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“Reliable sources say the Torrino family is making a move today.”

“The Torrinos?” His eyes widen. “Those psychopaths from Chicago?”

I nod. “They’ve been gunning for Vega’s territory for months. Today’s the day they settle the score.”

Marcus runs a hand through his hair, processing this. “How reliable is this source?”

“Solid. Former DEA contact who’s never steered me wrong.”

“So, when’s it going down?”

“This afternoon,” I say. “When Vega gets back from the airport.”

“Does Audrey know what’s coming?”

I take a last swig, avoiding his eyes. “I thought it was better if she didn’t know the details.”

“But she knows something’s up, right?”

“I told her this morning that she needs to be ready to go when I tell her to.”

Marcus leans against the truck, studying my face. “And what did she say to that?”

The question hits the nerve I’ve been avoiding all day. “She said she’d think about it.”

“Think about it.” His tone is carefully neutral. “Not yes, not no. Think about it.”

“She’ll come when the time is right.” I crush the empty can. “She just needs to process what it means.”

But even as I say it, doubt eats at me. Because “think about it” isn’t the response of a woman ready to abandon everything. It’s the response of someone weighing options, calculating costs.Someone who might choose the devil she knows over the unknown.

And maybe that’s what scares me most. Not that she’ll say no, but that she’ll keep saying maybe until it’s too late for either of us.

“You sure about that?” His voice carries no judgment, just genuine concern. “Because once this goes down, there’s no taking it back. If she’s not ready to run with you...”

“She will be.” The certainty in my voice is more for my benefit than his. “When she realizes she’s free, she’ll choose me.”

The words sound hollow even to my own ears. Because freedom isn’t just about removing obstacles. It’s about having the guts to walk through the door when it opens. And I’m not sure Audrey has that kind of courage. Not yet.

She’s spent her life trying to save her father’s company, carrying the weight of his debts on her shoulders. Even if I remove Vega from the equation, will she know how to stop fighting? Or will she just find new battles to lose herself in?

The thought makes my chest tight. Because I’ve already crossed the line. The moment I decided not to warn Vega about the Torrinos, I committed to this path. There’s no going back now.

Marcus studies my expression, reading the doubt I’m trying to hide. “Where is she now?”

“Back home,” I say. “Made sure she had no reason to go to New York with him this weekend.”

Marcus nods, understanding. “That’s why you insisted on the painting weekend. You wanted her nowhere near the city when it goes down.”

“Among other reasons.” I toss the crushed can into the truck bed. “Nature’s going to take its course, and she’ll be safe at home when it does.”

Safe. The word tastes wrong. Because once Vega is dead, Audrey won’t be safe. She’ll be free. And freedom is dangerous for someone who’s never learned how to use it.

“And then what?” Marcus asks. “You just show up at her door and tell her that her fiancé is dead?”

The question pisses me off because I don’t have a good answer. I’ve been so focused on eliminating the obstacle between us that I haven’t thought much about what comes after. All I know is that she’ll be mine. All I know is that without Vega standing between us, we’ll finally have a chance.

But Marcus is right to question the logistics. You can’t just walk up to a woman and announce that her fiancé is dead and she’s free to run away with you now.