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Mika doesn’t seem impressed by my outburst as if he expected that. He looks me dead in the eyes. “Let me remind you, that if she escapes and harms someone…”

“That someone being my sister because Dahlia’s the only one you care about, but she’s my sister, not yours.”

I am an asshole for reminding him he lost his baby sister along with their mother. That’s why I basically share my sister with him. He’s taking that job even more seriously than I am.

His cold eyes turn to slits. “I wouldn’t have to if you’d thought with your brain and not your dick.”

“I’ve got it,” I say, pinning him with a hard stare.

“Good, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

He leaves and shuts the door behind him, letting me know he’s pissed at me.

It will all be forgotten when we bond by slaughtering the idiots who thought they could encroach on one of our ports.

Our base might be in Reno, but the people under us always keep things running smoothly in the cities along the West Coast. Until then, I have meetings to attend to.

People know what I do in and out of the boardroom. There’s always fear involved, tiptoeing around me not to say or do something wrong, never giving me their true opinion. One exception is my assistant, Oliver. The fucker wants not only to climb the ladder, but rename it after him. I pay him well enough to buy himself a new luxury car every month. But he does a terrific job supporting me in taking care of my legitimate businesses.

He strides inside, bringing me the folders I requested.

I riffle through the documents and see the blackmail material I need. Not everyone is afraid, which is as refreshing as it is stupid. I love a fucking challenge. Occasionally, there aresome who try to butt heads with me, thinking they’re powerful and influential enough to deal with me. Once in a position of power, people think they’re untouchable. No one truly is though.

I’ve been waiting for this information for a while, and I am done waiting. I want the city to cross boundaries that have been in place for a long time, which apparently isn’t so easy to do.

I had them followed, their houses and cars wired. I waited until I gathered enough blackmail material to keep them in check and make things happen my way with a snap of my fingers.

“Great job. Now gather the mayor, governor, and senator and tell them to get things moving. If it’s not done when I summon them, this information getting released will be the least of their worries. I want the expansion to start immediately.”

“On it.”

Discretely, he leaves while I lean back, basking in my win.

While Reno is already on the map, I want this city to become a metropolis, the true foundation of my empire. I won’t rest until I’ll achieve that. Sure as fuck, it seems more like a comprehensive plan since I have no clue what to do withher.

She’s hijacking my thoughts without even trying.

I might be screwed, but she is fucked.

Well, I am still alive.

Hope was never something I believed in or counted for myself. Will, on the other hand, I had plenty. Will to escape the forlorn situation I found myself in as a child. Will to pave my own path. I didn’t even consider love, believed in it even less—until him.

I know I hurt him. For a few seconds, I thought he’d kill me when he pulled the trigger. The relief I felt was instant, and my heart grasped onto the small hope.

Maybe not all is lost. All my life, I did things using my brain. Now, I’ll let my heart guide me.

I have no idea how long I’ve been here, shackled to this chair and binds that slowly have bitten into my skin. My wrists are red and achy.

The wound in my arm pulses, but the pain anchors me. If Ican hurt, it means I am still alive. Being Enzo’s captive is better than being on the run. I’ll use the time to mend things. I refuse to believe that everything is wrecked between us.

But who knows? Maybe next time he graces me with his icy presence, he’ll kill me. It looks grim on my side, but if I don’t remain positive, I won’t persevere.

I understand his thirst for revenge as a similar one flows through my veins. I want to eradicate the Council, leaving Augustus for the end. The ease with which he discarded me stings a hundred times worse than the bullet wound.

The door opens, and I hope it’s Enzo. Disappointment settles low in my chest when I see an elderly man in a white jacket accompanied by a hulk of a man. His dark eyes find me. I doubt either of them knows much, but they’re wary.

As the doctor approaches me, I push my body forward. “Boo.”