Page 74

Every day, I found myself caught between deep gratitude and awe-filled disbelief. I’d never expected to fall in love with Cali. I’d never expected to open my heart, body, and soul. Not to anyone, ever again.
The loss of my family had wrecked me, and I’d locked up my very soul to go on without them. Somehow, Cali held thekey, and she hadn’t hesitated to use it. And I was so grateful that she had.
I tried to refocus my energy on the matter at hand, reluctantly pushing Calista to the back of my mind as best I could. However, it proved to be impossible. Each thought that ran through my head was laced with her. Her beauty consumed me, the sweet smell of her perfume, and the deep delight her moans elicited in me.
The mission loomed ahead of us, heavy with complications, each detail crucial for success. My focus, however, slipped through my fingers like sand. I turned to Iason, nodding, hoping for a tether to reality.
“You good?” I asked, trying to pull us both out of our thoughts.
“Fuck yeah,” he replied, his expression serious, lips compressed into a line. “We’re getting close.”
“Yeah, my contact promised it’d be easy to spot.”
Iason shrugged. “Not surprised. A fucking egomaniac like Xenos? He’s bound to make a spectacle of himself.”
I pointed down the block, barely containing my excitement. “Look, I bet that’s it.”
“I’m sure it is,” he said, a smirk breaking through. “It’s as ugly and gaudy as he is, isn’t it?”
“Fuck this guy,” I muttered, my annoyance bubbling up. “I can’t wait to get my hands on him.”
A surge of anticipation coursed through me, tightening my chest, though the danger lurking beneath the surface was undeniable. I clenched my fists, the thought of revenge igniting a firein my gut.
As I approached Xenos’s mansion, it loomed ahead like an ominous giant, overshadowing the cramped street and daring us to move closer. Its gaudy, golden gate shimmered in the moonlight, starkly contrasting with the modest homes surrounding it, each painted in traditional white limestone. Xenos’s house, however, stood bare.
Its raw stone exterior was a rebellious statement that made me wonder if he felt unique or, perhaps, superior to the townspeople he looked down upon.
Pathetic.
Whatever his motives, they only highlighted his presence. Even with his despicable acts, he paraded through life either oblivious or impossibly naive. But tonight, we were going to expose his naivety.
The mansion sprawled before us, a snake coiled tightly around its ground, full of hidden dangers. A significant distance lay between us and the inner sanctum where Ozias likely slept, oblivious to the layers of security that guarded him.
We parked our cars around the block and piled out, adrenaline coursing as we prepared ourselves. The sounds of our footsteps echoed, punctuated by the clicks of guns being locked and the rustle of armor slipping into place. Once settled, we gathered in a small circle, my heart pounding as I went over the plan.
I searched each man’s gaze, ensuring they were focused and ready, before signaling our move.
We paired off into teams of three, each crew ready to tackle a different entrance and exit of the house. The air wasthick with tension as I felt the weight of the moment settle over us. Iason, Alex, and I stood at the front door, the chill of the night creeping in as I fumbled for the two-way radio in my pocket, my pulse racing with anticipation.
“Team one in place,” I whispered, the words almost lost in the silence that enveloped us.
“Team two, ready.”
“Team three, all set.”
“Team four—let’s fucking do this,” came the fierce reply, igniting a spark of determination in the pit of my stomach.
Iason shot me a hard look, but a cold smile broke on his face, a promise of what was to come. I returned it with a nod, swallowing my nerves.
“Count it down,” I murmured, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside.
“One…”
My throat tightened as adrenaline coursed through my veins.
“Two…”
Every fiber of my being buzzed in readiness.