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"Front and back entrances confirmed. Noguards near the west side veranda. Veronica’s intel says the lower-level servants' quarters lead to a back stairwell. If she’s still locked up, it’ll probably be there."

I nodded once. "We go in quietly, sweep fast, and look for Theo.”

Ilias’s voice was cold steel. "If she’s been harmed?—"

"She’s fine,” I snapped. “She’llbefine. Nothing will happen to her." I was going to will it into existence if I had to.

He stared at me for a long moment, and something passed between us—a silent agreement. Theo was family. His blood, my…

Something.

I shoved the thought away.

Not the time for emotions. I could think about it later.

Maxim stepped forward, checking the time on his watch. "We hit in five. My men will breach the north wing. Conall’s crew will sweep the first floor and take out the guards. You and your brothers? You go straight for her. Get her out. I have backgrounds on the guests. Some of them won’t be walking out alive. If there are innocents there, we’ll see about relocating them. Then we burn it down."

I couldn’t help but let a grin tug at the corner of my mouth. “That reminds me why I like working with you. You’re always going to burn something.”

Maxim didn’t smile. He simply loaded his weapon. “I thought it was because I was amazing and funny.”

“Yeah, none of those.” Conall cuffed him on the shoulder. “It’s because you’re the gun connection.”

I snapped my fingers. “That’s right,” I smirked at Maxim. While that wasn’t the only reason, it was a bonus. “We’re all about practicality. We don’t even like you. Much.”

“Right. You guys are all dicks.” He rolled his eyes at us.

The night was so dark I could just make out the whiteness of his teeth as he flashed me a grin.

We spread out, slipping through the dark like the kind of nightmares that made grown men cry. I moved with my team—Remo to my right, Bacco behind, Ilias flanking me. Kostas and Vaso brought up the rear.

The grass was slick with dew. I could smell jasmine and gun oil and hear the distant hum of laughter and music drifting from theopen windows. It made my blood boil. The fact that they were partying and laughing while having Theo in there against her will was more than infuriating. Veronica had verified what kind of people these were. None of them should even be breathing.

Cocktail party.

For fuckingslavers.

I would gut them all.

We reached the back veranda in silence, each footstep measured and careful. I couldn’t believe we had made it without detection. Our progress was completely unimpeded after the perimeter guards were taken out. There hadn’t even been any outside cameras or alarms to disable. Renzetti was either sloppy or overconfident, but if I were one of the attendees, I would be fucking pissed that security was so lax. I was sure these people were paying a fortune to be here, which should include their protection while they were here. However, it was making our job easier, so I shouldn’t complain.

Perhaps he thought I wouldn’t come for her—the volcano inside me boiled over at the idea that anyone would consider Theo unimportant. Our dynamic was complicated evenfor us. Maybe we hadn’t figured it out yet, but that was our business. Guilt slicked over my insides at the thought that this was my fault. Maybe she wouldn’t be in this mess if I hadn’t dragged my feet.

The door was unlocked. Too easy. Too confident.

We breached like a well-oiled machine. The guards were weak, surprised, and poorly trained. Only two of them were on the door, and they died like paper mache puppets with their strings cut. Remo and Bacco took point, clearing corners. I swept left with Ilias and Vaso. The house was a museum of decadence—polished wood, antiques, and portraits with eyes that seemed to follow you. The air was thick with perfume and decay. It was one of those houses that felt permeated with it. No matter how much paint you put on a pig, it was still there.

We found the staircase Veronica mentioned. It spiraled upward like something from a horror movie, narrow and claustrophobic. My boots thudded against each step as we climbed. Apparently, everyone was downstairs. Still, you’d think they would have some staff or security up here.

First door on the left. Locked.

I signaled to Vaso. He stepped forward with a silent nod, inserted a small charge, and stepped back.

Pop.

The door swung inward. Empty.

Second room. Same setup. I could feel my pulse throbbing in my neck. Empty.