The atmosphere on the private jet was heavy as they ascended into the sky, leaving Bangkok behind. Jade sat stiffly in her seat, her gaze fixed out the window as she watched the city lights fade into the distance. She could feel the tension emanating from the three men seated around her, their silence louder than any words.
She replayed the events of the evening in her head—meeting the locals, playing the game, and the way the men had stared at her when she returned to the hotel. They hadn’t said much then, but their disapproval was clear in their piercing gazes. Now, sitting here in the confined space of the plane, it felt like a storm was brewing, and Jade was caught in the middle of it.
Milan sat across from her, his sharp blue eyes fixed on a tablet he wasn’t actually reading. Enzo leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed and his dark gaze resting squarely on Jade, his expression unreadable but tense. Thiago, normally the one to lighten the mood, was uncharacteristically quiet, his lips pressed into a thin line as he drummed his fingers on the armrest.
Jade’s stomach twisted with unease. She couldn’t take the silence anymore. “Okay, what’s going on?” she asked, her voice breaking through the tension.
Enzo was the first to respond, his voice low and icy. “You really don’t know, do you?”
Jade blinked, her brow furrowing. “What are you talking about? I didn’t do anything wrong.”
At that, Milan let out a humorless chuckle, setting his tablet down and leaning forward. “You didn’t do anything wrong?” he repeated, his tone calm but cutting. “So, wandering around a city we specifically told you to be cautious in doesn’t count as wrong?”
“I was just exploring,” Jade defended, her voice rising slightly. “I wasn’t doing anything dangerous.”
Thiago finally spoke, his tone sharp. “You were talking to strangers, Jade. Playing games with them. Laughing like you didn’t have a care in the world.”
“What’s wrong with that?” Jade shot back, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “I’m allowed to have a little fun, aren’t I?”
Enzo’s smirk was cold as he leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “Fun? You think this is about fun?” His dark eyes bore into hers, making her squirm in her seat. “You don’t seem to understand what’s at stake here. This isn’t a vacation, Jade. You’re part of our world now, and that means following the rules.”
Jade crossed her arms, her cheeks flushing with indignation. “Your rules don’t make sense! I wasn’t in any danger, and I had two of your men following me the whole time, didn’t I?”
“Exactly,” Milan interjected, his tone colder now. “We had to assign two men to keep you safe because you can’t seem to listen to simple instructions. Do you think we enjoy cleaning up after your reckless behavior?”
Jade’s jaw tightened, her hands gripping the armrests of her seat. “I’m not reckless. I just wanted to enjoy Bangkok, to experience something for myself.”
Thiago shook his head, his voice laced with irritation. “You don’t get it, do you? You don’t belong to yourself anymore, Jade. You belong to us. And that means you don’t get to do whatever you feel like without considering the consequences.”
Her eyes widened, her heart pounding at his words. “I’m not a child, and I’m not your property,” she snapped.
Milan’s gaze hardened, his sharp features even more intimidating under the dim cabin lights. “Then stop acting like a child. You’re playing games with people who could be anyone—people who might see you as a target. You don’t know the risks, Jade. We do.”