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 weight of Victor’s words settled deep in my chest long after they were spoken. I stared down at the amber liquid in my glass, but it offered no answers. Only more questions.Had I already lost the ability to choose? Had Thiago already decided for me?Victor sighed, rubbing his jaw as if he were debating something. Then, he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and met my gaze.“I need to tell you something,” he said.A chill skated down my spine. “What?”He hesitated. Just for a second. And that alone sent warning bells ringing in my head.“Victor,” I pressed.His lips parted, but before he could speak, his phone buzzed sharply on the table.He glanced at the screen, and whatever he saw made his expression darken.I frowned. “What is it?”Instead of answering, he stood abruptly, snatching his jacket from the chair. “You should stay here tonight.”“What?” My heart stuttered. “Why?”His jaw tightened as he typed something on his phone. “Thiago’s looking for you.”Cold dread curled in
I clenched my fists, my pulse hammering in my ears. “I don’t have to choose anything.”Javier let out a quiet chuckle, his gaze steady, almost expectant. “That’s where you’re wrong, mija.” He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You’ve already chosen—you just don’t realize it yet.”A chill ran down my spine.Thiago stepped between us, his broad shoulders cutting off Javier’s view of me. “If you’re done playing riddles, we’re leaving.”Javier exhaled sharply, clearly unimpressed. “You’re a fool if you think you can keep her out of this, Bermudez.” His gaze flickered back to me, dark amusement in his eyes. “And you, Bridgette… you’re an even bigger fool if you think you can outrun your own legacy.”Something in my chest tightened, but I refused to let it show. I lifted my chin, forcing steel into my voice. “Watch me.”Javier just smiled. “Ah, mi pequeña tormenta,” he murmured. “We’ll see how long that defiance lasts when the world comes crashing down.”Before I could say an
The air in the car felt suffocating. My pulse pounded against my ribs, but I refused to let my panic show.Thiago's expression had turned to stone, his body tense beside me. "How does he know we're here?"Mateo shrugged, too casual. "Your father has eyes everywhere, Bermudez. Did you really think you could waltz into Madrid unnoticed?"Thiago exhaled sharply. His fingers tapped against his knee in a slow, calculated rhythm—a sign that he was thinking, strategizing.I forced my voice to stay steady. "What does he want?"Mateo tilted his head, considering me. "To see you, of course. He’s given instructions for you to be brought to him—immediately."Brought. Not invited. Not welcomed.My fingers curled into fists. "And if I refuse?"Mateo’s smirk deepened. "Then you already know what happens next, princesa."I swallowed hard.Thiago shifted beside me. "She’s not going anywhere she doesn’t want to." His voice was calm, but the edge beneath it was lethal.Mateo chuckled, but his eyes remai
Thiago watched me carefully, gauging my reaction. He was waiting for me to flinch, to back down—but I didn’t.Instead, I met his gaze head-on. “Fine,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “Let’s do it.”A slow, satisfied smirk curled on his lips. “That’s my girl.”I ignored the way my pulse jumped at those words. “Do you have a plan, or are we just throwing ourselves into the fire and hoping we don’t get burned?”His smirk widened. “Oh, we’re the fire, princesa. And it’s time they learn that the hard way.”He turned, already pulling his phone from his pocket. “Pack a bag. We’re leaving in an hour.”I blinked. “Wait—what?”Thiago didn’t even look up as he typed out a message. “You wanted to go on the offensive. That means moving fast.”Panic warred with the determination burning in my chest. “Where are we going?”He finally met my gaze, and for the first time, I saw something beyond amusement and arrogance. I saw purpose.“To the last place they’d expect us to be.”A chill ran down m
Thiago’s entire posture shifted—controlled, calculating. His fingers tightened around his knife, but he didn’t move. Not yet.The blade against my throat pressed in just enough to sting. Not enough to cut. A warning.“Let her go,” Thiago said, his voice dangerously soft.The man behind me chuckled. “Now, now. You of all people should know how this works.”A shiver ran down my spine. They weren’t just some random attackers. They knew Thiago.I felt my captor shift slightly, his grip tightening. “Put the knife down, Bermudez.”Thiago’s jaw clenched. His knife hovered midair, hesitation flickering for just a second.Then, without warning—He threw it.Not at the man holding me.At the other attacker.A sharp cry echoed as the second man collapsed, the knife buried deep in his thigh.The split second of chaos was all I needed.I jerked my head back, slamming it into my captor’s nose. He cursed, his grip faltering.I didn’t waste time. I dropped, twisting free just as Thiago lunged.His fi
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to keep my expression neutral. If this was a test, then I couldn’t afford to let them see any hesitation. Lucia grinned, sensing my frustration. “Don’t look so tense, Bridge. You wanted in, remember?” I shot her a glare. “You’re enjoying this way too much.” Thiago, who had been silent, stepped closer. His presence sent a ripple of awareness through me, but I refused to react. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a single item—an old-fashioned stopwatch. “You have sixty seconds,” he said, pressing the button. I barely had time to register his words before Lucia shoved me—hard. My balance wavered, and the next thing I knew, I was tumbling down a small incline, my arms scraping against rough earth as I hit the ground with a grunt. I groaned, rolling onto my back, but before I could get up, Thiago’s voice called down to me. “Fifty seconds.” Shit. I scrambled to my feet, heart pounding as I took in my surroundings. The woods stretc
The next morning, the training began.Lucia wasn’t gentle. She didn’t ease me into it, didn’t give me time to hesitate.“Again,” she snapped as I stumbled back from a sharp blow to my ribs.I gritted my teeth, lifting my arms to block her next strike. My muscles burned, my breath came in ragged gasps, but I refused to fall.“Sloppy,” Lucia muttered. “You’re thinking too much. Stop trying to predict—react.”Thiago stood in the corner, arms crossed, watching. He hadn’t said a word since we started.I hated that I wanted his approval.I lunged forward, aiming a punch at Lucia’s side. She dodged effortlessly, then swept my legs out from under me. I hit the mat with a grunt.“Better,” she admitted. “But not good enough.”I glared up at her. “You love this, don’t you?”She smirked, offering a hand. “A little.”I ignored her and pushed myself up.Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Thiago’s mouth twitch like he was fighting a smile.Lucia clapped her hands. “Alright, let’s move on. Time to ge
Lucia gripped the wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white. “Somebody better start talking before I drive this damn car into a wall.”Victor ran a hand down his face, still tense. “Santiago attacked Bridgette. Thiago handled it.”Lucia’s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, locking onto me. “You handled it, didn’t you?”I swallowed, my fingers still curled into fists. The weight of the gun’s grip still felt imprinted on my palm.“She shot him,” Thiago confirmed, voice rough.Lucia nearly slammed the brakes. “You what?”“He was going to kill me,” I snapped, defensive. “I didn’t have a choice.”Silence.Then Lucia exhaled, shaking her head. “Damn it, Bridge.”Victor, however, was focused on something else. “He’s not dead?”Thiago’s lips curled in something almost amused. “No. But he’ll wish he was when he wakes up.”Victor cursed. “We should’ve finished him off. Now he knows Bridgette isn’t just some pawn—he’ll come for her harder.”My stomach twisted. He was right. This wasn’t the ki
I took a step back, my breath coming too fast. I needed space. Air. Something solid to hold on to, but all I had were shifting lies.Santiago watched me, his smirk fading into something more dangerous—anticipation. Like he was waiting for me to break.I wouldn’t give him that.I forced my voice steady. “You don’t get to decide for me.”Santiago sighed, almost bored. “You think you have a choice?” He gestured lazily with the gun. “You were born into this world, hija. You don’t just walk away from it.”Victor stepped forward, his hand subtly shifting toward his jacket. “She’s not you, Santiago.”Santiago laughed. “And you still think you can save her?” His amusement vanished in a blink. “I’m giving her a way out. If she’s smart, she’ll take it.”My heart pounded. “And if I don’t?”His expression darkened. “Then you’ll regret it.”A flicker of movement. A breath of warning.And then Victor lunged.I barely had time to react before he was on Santiago, knocking the gun aside. A shot rang o