Page 161 of His Ruthless Match

Cain nodded. “Smart. I’ll reach out to some of my contacts, too. See who’s available and willing to help. The more bodies we have, the better.”

“Agreed,” I said. “We’ll meet outside the Crimson Dominion tonight, once it’s dark.”

Cain pushed off the crate, his smirk returning. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll bring the fire. You bring the rage.”

I shook my head, grinning despite the whole damn shitshow. “Just don’t set yourself on fire.”

Cain chuckled before disappearing into the crowd.

As I made my way back toward The Shadow’s estate to make my case, I couldn’t shake the image of Eva from my mind. The thought of her back there, safe but probably furious with me, gnawed at me. I told myself this was for her. Every step, every kill, every plan—it was all for her. And I wouldn’t stop until the threat was gone, even if it cost me everything.

Tonight, the rebels wouldn’t see us coming. Tonight, I’d make sure the Crimson Dominion was no longer theirplayground. And if Izo wanted a war, I’d gladly bring it to his doorstep.

45

EVA

The call came just as I was trying to convince myself to eat something. The estate’s dining room felt cavernous and cold, the smell of roasted meat and fresh bread doing nothing to stir my appetite. My phone buzzed on the table, and I glanced at the screen. I didn’t recognize the number, and it sent a ripple of unease through me.

“Hello?” I answered, holding the phone to my ear.

“Miss Delgado.” The voice on the other end trembled. “It’s… it’s Eric. One of The Shadow’s guards. I was assigned to Genevieve’s safe house.”

A knot formed in my stomach. “What’s wrong?”

There was a long pause, and when he finally spoke, his voice cracked. “She’s gone. Genevieve’s gone.”

“What?” My heart started pounding, and I bunched the tablecloth in my free hand. “What do you mean she’s gone? How the hell did that happen?”

“I don’t know.” Eric’s voice pitched higher, desperation bleeding through. “We never left our posts, I swear. We’ve been watching the entrances and exits nonstop. There’s no sign of forced entry. It’s like she just vanished.”

“Vanished?” My chest tightened, a cold sweat breaking out along my spine. “You’re telling me you were there the whole time, and she disappeared right under your noses?”

“I don’t know how it happened,” Eric said. “Something fucked up has happened here. I’m so sorry?—”

I didn’t let him finish. I hung up, my hand shaking as I set the phone down on the table. My pulse roared in my ears, drowning out every rational thought. Genevieve was gone. My client, the woman I’d fought so hard to protect, had slipped through the cracks while under Raffaele’s protection.

I pushed back from the table, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. I couldn’t stay here. Raffaele’s estate felt like a gilded cage, every inch of it a reminder that I was under lock and key. If I told Raffaele about this, he’d insist on handling it himself. He’d send his people, and I’d be left here, powerless and useless. Again.

I couldn’t let that happen. Genevieve was my responsibility. She had entrusted me with her life, and I’d be damned if I didn’t take some tangible action to find out where the fuck she’d disappeared to.

My eyes fell to the bracelet around my wrist, the one Jareth had given me weeks ago. I hadn’t needed it for such a long time. He’d always been by my side, keeping me safe, watching my back. But now? Now I was alone, and the weight of that realization pressed down on me like a lead weight.

I stared at the small panic button embedded in the bracelet, my finger hovering over it. It felt like a betrayal, summoning him after the way things had ended. But I didn’t have a choice. Not this time. Taking a deep breath, I pressed the button.

Seconds later, he appeared.

Jareth materialized in the center of the room, his chest rising and falling as if he’d sprinted to get here. His eyes locked onto mine, wide with confusion and concern.

“Eva?” he said, his voice low and urgent. “What’s going on? Are you hurt?”

I stood abruptly, my chair nearly toppling over. My first instinct was to rush to him, to throw my arms around him and bury my face in his chest. But I stopped myself and curled my hands into fists at my sides. There was too much between us now, too much left unsaid.

“It’s Genevieve,” I said, my voice shaking. “She’s missing.”

Jareth’s expression darkened instantly. He cursed under his breath, running a hand through his dark hair as he began pacing the room.

“What the fuck happened?” he demanded. “She was supposed to be under The Shadow’s guard.”