Page 6

MIRELLA

The moment I walked out of that party, I knew I needed to steer clear of Sergio. The way he looked at me—like he was peeling away every carefully constructed layer of armor I’d built over the years—felt dangerously close to… well, dangerous. It wasn’t the kind of danger that I’d come to expect, either. This wasn’t the power-hungry glint of Don Carlos’s gaze or the cold calculation of men in dark suits. No, Sergio’s gaze was something else altogether. It was something that pulled at memories I thought I’d buried long ago.

Sergio’s warning kept echoing in my mind, stubborn and insistent. Leave while you still can. What did he think he knew? It was almost amusing, really. But there was something about the way he looked at me—so intense, so focused—that told me he knew exactly what he was saying.

It was almost like he knew me or maybe saw right through me, past my layers of polite smiles and cordial nods. That kind of familiarity was unsettling, especially because Sergio wasn’t just anyone. He was danger personified, and he wore it as naturally as that infuriating smirk of his. But this wasn’t about his father or his position. No, this was different. This was Sergio himself.

And to make it worse, he’d somehow grown even more devastatingly handsome. He’d changed from that boy who used to throw little stones at my window to a man with edges that could cut through armor. It was a dangerous game, and it was one I couldn’t afford to play, especially now. I had a mission, and Sergio was the last thing I needed to distract me from it.

After I got back to the estate, my father’s old house, which, fortunately, had been left in my name, hence why Don Carlos had not stolen it amongst others, I barely had time to pull my thoughts together before Enzo showed up in the study, looking like he was holding back a dozen questions. Typical Enzo. He didn’t pry, but his eyes told me he was ready to offer advice if I needed it. Which, at this point, I didn’t.

“Enzo,” I started, trying to ignore the familiar pull of thoughts about Sergio, “Have you found anything? Even a small clue?”

He shook his head, almost apologetically. “Nothing. Your father’s still completely off the radar. There are no sightings and no leads. He’s made him vanish, and he’s done it well. Even my source can’t seem to find anything beyond the point we already know.”

My heart sank a little, but I forced myself to keep my face neutral. I couldn’t let emotion get the better of me now. “Then, we’ll just have to dig deeper.”

Enzo’s gaze hardened, his jaw set. “We’re doing all we can. I’ve got men working every angle.”

“Not enough,” I muttered, almost to myself. “He’s out there somewhere, and I won’t let him disappear.” Taking a breath, I continued, “I don’t know how much longer I can keep this act up with Don Carlos. He’s pushing for marriage.”

The slightest flicker of disgust crossed Enzo’s face before he pulled himself together. “He’s taking liberties he has no right to take.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. “But as long as he thinks I’m the perfect bride, he’ll keep his guard down. And that’s all I need to find out what I need to know. But I can’t afford any distractions. Not even Sergio.” The last part slipped out before I could stop it, and Enzo’s eyebrows shot up ever so slightly.

“Who is Sergio? Do you mean Don Carlos’ heir? How is he a distraction?”

I gave him a cool look, hoping to steer the conversation away. “Let’s focus on what matters. How’s our other business?”

Enzo’s attention shifted, his shoulders straightening. “The shipments are coming in as scheduled. There’s one from Colombia due any day now, and I think you’ll be pleased. Our distribution has reached new heights.”

“No,” I interrupted. “Pause everything. Shipments, transactions, all of it. I need you focused on finding my father, and if possible, I want a way to bring Don Carlos down.”

There was a moment of silence before Enzo responded, his tone bordering on frustration. “I can balance both. We’re running smoothly. You don’t need to worry.”

I crossed my arms, holding his gaze. “Not this time. All efforts go toward finding my father. No more shipments.”

Enzo exhaled heavily, crossing his own arms as he glanced toward the floor, clearly displeased. “If we halt now, it won’t be easy to pick up where we left off. This business doesn’t just sit around waiting, Raven.”

It was his nickname for me, one he’d used since we met during my first operation when I was still building my empire. He said it was because of my intelligent and majestic nature. So, when I was looking for an alias, I found it fitting. But now it made me pause, reminding me of who I was before all of this. That girl wasn’t afraid to stand her ground, and I wasn’t about to start now.

“That’s the decision, Enzo. Trust me, I know the risks,” I replied firmly. “And as much as I respect your work, finding my father takes priority. Besides, the faster we move on him, the faster we end this nightmare with Don Carlos.”

Enzo shifted his weight, looking like he was about to launch into a well-prepared rebuttal. But I cut him off. “Listen, I know you’re capable of balancing both. You’ve proven that more times than I can count. But this isn’t about capability. It’s about focus. All of it goes toward my father now. We have to be willing to make sacrifices.”

He met my gaze, clearly frustrated. But he also saw the determination in my eyes. “You realize what you’re asking for. It’s going to be a loss. Significant.”

I shrugged. “I’ll take the loss. The sooner we bring down Don Carlos, the sooner we’ll make up for it. Besides, I need you more than ever right now, and I trust you’ll figure it out. Focus, Enzo. No distractions.”

He grumbled, glancing away as if searching for the right words to argue back. He didn’t.

“You can count on me, Raven,” he conceded, giving me a half smile.

“I know I can.”

I closed the door softly behind me after telling Enzo goodnight. A glance down the hallway led me to Alex’s room, where I heard the familiar giggles and Dahlia scratching a pretend paw on the floor and making funny barking sounds. It was a game where he and Dahlia would pretend to be different animals, and I guess today, she was pretending to be a puppy. A smile spread across my face as I leaned against the doorframe, taking in the sight. There was Alex, crouched down on the floor, face-to-face with Dahlia, and he was absolutely beaming. It was rare to see him like this, so animated, and every time I did, my heart swelled.

Alex turned, and his face lit up even more when he saw me.

“Mom!” He scrambled up, running over to me, holding onto my hand with his small fingers. “Can you tell me the story again?”

It was his favorite, the fairy tale he’d practically grown up with. It was the one about his father, the masked stranger who’d saved me from the ‘big bad monster.’ And each time he asked, I couldn’t bring myself to say no, no matter how many times I’d told it.

“Alright, get comfy,” I said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. We both climbed onto his bed, with Dahlia curling up at the foot, her big brown eyes peeking up at us as though she wanted to hear the story, too, but she gave me a smile right before leaving.

I looked down at Alex, his eyes wide with anticipation. “Once upon a time,” I began, watching his face light up, “there was a beautiful, brave girl—”

“Was it you, Mama?”

“Yes, it was me,” I answered with a little laugh. “And this girl was in a very dark place, somewhere no one could find her. She felt alone and trapped. But then, one day, a mysterious stranger appeared. He wore a mask to hide his identity, but his eyes…” I paused, running my fingers through Alex’s soft hair. “His eyes were warm and kind, just like yours, and he gave her a gift—a chance to escape.”

Alex tilted his head. “But why did he have to leave?”

I sighed, feeling the familiar ache in my chest. “He had to go and save others, Alex. He couldn’t stay. He was needed elsewhere.” I smiled, although the memory felt bittersweet. “But he always promised he would watch over us, even from afar. Just like the stars do at night.”

Alex was quiet, but his eyes sparkled. “Do you think he’s watching us right now, Mama?”

I nodded. “Absolutely. He’s watching and making sure you’re safe and sound. And he’s probably very proud of how strong and brave you are, just like he was.”

Alex beamed, snuggling against my side. “I wish he could come back,” he whispered, a glimmer of sadness in his voice.

I felt my heart catch, and I kissed his forehead, pulling him closer. “Sometimes, the people who love us the most have to go somewhere else to do important things. But that doesn’t mean they’re not with us. He’s in here.” I tapped his chest gently, right above his heart. “And right here, every time you look up at the stars.”

Alex went silent for a few moments, absorbing the words in that way he had, serious and thoughtful beyond his years. Then, he reached up and touched his own cheek, glancing up at me, an uncertain look in his eyes.

“Mama, do I look like him?”

The question took me off guard. I looked down at him, truly seeing him for the first time in a way I hadn’t—his little face, his eyes, those features that seemed like they’d been there forever but had somehow grown right in front of me. A smile tugged at my lips as I looked into his warm, deep brown eyes—the same color as his father’s.

“Yes, you do,” I answered, feeling my throat tighten a bit. “You have his eyes, so much like his. Warm, kind…” My voice trailed off as an image floated into my mind—the stranger’s eyes. And then, strangely, Sergio’s. They were the same color and intensity. A peculiar thought crept up on me, one I tried to brush off. Was I just seeing what I wanted to see? Was I somehow creating connections that didn’t exist?

I blinked, clearing the thought. I looked back at Alex, who had a small smile on his face as if proud of something he couldn’t yet put into words.

“You have his eyes,” I whispered.