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“Going for a swim,” I announce, pulling on my swimsuit with shaky hands. He follows me to the pool, silent as a shadow. It’s suffocating, but at least it’s something different from the oppressive bedroom.

Water welcomes me like an old friend, and for a moment, I feel free. I push off the wall and start swimming laps, trying to drown my thoughts in the rhythmic movement. Felix is there, watching my every stroke from the edge of the pool.

His phone rings, shattering whatever peace I’ve found. His voice is low and dangerous when speaking with Matteo. I hear enough to know they’re talking about work. And by ‘work,’ I mean their shady fucking business.

“Go,” I snap when he hangs up, water streaming down my face. “You need to work, and I need to get out of my head.”

“Darling, I can’t leave you—” he starts, but I cut him off.

“Take me with you, then.” The words surprise both of us, but I refuse to back down. Anything has to be better than being trapped here. Felix hesitates but finally nods, agreeing to my demand.

After breakfast, I drag my ass into Felix’s car, the leather seat sticking to my damp skin. We drive around the city, stopping at familiar spots where he picks up bags filled with cash. He’s efficient, never lingering for too long, and I can’t help but notice how the exchanges are bigger this time, probably due to Felix not working for three days, instead hovering over me like an eagle waiting for an animal to die so it can pick at the bones.

I watch him from the car, a knot of anxiety twisting in my stomach as I keep expecting something to go wrong. But it never does. Instead, we make our last stop at Fratelli’s restaurant, unloading the money without any issues.

“Did that go too smoothly, or is it just me?” I ask, hating how my voice trembles.

“Relax, darling,” Felix replies, his eyes never leaving the road as we return home. “It’s just business as usual.”

“Right. Business,” I scoff, trying to push down the flood of questions swirling in my head. Finally, unable to resistany longer, I blurt out, “Does Matteo know who kidnapped me?”

Felix’s grip on the wheel tightens, but he doesn’t slow down. “No. But he knew Enzo. The bastard’s dead now, though. He might’ve been one of the three or had them working for him.”

“Enzo… how did he know Enzo?”

“Enzo Morelli,” Felix says, jaw clenched. “He used to be one of the Four Seats in Sydney. His son manipulated Matteo’s wife into running away. No one knows why, but she was gone for ten fucking years. Turns out, Enzo was involved. Matteo got Eleanor back, but Enzo and his son… well, let’s just say they are not a problem anymore.”

“Jesus,” I mutter, trying to process the twisted web of relationships. “So, what? Now there are only three Seats left?”

“Pretty much,” Felix confirms. “Enzo’s business got dismantled, and his followers were split among the remaining Seats. Spike’s been looking through Matteo’s new people to see if any of them know who did this to you.”

“And who exactly is Spike?”

“Matteo and Eleanor have two right-hand men… Angel and Spike,” Felix says with a small smile. “You have spoken to Angel. They’re named after characters from a show.”

“Seriously?” I can’t help but laugh, the tension inside me easing a little.

“Exactly.” He chuckles. “When you meet them, you’ll understand why.”

As we continue our drive home, my thoughts drift back to Enzo and those who had kidnapped me. Despite thetwisted humour in Felix’s revelation about the Buffy Clan, I can’t shake the feeling of unease that’s settled over me, like more is coming.

When we pull up to the house, I spot a cardboard box on the porch. The bottom is soaked, and it looks like fucking blood is pooling on the tiles. My gut twists, a sick feeling spreading through me.

“Shit,” Felix mutters, his eyes darkening as he stares at the box. He parks the car, and we both get out, cautiously approaching the package.

“Is that…?” I trail off, unable to finish the question.

“Stay back,” Felix orders, reaching for his knife. He moves in front of me, shielding my body with his own. His voice vibrates with tension. “Let me check the cameras.”

My heart hammers as he pulls up the footage on his phone. The screen shows a young kid, maybe fifteen or sixteen, riding up to the house on a push bike. He walks up to the porch, sets down the box, and rings the doorbell. When no one answers, he leaves.

“Fuck,” Felix swears again. “He must’ve been used. Didn’t even know what he was delivering.”

“Who the hell would do this?” I demand, anger flaring inside me. “And why?”

“Stay here,” Felix murmurs, his face set in a hard line. “I’ll deal with it.”

“Like hell I will,” I snap back, crossing my arms over my chest. “This is my life, too, Felix. I’m not some fucking damsel you have to protect all the time.”