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
{thiago]The pressure was relentless, and even with our best efforts, the weight of Cynthia and Justin’s schemes loomed over us like a storm cloud. Bridgette, always so composed and strong, had been working tirelessly, determined to protect her family's legacy. But as the days dragged on, I began to see the toll it was taking on her.One evening, I found her in the studio, staring blankly at her unfinished sculpture. Her hands trembled as she tried to work the clay, but it crumbled beneath her touch.“Bridgette,” I said softly, stepping closer. “You’ve been pushing yourself too hard.”She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. “I can’t stop, Thiago. If I let up even for a moment, they’ll win. They’ll take everything.”I reached for her, gently pulling her into my arms. “We’re fighting this together. But you have to take care of yourself too. What happens to all of this if you burn out?”She didn’t answer, just buried her face in my chest, her body trembling with suppressed emotion
The calm after the exhibit was short-lived. Bridgette’s triumph was celebrated in Monaco’s circles, her sculpture making waves beyond the event. But success had a way of drawing out old ghosts, and soon enough, whispers began to circulate—whispers that hinted at the return of someone neither of us wanted to deal with: Cynthia.It started with a simple call from Lucia.“She’s back,” Lucia said, her tone sharp. “I overheard her talking at a private luncheon. She’s been asking about you and Thiago.”Bridgette was seated across from me at our breakfast table, savoring a fresh croissant when I put the phone on speaker. Her relaxed expression turned icy at the mention of Cynthia’s name.“What does she want now?” Bridgette asked, her voice steely.“Leverage,” Lucia replied. “From what I gathered, she’s trying to position herself back into Victor’s favor—and that means dragging your name through the mud.”Bridgette clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening around her coffee mug. “She never kno
The days in Monaco had settled into a rhythm—a quiet lull before the baby arrived. Bridgette seemed more content, her fire still present but tempered by the anticipation of motherhood. Yet, our peace was interrupted one brisk morning when a knock on the door echoed through the penthouse.I wasn’t expecting anyone. Neither was Bridgette, who sat cross-legged on the couch, flipping through baby name books. Her head lifted, curiosity flickering in her eyes.“I’ll get it,” I said, moving toward the door.When I opened it, I was met with a face I hadn’t seen in years—Alonso Serrano, an old business rival. His polished suit and calm demeanor belied the sharp edge he’d always carried.“Thiago,” he greeted with a smooth smile. “It’s been a while.”“What are you doing here, Serrano?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral but guarded.“May I come in?” he asked, his gaze flickering past me, likely catching sight of Bridgette.I hesitated for a moment before stepping aside. Whatever this was, it wasn’
Bridgette was restless, pacing back and forth in the grand living room of the penthouse in Miami. The faint glow of city lights illuminated her determined expression. I leaned against the doorway, watching her silently. She was consumed by this—her father’s company, the stolen assets, the legacy she wouldn’t allow to crumble.“They’re not just thieves, Thiago,” she said, finally stopping to face me. “They’re parasites. Feeding off years of my father’s hard work and dedication.”“And you intend to hunt them down,” I replied calmly, stepping closer.Her eyes blazed with determination. “Yes. Someone has to. My father is too kind—too trusting. But I won’t let this slide.”I admired her fire, but I also knew it would take more than passion to solve this. “We’ll do it together. But we have to be smart about it. We’re not just dealing with thieves; we’re dealing with professionals.”We started by reviewing the financial records Bridgette managed to retrieve from her father’s office. Late nig
[THIAGO’S POV]Bridgette was scrolling through her tablet one quiet morning while lounging on the couch. Her relaxed demeanor suddenly shifted as she frowned at the screen, her fingers rapidly tapping to navigate through a series of news articles."Thiago," she called out, her voice tight with concern.I emerged from the study, coffee mug in hand. "What’s wrong, love?"She looked up, her face pale. "It’s my father’s company. There are reports of financial troubles. They might be on the brink of bankruptcy."I set my mug down and approached her. "Bridgette, I know this is worrying, but you’re in no condition to take on stress right now. Let someone else handle it."Her brow furrowed, and I could see the determination in her eyes. "No, Thiago. I need to go back to Miami and look into this. If the company goes under, it’ll ruin everything my father worked for."I sighed, already sensing where this was headed. "You’re pregnant, Bridgette. Traveling, dealing with business stress—it’s not s
As Bridgette's pregnancy progressed, I became increasingly worried about leaving her alone while I went to work. Though she insisted she was fine, I knew better. She was stubborn but vulnerable, and I wasn’t about to take any chances.So, I decided to hire someone to look after her—a personal maid who could help with errands and chores, making Bridgette’s life easier while I wasn’t around.The morning I introduced the new maid, Clarisse, things didn’t exactly go as planned.When I brought Clarisse to the house, I was all smiles. "Bridgette, this is Clarisse. She’ll be helping out around here so you can rest more."Bridgette’s eyes narrowed as she took in Clarisse, who, admittedly, was strikingly beautiful. Tall, blonde, and perfectly poised, Clarisse looked like she’d just stepped out of a fashion magazine.Bridgette’s lips pressed into a thin line. "I don’t need a maid.""It’s just to help you," I said, trying to ease the tension. "She’ll handle everything—cleaning, errands, cooking—
It was another busy morning at the office, the kind that used to consume me from dawn until well past dusk. But now, everything was different. I glanced at my watch for what felt like the tenth time in the past hour."Mr. Bermudez?" My secretary, Sofia, peered into my office with a stack of documents. "You’ve been glancing at that watch all morning. Big plans later?"I looked up, signing the last page of a contract with quick strokes. "Yes. I’m heading home early today."Sofia raised an eyebrow, setting the papers on my desk. "Again? That’s the third time this week.""And it won’t be the last," I replied with a smirk.She chuckled, folding her arms. "Let me guess—it’s the joys of being a first-time father?"I leaned back in my chair, a genuine smile forming on my face. "You could say that. I just… I can’t get enough of them. My wife, my baby—they’re my whole world now. I don’t want to miss a second."Sofia smiled warmly, her tone softening. "It’s good to see this side of you, Thiago.
The next day began with sunlight streaming through the curtains. Bridgette was still curled up in bed, her hair a cascade of soft waves across the pillow. I slipped out quietly, determined to make her morning special.In the kitchen, I found myself chopping fruit for a smoothie—mangoes, strawberries, and a hint of mint, just the way she liked it. Cooking was never my forte, but for Bridgette, I’d learned.As I brought the tray into the bedroom, she stirred, her eyes fluttering open.“Good morning, sleepyhead,” I said, placing the tray beside her.She blinked at me, then at the tray. “Breakfast in bed? What did I do to deserve this?”I grinned. “For putting up with me, mostly.”Her laughter was the sweetest sound.Later in the afternoon, I had a surprise planned.“Where are we going?” she asked as I led her outside.“You’ll see,” I said, guiding her to the car.We drove to a property just outside Monaco, where I’d been secretly working on something special—a nursery designed specifical
That evening, the house was calm, the kind of peace I’d come to treasure lately. Bridgette was curled up on the couch, flipping through a baby name book with a focused look that could rival any boardroom negotiation. I was in the adjacent study, catching up on work while keeping an ear out for her.Suddenly, I heard her gasp, a sharp intake of breath that sent me bolting out of my chair.“Bridgette?” I called out, rushing into the living room.She was clutching her belly, her face pale and tense. “Thiago, I—I think I’m having cramps.”My heart stopped for a second before surging into overdrive. I dropped to my knees in front of her, my hands hovering near hers as panic crept into my voice. “Cramps? How bad? Where exactly?”“It’s... not unbearable, but it’s sharp,” she said, her voice trembling. “I don’t know what’s happening. Is it normal?”“I’m not taking any chances,” I said, grabbing my phone. “We’re going to the hospital. Now.”The drive to the hospital felt like an eternity, even