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
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
The old pier stretched before me, silent except for the rhythmic lapping of the waves against the wooden posts. A single lamplight flickered above, casting long shadows across the damp planks. My heart pounded as I scanned the area, my breath visible in the night air.I checked my phone again. Midnight. I was a few minutes early, but whoever had sent the message wasn’t here yet.Or maybe they were watching.A gust of wind sent a shiver down my spine. I crossed my arms, not just against the cold, but against the gnawing uncertainty clawing at my insides. This could be a trap. Thiago could have sent the message, luring me here to force a conversation I wasn’t ready for. Or worse—someone else, someone more dangerous, could be behind it.I turned, about to leave, when I heard footsteps. Slow. Measured.I spun back, my pulse skyrocketing as a shadow emerged from the darkness.It wasn’t Thiago.Victor.His sharp features were cast in half-light, his expression unreadable as he stepped towar
Thiago kissed me like he was trying to brand himself into my soul—like he could erase every doubt, every betrayal, with the heat of his mouth.And for a moment, I let him.For a moment, I kissed him back, gripping his shirt like it could anchor me to something real.But reality crashed in just as fast.I shoved him away, breathless, my lips still tingling from the force of him.His chest rose and fell, his dark eyes locked onto mine with a heat that burned straight through me.“No,” I said, voice hoarse.Thiago’s jaw tightened. “Bridgette—”“No,” I repeated, stepping back. “You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to lie to me, manipulate me, and then kiss me like I’m supposed to forget everything.”His hands curled into fists at his sides. “I wasn’t lying to you.”“Really?” I let out a bitter laugh. “Then why do I feel like I just walked into a trap?”Thiago exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. “I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d react like this.”I crossed my arms.
I forced myself to meet Santiago’s gaze, schooling my expression into something unreadable. If he was here, breaking into my penthouse in the middle of the night, it wasn’t just to chat.He wants something.I wasn’t going to give it to him.“You have about ten seconds to explain why you’re here before I call security,” I said, gripping the wine bottle so tightly my knuckles ached.Santiago smirked, the kind of lazy, self-assured grin that made my stomach twist. He took a slow step forward, completely unfazed by my threat. “Security?” he mused. “Mmm… You could call them. But we both know they won’t get here in time, mi amor.”His voice was smooth, practiced, laced with the kind of confidence that came from knowing he held all the cards.I refused to let him see the flicker of unease tightening in my chest.“I don’t have time for games, Santiago.”“I know,” he said, tilting his head slightly. “Which is why I’ll get to the point.”In one fluid motion, he reached inside his suit jacket. I
His lips moved against mine with a slow, deliberate hunger, as if he was savoring every second of my surrender. I should have pushed him away. I should have turned and walked out of this penthouse, out of his life, like I swore I would.But the second his hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer, every ounce of resistance melted away.Thiago knew my body too well. He knew exactly how to unravel me with a single touch, how to make me forget logic and consequences. His fingers trailed down my spine, sending a shiver through me, his kiss deepening until I was breathless.I tore away, gasping, my palms flat against his chest. “Thiago—”His forehead rested against mine, his breathing just as uneven. “Don’t tell me you don’t want this.”My fingers curled into his shirt, torn between desire and the storm raging in my mind. “It’s not about what I want.”He exhaled, a humorless chuckle escaping him. “Then what is it about, Wifey?”That nickname. The way it rolled off his tongue like a promise
The hallway felt too small, too suffocating with both men standing there—Victor rigid with frustration, Thiago exuding that quiet, commanding presence that had always been my undoing.I should tell him to leave. I should push past this moment and pretend my heart wasn’t beating too fast, that I wasn’t already losing this battle.But I didn’t.Instead, I met Thiago’s gaze head-on. “What do you want?”He tilted his head slightly, studying me, before stepping closer. Too close. The scent of him—expensive cologne, faint whiskey, something distinctly him—wrapped around me like a noose.Victor shifted beside me, his tension palpable. “You’re wasting your time, Bermudez. She’s done with whatever game you’re playing.”Thiago let out a quiet chuckle, his eyes never leaving mine. “That so?” His fingers twitched at his side, like he was resisting the urge to touch me. “Because she hasn’t told me to leave yet.”Damn him.Victor exhaled sharply. “Bridgette.” His voice was low, a warning.I swallow
The silence stretched between us, thick with words left unsaid. Victor's gaze remained steady, unwavering, as if he could will me into understanding the danger I was walking into. Maybe he could see the fracture lines forming beneath my skin, the way I was slowly unraveling under the weight of my own choices.But what choice did I have? Thiago was a shadow I couldn’t outrun. No matter how far I went, how fiercely I tried to carve out a life separate from him, he was always there. And worst of all, some part of me still wanted him to be.I exhaled sharply, shoving past Victor toward the kitchen, needing space—needing something to ground me before I lost myself completely in this never-ending push and pull. I reached for the half-empty wine bottle on the counter and poured myself a glass. My hand trembled slightly as I took a sip, the bitter liquid burning down my throat.Victor followed but didn’t say anything right away. He just leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest,
The silence between Victor and me stretched, taut and suffocating. He watched me like I was a puzzle he had almost solved but was too frustrated to finish.“Bridge,” he finally said, his voice softer now. “You don’t have to do this alone. You know that, right?”I swallowed against the lump in my throat. Victor had always been my safety net, the one person who saw the mess I was and still chose to stand by me. But even he couldn’t save me from myself.I turned away, rubbing my arms as though that could shake off the cold creeping into my bones. “I’m tired, Vic. Can we just—can we not do this tonight?”His eyes darkened, but he nodded once, reluctant. “Fine. But this isn’t over.”With that, he left, the door clicking shut behind him. I waited, standing frozen in place until I heard his footsteps fade down the hallway. Then, with a shaky breath, I turned and pressed my forehead against the door, letting my eyes close.Not five minutes later, my phone vibrated on the counter.I didn’t wan
The weight of Lucia’s words lingered long after she was gone, settling over me like an unwelcome shroud. The air in my apartment felt heavier, thick with the ghost of Thiago’s presence.I set the wine glass down with a soft clink, pressing my fingers against my temples. My head throbbed, not from the alcohol but from the war waging inside me. Thiago was a storm—unrelenting, consuming, and I was the fool who kept stepping into the rain without an umbrella.I forced myself to move, needing to shake off the static thrumming in my veins. One step, then another, until I was standing before my bedroom mirror. The woman staring back at me looked like a stranger. There was defiance in her eyes, yes, but beneath it, something else lurked—uncertainty.My gaze dropped to the ring, still snug on my finger. I could almost feel the phantom trace of Thiago’s touch lingering there. My hands curled into fists. I should take it off. I should have done it the second he walked out that door.With a sharp