The silence in the van was deafening, broken only by the occasional rattling of loose parts on the rough road. I clung to my Father’s hand like a lifeline, the weight of everything crashing down around me. My breath hitched as Raven weaved through the streets, her hands steady on the wheel despite the chaos we had left behind.“We’ll regroup,” Raven said firmly, her eyes flickering to me through the rearview mirror. “And when the time comes, we’ll get Thiago back.”I nodded weakly, swallowing the lump in my throat. My Father squeezed my hand, his touch grounding me even as my mind spiraled. Thiago was out there, alone, and hurt—or worse. The image of him disappearing into that cloud of smoke played on repeat in my head, a haunting loop that I couldn’t shake.I felt a hand on my shoulder. My Father’s eyes, tired but strong, met mine. “He told you to leave for a reason, Bridgette. You have to trust him.”Trust. It felt so fragile right now, like the world was conspiring to rip it apart.
The chaos was suffocating. Thiago lunged forward, knocking the gun out of Justin’s hand before he could pull the trigger. "Get out!" he roared at me, his voice commanding and filled with urgency. But I refused to leave. "I’m not leaving you, Thiago!" I shouted, grabbing a metal poker from the fireplace. Raven appeared from the back of the house, firing precise shots that forced Justin’s men to scatter. "We need to move!" she barked, covering our retreat.Thiago grabbed my wrist, pulling me toward the back exit. The world was a blur of gunfire and adrenaline as we fled into the dense woods behind the safe house.We didn’t stop running until we reached a secluded clearing far from the house. My breath came in ragged gasps as Thiago scanned our surroundings, his gun still drawn. "We’re clear for now," Raven confirmed, emerging from the shadows. "But they’ll track us soon enough."Thiago turned to me, his expression fierce. "What the hell were you thinking, staying back like that?"I me
The echo of the gunshot hung in the air, sharp and jarring, before a thick silence descended on the cabin. For a moment, everything froze. Even my breath seemed to catch in my throat. Then, Thiago was moving, his presence commanding and immediate."Elias, cover the back entrance. Raven, keep eyes on the perimeter and take out anyone who gets too close."I glanced around, gripping the knife tightly. "What about me?"Thiago turned to face me, his expression unreadable, but his voice firm. "You stay low, out of sight. Do not move unless I say so."My heart pounded, frustration bubbling up. "I’m not hiding while you’re out there fighting for my life."His jaw clenched. But before he could argue, another shot rang through the cabin, shattering a window. Glass exploded across the room as Raven ducked behind a table, firing back through the broken pane."Decide fast, lovebirds," Raven called. "They’re moving in."Thiago’s gaze met mine, and he grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look into hi
The tension in the room was electric, but the spark of hope Raven had ignited burned brightly in my chest. Thiago was alive. Hurt, yes, but alive. It was more than I dared to hope for in the suffocating silence of the night.“What do we need to do?” I asked, my voice firmer now, resolve creeping into the edges of my words.Raven handed me a small notebook filled with hastily scrawled notes. “These are the leads Thiago’s been working on. We need to connect the dots and figure out Justin’s next move. If we can predict where he’s going to strike next, we can get ahead of him.”I flipped through the pages, my eyes scanning the messy handwriting. Locations, dates, names—it was a chaotic puzzle, but I could feel the threads tying it all together. “This is about more than just us. Justin’s operations run deeper than we thought.”Raven nodded grimly. “He’s been building his empire for years. Thiago’s been dismantling it piece by piece, but Justin’s desperate now. That makes him dangerous.”The
The sound of Thiago’s voice pierced through the chaos, cutting through the static of gunfire and shouts. My heart skipped a beat as I spun toward the source, desperately trying to locate him amidst the fog of smoke and the blinding flash of lights.“Thiago?” I called out, my voice raw with disbelief.There—amidst the shadows—he emerged, his figure framed by the flickering lights. He was bruised, his clothes torn, but he was alive. His eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, the world seemed to pause. The intensity of that moment, the relief and fear mixing in my chest, was almost too much to bear.But then, a shot rang out again.Thiago's face twisted in pain as the bullet grazed his side, sending him stumbling backward. My breath hitched. “No!” I screamed, adrenaline surging as I pushed through the haze of smoke, my body moving faster than I could think.Raven and Aiden were right behind me, but my focus was entirely on Thiago. I barely registered the firefight around us, my only tho
The ride back to the next safe house was suffocating. The flash drive in my grip felt like it could burn a hole through my palm. Thiago sat beside me, his head leaning against the window, his breath shallow from the pain of his injuries. Raven was focused on the road ahead, her shoulders stiff, her usual calm replaced with a tension I hadn’t seen before.Helena’s parting words echoed in my mind, relentless and haunting. Someone I trusted. Someone close. The seed of doubt she had planted felt like a poison, spreading with each passing second.“Helena’s bluffing,” Raven said suddenly, breaking the silence. Her voice was sharp, resolute. “She’s trying to shake you. Don’t let her.”I nodded, but I couldn’t stop my mind from racing. Was she bluffing? Or was she giving me the only warning I’d get before another betrayal? After everything we’d been through, the idea that someone in my circle might be working against us felt unbearable.Thiago groaned softly, and I turned to him, concern snap
The ground beneath us trembled again, sending a crack through the tense silence. Dust cascaded from the ceiling as the sound of engines and boots thundering against the pavement outside grew deafening. Raven grabbed the laptop, shoving it into her bag, her movements quick and precise.“Let’s go!” she barked, her sharp tone jolting us into action.Aiden motioned to a hidden door at the back of the room. “Through there. It leads to an underground passage.”Thiago stepped forward, his jaw set despite the weariness etched on his face. “I’ll bring up the rear. Go.”“No,” I said quickly, grabbing his arm. “You’re not in any condition to—”His eyes softened, a rare vulnerability shining through the usual hardness. “Bridgette, I’m not leaving you unprotected. Now move.”Raven had already disappeared through the hidden door with my father in tow, leaving only the three of us in the crumbling safe house. Aiden gave us a pointed look before following them, disappearing into the shadows.The rumb
The tension in the air was suffocating as the stranger’s gaze bore into me. His smirk widened, sending a shiver of unease through me. I clung to Thiago’s arm, my nails digging into his jacket as he stepped protectively in front of me.“Who the hell are you?” Thiago demanded, his voice low and dangerous. His body shifted slightly, placing himself between me and the newcomer.The man chuckled, a sound that was both chilling and infuriating. “So quick to forget, Bridgette. But I can’t blame you. It’s been years, after all.”Years? My heart raced as I racked my brain for any memory that could explain his familiarity. Nothing came to mind, yet his face…there was something hauntingly recognizable about him.“I don’t know you,” I said, my voice trembling despite my attempt to sound firm.The man tilted his head, his smirk fading into something colder. “Oh, you will. Soon enough. But for now…” His eyes flicked to Thiago, assessing him with a predatory glint. “Your knight in shining armor look
The jet cut through the night sky, its engines humming beneath us like a beast biding its time. I sat stiffly in my seat, staring out the window at the endless black void below. The reality of what was happening still hadn’t fully settled.My mother was alive.And she was in Spain.I turned my head, watching Thiago from the corner of my eye. He had leaned back, fingers tapping against his glass in slow, measured beats. His eyes were on me, as if he was waiting for me to break the silence.I refused to give him that satisfaction.Instead, I asked the one question that had been burning in my mind since we took off.“How long have you known?”Thiago’s tapping stopped. He didn’t look away, didn’t flinch. “A few weeks.”A sharp breath left my lips. “A few weeks?” I repeated, my voice cold. “You let me believe she was dead for weeks?”“I didn’t let you believe anything,” he corrected. “I was gathering proof. If I had told you too soon, you would have gone straight to your father and gotten
The private jet hummed softly beneath us, a stark contrast to the storm brewing in my chest. Spain. My mother. The words still didn't fit together in my mind. For years, I had assumed she was dead, lost in the wreckage of my father’s games. And now, she was suddenly alive? Hiding in another country?I gripped the armrest, my nails digging into the leather. “How long have you known she was in Spain?”Thiago didn’t hesitate. “A few weeks.”A sharp, bitter laugh escaped me. “And you just decided to tell me now?”He swirled the last of his drink before setting the glass down with a soft clink. “I told you when it mattered.”“When it mattered to you.”His jaw flexed, but he didn’t deny it. Of course, he wouldn’t. Thiago Bermudez wasn’t the kind of man to offer apologies.I crossed my arms, my body tight with frustration. “You should have told me the moment you knew.”His dark eyes settled on mine, unreadable but heavy with something that made my breath catch. “Would it have changed anythin
Thiago’s words lingered long after he pulled away, their weight settling like lead in my chest.You should have let me handle it.I clenched my fists, refusing to let his voice take root in my head. I had spent years fighting my battles alone, carving my own path despite my father’s suffocating grip. And now, for the first time, I had won. I had backed him into a corner, forced him to sign away what he had stolen.So why didn’t it feel like a victory?I forced a deep breath, turning away from Thiago. “I need a shower.”“Of course you do.” His voice was smooth, calculated. He leaned against the suite’s bar, watching me with an unreadable expression. “You always run when you don’t want to deal with something.”I froze mid-step but didn’t turn around. “I’m not running.”“No?” I heard the ice clink in his glass as he poured himself a drink. “Then look me in the eye and tell me you don’t feel it.”Feel what? The suffocating tension? The invisible noose tightening around my throat? The way
My heels clicked against the polished marble of the lobby, my heart still hammering in my chest. The rush of adrenaline hadn’t worn off yet, but the weight of what had just happened was starting to settle.I had won. I had finally backed my father into a corner, made him sign away the power he had stolen.So why did it still feel like a hollow victory?I pushed the thought away and focused on the present.Thiago followed a few steps behind, silent but watchful. I could feel his gaze on me, tracking every breath, every twitch of my fingers. He was still angry. No, not just angry—furious.And I wasn’t in the mood to deal with it.The moment we reached the car, I yanked the door open, but before I could slip inside, his hand shot out, slamming it shut again.I turned to him, fire flashing in my eyes. “Don’t.”Thiago stepped closer, his body blocking mine from the street, from the world. “You’re shaking.”I clenched my fists. “I’m fine.”His gaze swept over me, slow and calculated, readin
The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. My father’s fingers tapped against the rim of his whiskey glass, his mind working through the implications of what I’d just said. He was a master manipulator, but this time? He had backed himself into a corner.“You don’t have proof,” he said finally, but there was something uncertain in his voice.I leaned against his desk, forcing a smirk. “Oh, but I do.”Lucia’s voice crackled in my earpiece. “We have everything, Bridgette. His authorizations, timestamps, and even the IP addresses he used. All trace back to him.”I didn’t break eye contact. “I have enough to bury you in court. Fraud. Embezzlement. You’d be finished.”His jaw clenched, and for the first time, a flicker of unease crossed his face.Thiago, standing just behind me, chuckled lowly. “She’s not bluffing, Martinez.”I felt the heat of his presence at my back—solid, unwavering. And I hated that some part of me found comfort in it.My father exhaled slowly, setting his
I stormed through the ballroom doors, my heels clicking against the marble as I pressed a hand to my earpiece."Lucia, where’s Victor?" My voice was sharp, betraying none of the unease curling in my gut."Already on it," she replied. "He's pulling up transaction records now. But, Bridgette—""Just tell me."Lucia hesitated. "It looks internal."I froze mid-step.Internal?A chill swept through me. This wasn’t just some competitor hacking our accounts. This was someone inside Martinez Holdings.I pushed forward, ignoring the glances thrown my way as I made my way toward the exit. I needed to get to my office. Now.But then—A hand closed around my wrist.Firm. Possessive. Familiar.I turned sharply, my gaze colliding with Thiago’s. His eyes—dark, unreadable—searched mine."Let go," I said, my voice colder than ice.He didn’t. Instead, he studied me like I was a puzzle he was piecing together."Someone stole from you," he murmured. It wasn’t a question. He already knew.I yanked my wris
The world still saw me as Bridgette Martinez, the woman who clawed her way to the top, but behind closed doors, I was fighting battles that no one could see.Thiago's encroachment wasn’t just financial. It was personal. Everywhere I turned, he was there—at high-profile investor meetings, in the whispers of board members questioning my next move, in the shadow of every deal I tried to secure.And worst of all?He was still in my head.I sat at the head of the table, my expression unreadable as Lucia and Victor debriefed me on the latest developments.Lucia tossed a report onto the table. "Thiago's now the second-largest shareholder in Martinez Holdings."Victor leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "At this rate, it won’t be long before he’s in a position to demand a seat on the board."A chill crawled up my spine. I had spent years making sure no one—not my father, not Cynthia, not any man—could take my power away. And yet, Thiago was tightening his grip without ever raising
I woke up tangled in silk sheets, the ghost of Thiago’s touch lingering on my skin. The city skyline stretched beyond the glass walls of the penthouse, bathed in the pale hues of dawn. For a moment, I let myself savor the illusion of peace.Then reality sank its claws back in.Cynthia was gone, but her words still echoed in my mind. You’ve only traded one cage for another.I turned my head slightly. Thiago was still asleep, his features relaxed in a way I rarely saw. But even in sleep, he exuded control—one arm draped possessively over my waist, his grip loose but firm.Carefully, I slipped out of bed, moving toward the floor-to-ceiling window. The city buzzed below, alive with possibilities and dangers.I wasn’t naive.Thiago’s offer of a merger was strategic, but it wasn’t just about business. He wanted control. Over the empire I had fought to build. Over me.And the worst part?I wasn’t sure I minded.A soft rustle behind me made me tense. “You’re thinking too much.”I turned to fi
…me a knowing look. “Doesn’t matter. It’s about perception.”I sank into the chair across from him, exhaling sharply. “So, what’s our move?”He smiled.That slow, dangerous smile that always meant trouble.A Week LaterCynthia was gone. Her empire, shattered. Her name, tarnished.But the world didn’t pause for my victory. The moment she fell, new threats emerged—rival companies trying to swoop in, investors questioning my leadership, and whispers in the dark from people who had once feared Cynthia but now saw an opening to take me down.And then there was Thiago.Always watching. Always waiting.It was late when he finally cornered me in my office, his presence stealing the air from the room.“You’ve been avoiding me, Wifey.” His voice was smooth, but there was something sharp underneath it.I didn’t look up from the contract I was reviewing. “I’ve been busy.”Thiago chuckled, low and knowing. “Bullshit. You’re running, and we both know why.”I exhaled slowly, finally meeting his gaze