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"I’m going to get ready for bed."
Ollie holds my gaze for a moment longer. "All right," he finally says, his voice a mix of suspicion and concern. "I’m coming with you."
Oh, sweet Jesus.
"Ollie, can’t I even go to thebathroomalone?"
"Carlos could be in this house, Renata."
"And if he is, I’ll scream for you, and you’ll come to my rescue. Deal?"
"Fine," he grumbles, "but I’m standing right outside the door if you need me."
I know his concern is genuine, but it’s damn near suffocating. And where would Carlosbe? Aleks already ran a complete security scan and can’t find any evidence that someone else is in the house.
I think he’s overreacting, as usual.
I grab my bag. He only gives me a curious look, which I ignore. I make a big deal of shutting the bathroom door and rolling my eyes, really just to distract him from what I’m about to do.
I run the water and pull out my toothbrush, making as much noise as I can to mask my real intentions. I unzip my bag,retrieve an earpiece, and slip it into my ear. My hands are shaking as I tap my phone screen. There it is—a text message from Isabella, waiting for me to open it. I press the play button, and the screen prompts me to use my thumbprint to unlock it.
"Everything all right in there?” Ollie’s voice is laced with suspicion, even through the door.
"Yes," I reply, forcing a light tone. "My molars look excellent. No signs of tooth decay!" I hope he doesn’t notice the slight tremor in my voice. "No villains in the shower, and I don’t hear any ticking bombs," I add, hearing a low growl from the other side of the door that nearly makes me smile.
Isabella’s voice comes through the earpiece, guarded and rapid.
"I have a man who works for me that has information about Carlos. He’s learned that Carlos is working with La Sombra Roja. They’ve offered him a million dollars for your capture, believing you hold critical information that could either solidify their power or dismantle their operations entirely. They believe you know the Romanov family and the Carrera cartel’s most sensitive secrets, including alliances and details of their financial operations—information that could help them dominate the Colombian underworld."
My pulse quickens as I process her words, but Isabella isn’t finished.
Why doesn’t she want Ollie to know this?
"However, there’s more. This part will impact you greatly. You’re supposed to inherit five-hundred million dollars when you turn twenty-five, from to your mother’s family. La Sombra Roja wants to take you and your money to expand their empire."
My breath catches. This isn’t just about family—it’s about power. The stakes are far higher than I imagined. Of course, Carlos’s vendetta wouldn’t have pushed him this far alone.
"Carlos is using this as his ticket back to power. We need to bring him out of hiding now. The longer we wait, the more desperate he’ll become. And this is why my message to you is private, Renata. Ollie willneverlet you use yourself as bait, but it’s only way to draw Carlos out into the open. We know Carlos is nearby. Get away from Ollie. Use yourself as bait. Bring Ollie with you if you have to, but you must draw Carlos out of hiding.”
There’s a rush of static, and the recording ends. I stare at my phone, the water still running in the sink. My heart races as I shut off the faucet and shove the phone back into my bag.
I know what I have to do.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Ollie
Renata sleepsnext to me as peacefully as can be. It feels like she’s hiding something, but she’s been closed up and walled off from me since she saw me beat the shit out of Carlos’s lackey. I make no apologies for who I am, but I need her back. The thought of losing her makes my chest tighten. But how do I keep her close when I’m what she fears most?
It takes me a while to fall asleep because I know Carlos is close. He’s not in this room—I’m sure of that much—but he’s lurking somewhere, lying in wait, biding his time. I know men like him, and I can feel his presence like a dark cloud hanging over us. Frustration gnaws at me, the urge to bring him out into the open so strong that I even considered setting fire to my own family home just to smoke him out. My thoughts desperate, reckless, but the need to get to him is overwhelming.
I finally sleep fitfully; the only thing soothing my restless mind being the warm body of Renata beside me. But even that comfort is fleeting. Morning comes too soon, and I’m up early, checkingin on everyone. My mother is fine, my sister is safe, and my brothers report that nothing’s amiss.
I honestly didn’t expect anything else. This is how men like him work. He doesn’t have the backing of dozens of men, so he has to bide his time and strike hard and fast when you least expect it, like a snake in tall grass.
When is he going to make his move? How much longer do we have to wait?
Renata wakes up next to me, rolling over and propping herself up on her elbow. Her gaze is intense, and there’s something in her eyes that makes my gut twist.
