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Then the front door crashes open.

I spin, weapon raised, only to find Julian standing there with three of my men.

"Boss, I—"

"Shut the fuck up." My voice is deadly calm. "You're three minutes late. You know what happens in three minutes? People die."

"The perimeter looked clear when we left—"

"Your job was to make sure itstayedclear." I step closer. "Elena and her daughter could have died because you weren't where you were supposed to be."

"I'm sorry—"

"Get this mess cleaned up."

I move back to the bathroom and open the hidden panel. "Elena, it's me. It's over."

She emerges with Fiona clutched to her chest.

"Are you hurt?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "We're fine." Her eyes narrow at the blood on my shirt. "You're not."

"It's nothing. Pack whatever you can. This location is compromised."

I call Nico. He immediately answers, “I heard.”

"Yeah. Five of Caruso's men. We handled it."

"Bring them to the estate," he says. "It's the most secure location we have."

"Your house?" Since his father's death and his son's birth, Nico has guarded the estate fiercely.

"If they find this safe house, they might compromise your others too."

“Alright”, I reply and hang up.

Elena finishes packing. "Where are we going?"

“My brother-in-law’s estate. Nico Moretti’s property is the most secure place in the city.”

"The Reaper's house?"

"Don't call him that to his face," I advise with a hint of a smile. "He pretends to hate it, but secretly, he's flattered."

Outside, two black SUVs wait. I usher Elena and Fiona into the first, getting in after them.

During the drive to Nico’s estate, Elena stares at me. “You killed those men without hesitation, like it was nothing. "

I meet her gaze. "Would you rather I'd hesitated and let them kill you and your daughter?"

She shakes her head. "No. Thank you for protecting us."

"I gave you my word and I intend to keep it.”

Nico’s estate sprawls across twenty acres, surrounded by heavy security. The iron gates open as our convoy approaches, revealing the expansive grounds and imposing stone mansion in the distance.

“This is where we’ll be staying?” Elena asks, taking in the pristine landscaping and security cameras positioned discreetly along the perimeter.