The Game Begins

(Nathaniel’s POV)

"Leave the wedding alone. Let them celebrate while they can."

I leaned back in my chair, fingers tapping against the armrest as I studied the man in front of me. Tobias. One of my best men, but also the most impatient. 

I leaned back in my chair, my fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest, eyes narrowing as I studied the man before me. Tobias. 

One of my best men, though I often wondered how he made it to this level. He was impatient, always twitching, always ready for action.

He stood stiffly, shifting his weight from foot to foot, clearly struggling to hold his tongue.

"The wedding’s happening right now," he said after a long silence. "We could move in…."

I cut him off with a sharp look. "Did I stutter?"

He swallowed hard. "No, sir."

I exhaled slowly, smirking. "Mr Edward, her father, thinks he’s clever. Let him. Once I’m done with him and his entire household, he won’t live to tell the story."

Tobias hesitated, eyes darting to the side. "And the girl?"

The girl.

Sienna. She was the only thing that didn’t fit into the equation.

I had planned everything meticulously. Every move, every betrayal, every consequence. But I had the perfect plan on her.

My grip tightened on the glass in my hand as flashes of our last encounter played in my mind.

Her breathless laughter. The way her body fit perfectly against mine. The way she looked at me like I was the only man in the room.

I had touched a lot of women, but none of them had burned me like she did.

For the first time in years, I had felt something other than cold calculation. And that pissed him off.

I could almost hear Tobias’ thoughts, I knew exactly why he was asking. He had seen how I looked at her. His suspicion was warranted. But I couldn’t afford any distractions, not now. Not when the stakes were so high.

 Sienna Castellanos was collateral damage.

I clenched my jaw, shaking off the thought. No. She meant nothing.

Nothing more.

I clenched my jaw. "She means nothing."

The words tasted like a lie.

Tobias gave a slight nod but didn’t look convinced. I didn’t blame him. Hell, I didn’t even believe in myself.

I waved him off, already reaching for my phone as the door shut behind him. My thumb swiped across the screen, opening a private gallery.

There she was.

Sienna Castellanos.

Lying in my bed, wrapped in silk sheets. Her long, dark hair tangled from where my fingers had gripped it. Lips swollen from my kisses.

Mine.

Or at least, she had been.

Now? Now she belonged to Julian Castellanos.

His smirk deepened. "Let’s see how long that lasts.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. Poor bastard has no idea.

I felt my anger rise like a tide, but it was controlled. The type of anger that was useful, the type that drove me to tear everything apart.

My grip tightened around my phone. I could still remember the way she whispered my name like a secret only we shared.

I clenched my teeth.

I took a gulp of my drink, savoring the burn of whiskey as it slid down my throat. I wasn’t angry at Julian. I wasn’t angry at anyone except myself. I was frustrated that someone as naïve as Sienna had somehow wormed her way under my skin. 

But it didn’t matter now. She was part of the enemy’s household, and I was going to burn them all to the ground.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.

"What?"

The door creaked open, and Cole stepped inside. His face was unreadable, but the slight shift in his stance told me something was off.

"Boss," he started. "We got confirmation—Sienna’s father double-crossed you."

I didn’t react. Not at first. I just stared at him, waiting for the rest.

"He cut us out of the deal completely," Cole continued. "Signed everything over to his own people."

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, then let out a slow, amused chuckle.

Of course he did.

I clapped my hands together, shaking my head. "Ah, as expected."

Cole shifted, clearly uneasy. He had seen me angry before, seen me put bullets in men’s heads without hesitation. But right now? Right now, I wasn’t angry.

I was entertained.

That fool thought he won.

Cole cleared his throat. "What do you want us to do?"

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the desk. "Make sure he doesn’t find out about the fake deal. Keep him under the illusion that he won."

Cole smirked. "And Sienna?"

I stilled for half a second before forcing a relaxed expression. "I want eyes on her at all times."

His smirk widened. "Thought she meant nothing?"

I shot him a glare so sharp he immediately straightened. "She doesn’t. But she’s still part of the game."

Cole nodded. "Got it."

He turned to leave, but I stopped him.

"Oh, and Cole?"

He paused.

"Make sure she doesn’t see you coming."

As soon as the door shut, I picked up my phone again. I unlocked it and scrolled through the images. 

With a smirk, I tap on send.

A second later, I made a call.

The line rang twice before a sharp voice answered. "Who is this?"

I leaned back in my chair, letting my own smirk form. "Someone with information on your favorite businessman and his newlywed daughter."

There was a beat of silence, and then, the voice softened, curiosity laced with suspicion. "Go on."

I didn’t hesitate. "I have proof of everything. Sienna's father thinks he’s untouchable. Let me make sure he learns just how wrong he is."

I could practically hear the other person’s interest spike. The bait was set.

"Let’s talk headlines."