the edge, its windows smashed and vines curling around the tires.“Stay here,” Thiago instructed, slipping his gun into his waistband as he approached the vehicle.“Is it even working?” I asked, skeptical.He opened the driver’s door, fiddling with wires under the dashboard. Moments later, the engine roared to life, sputtering but stea
The elevator ride to my apartment was silent except for the dull hum of the machinery. My fingers hovered over the ring on my hand, debating whether to rip it off before I stepped through the door. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. I stepped out into the hallway, my heels clicking against the polished floor, my pulse a steady drumbeat in my ears. As I neared my door, a whisper of hesitation curled in my chest, but I ignored it. My fingers trembled only slightly as I unlocked the door and stepped inside.The lights were already on.I froze.And then…“I was beginning to think you’d changed your mind.”Thiago’s voice curled through the space, rich and smooth, wrapping around me like a silk noose. He was there, lounging in my living room like he belonged. A bottle of wine sat open on the table, two glasses half-poured. Like he’d planned for this. Like he knew I’d come.My breath stuttered. “You broke into my apartment.”Thiago smirked, tilting his head. “Now, now, wifey. You gave me a key, reme
The night air was thick with the scent of the ocean, the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore a stark contrast to the storm still raging inside me. Lucia’s grip on my wrist didn’t loosen until we were a good distance away from the bar, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement as she all but dragged me down the sidewalk.I let her.Because if I didn’t, I wasn’t sure if I’d turn back.Lucia finally stopped near the edge of the boardwalk, whirling around to face me. “What the hell was that?”I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temples. “Lucia—”“No.” She held up a finger, her eyes blazing. “No, don’t you Lucia me. You just stood there and let him put that ring back on your finger. Do you want to keep playing his little games?”I didn’t answer.Because I didn’t know.Lucia groaned, running a hand through her hair. “I swear to God, Bridge, I love you, but you’re killing me.”I let out a humorless laugh. “You think I don’t know that?”She narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms.
I should have walked away.Should have left him standing there in the dim glow of the city lights, his arrogance hanging in the air like the scent of his cologne—rich, dark, and impossible to ignore.But my feet wouldn’t move.Thiago was waiting. Watching. That infuriating smirk still curled at the corner of his lips, like he had already won.Like he knew I wouldn’t leave.I lifted my hand again, staring at the ring on my finger. It looked the same as before, but now it felt… different. He had put it back on me. Not a question. Not an offer. A statement.I clenched my fist. “I should take this off.”His smirk didn’t waver. “But you won’t.”I exhaled sharply. “You’re so sure of yourself.”Thiago stepped closer, and just like that, the space between us disappeared. His fingers brushed against my wrist, featherlight but firm enough to make my pulse jump.“I don’t need to be sure of myself, Wifey.” His voice was low, dark, coaxing. “I just need to be sure of you.”I hated the way my body
I should have looked away. Should have turned my back on him, pretended he wasn’t there.But that was the thing about Thiago. He didn’t just take up space—he consumed it.And right now, he was consuming me.Lucia muttered a curse under her breath, shooting me a knowing look. “Seriously? Does he have some kind of tracking device on you?”I swallowed, forcing my shoulders to stay squared even as my pulse quickened. “I wouldn’t put it past him.”Thiago didn’t move right away. He just stood there, watching me, his gaze dark and unreadable. It was infuriating how effortless it was for him. How he could make an entire room feel smaller just by existing in it.Then, finally, he walked forward.And just like that, the air shifted.My grip tightened around my glass. Every part of me screamed to act unaffected—to act like he didn’t get to me. But then he was standing beside our table, his presence like a brand against my skin.Marcus, still chatting up some poor woman, glanced up and let out a
The moment the door shut behind him, I let out a shaky breath, my knees threatening to give out beneath me.Thiago was gone—for now.But I knew better than to believe he would stay away.I pressed a hand to my chest, feeling the frantic beat of my heart beneath my fingertips. He had gotten too close again. Worn me down with his words, with the weight of his presence. And damn it, he knew it.I crossed the room in quick strides, locking the door as if that would somehow keep him out. Keep him from creeping into my thoughts, my skin, my resolve.I needed air.Without a second thought, I stepped onto the balcony, the cool night breeze wrapping around me like a much-needed embrace. The ocean stretched before me, waves crashing against the shore in rhythmic defiance.I wished I could be like the tide. Constant. Unwavering. Unaffected.Instead, I was a mess.My fingers curled around the railing as I stared at the dark horizon.How had I let this happen?How had I let him slip back in, take
The moment the door shut behind him, the tension in the room thickened.Thiago didn’t move right away. He simply stood there, watching me, his gaze dark and knowing. He had won this round, and he knew it.I turned away, walking toward the minibar just to put some distance between us. My fingers curled around an empty glass, gripping it as if it could anchor me."You enjoy this, don’t you?" I muttered, not looking at him. "Back and forth, push and pull. You like knowing that no matter how much I fight you, I’ll still let you in."Thiago’s slow footsteps echoed in the room as he approached. "I don’t enjoy it, Wifey," he murmured, his voice low, dangerous. "I need it."My breath caught.Before I could turn, his hands were on my hips, his chest pressing against my back. I felt the heat of him, the possessiveness in his touch."You say you want to be free," he murmured against my ear, his lips barely brushing my skin. "But we both know you never will be. Not from me."I squeezed my eyes sh
I sat on the edge of the bed, my heart still hammering against my ribs long after Thiago had left. My body felt taut, wound up like a spring that had been stretched too far. I ran a hand through my hair, inhaling sharply, willing my thoughts to clear.But how could I, when his presence still clung to the air like a lingering storm?I needed to focus.I grabbed my phone and re-read Marcus’s message. The launch. My project. The moment I had been building toward for months. The reason I had tolerated sleepless nights, constant battles in boardrooms, and a relentless war against my father’s company.I couldn’t afford to let Thiago distract me. Not tonight. Not ever.With renewed determination, I typed out a response to Marcus, confirming that I’d review the final details in the morning. Then, I placed my phone on the nightstand, staring at it for a long moment.Would Thiago leave me alone for the rest of the night?Or had he only retreated to strike again when I was vulnerable?The though
I swallowed hard, my fingers gripping the door. Thiago’s presence was suffocating, demanding, and yet... a part of me was drawn to it like a moth to a flame."Let you in?" My voice came out quieter than I intended.His gaze never wavered. "Yes."I hated the way my pulse quickened. The way my body responded even when my mind screamed at me to slam the door in his face.I exhaled sharply. "You think you can just show up, say a few words, and I’ll let you in?"A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "I think we both know you want to."God, I hated him.And I hated that he was right.My grip on the door tightened. I could still shut him out. I could still choose to keep him at a distance. But deep down, I knew that if I let him in, I wasn’t just opening the door to my hotel room. I was opening something much more dangerous.Thiago saw my hesitation and took a step forward, his body close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating off him."I’m not going to force you, Wifey," he murmu
The room felt colder, despite the warm air of the city pressing against the windows. Jaxon Cruz. The name itself carried weight, like the sound of a gun being cocked in a dark alley.My father was silent, his expression unreadable. Thiago, on the other hand, was watching me—measuring me.I straightened my shoulders. “When will he be here?”Thiago’s smirk was infuriating. “Soon, Wifey.”I ignored the nickname, focusing on my father instead. “And you trust him?”My father exhaled slowly, like he was calculating his words. “Jaxon doesn’t work for trust. He works for results.”A chill ran down my spine.Thiago leaned in just slightly, his voice dropping low. “You should get some rest. We don’t know when they’ll make their move, and I need you sharp.”I laughed dryly. “You expect me to sleep while we wait for a hitman to show up?”Thiago’s eyes darkened. “I expect you to do as I say.”Anger flared in my chest, but before I could snap back, my father cleared his throat.“Jaxon will be here