Jade sat on the couch, staring blankly at the television. The screen displayed a nature documentary about tropical birds, but she hadn’t absorbed a single word of it. It had been nearly a week since they’d returned to the safe house, and she was losing her mind.
The men were constantly coming and going, buried in their efforts to handle the aftermath of Vivienne’s escalating attacks. They’d spent hours locked in Milan’s study, their voices tense and hushed as they discussed strategy. Meanwhile, Jade was stuck in the house like a caged bird, unable to do anything except wait—and she was tired of it.
She leaned back with a dramatic sigh, letting her head fall onto the couch cushion. “I don’t even remember what fresh air smells like,” she muttered to herself.
Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, and she snatched it up, hoping for a message from Mia. Instead, it was a notification from an app suggesting nearby restaurants to try. Jade groaned.
“What’s the point of restaurants if I can’t even leave the house?” she said aloud, tossing her phone back onto the table.
Her stomach growled, and she realized she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Dragging herself to the kitchen, she opened the fridge and stared at its contents. Everything looked boring and uninspiring.
As she rooted through the shelves, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway. She turned to see Thiago entering, his face weary but still managing his signature smirk.
“Hey,” he greeted, leaning against the doorframe. “What’s with the long face?”
Jade slammed the fridge shut and glared at him. “I’m going stir-crazy, Thiago. I haven’t been outside in almost a week. I don’t even know what the sun looks like anymore.”
Thiago chuckled, though it lacked his usual charm. “You’re not missing much. The sun’s overrated.”
Jade folded her arms, narrowing her eyes at him. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one trapped in here all day. At least you get to leave.”
Thiago raised a brow, pushing off the doorframe. “It’s not like I’m going to the beach, Jade. I’m out there cleaning up messes.”
“Cleaning up messes?” Jade scoffed. “You’re out there doing something. Anything! Meanwhile, I’m stuck here like I’m on house arrest.”
“You’re here because it’s safe,” Thiago said, his tone softening.
Jade rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I’ve heard that one before. It’s for my safety, blah, blah, blah. But I’m not made of glass, Thiago. I can handle myself.”
Thiago sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not about you not being strong, Jade. It’s about minimizing risks. Vivienne’s out there waiting for any opportunity to get to us. We’re not going to give her one.”
Jade threw her hands in the air. “And in the meantime, I’m supposed to sit here and rot? I need to breathe, Thiago. I need to see something other than these four walls.”
Thiago looked at her for a long moment before shaking his head. “Talk to Milan. If anyone’s going to let you out, it’s him.”
Jade let out a bitter laugh. “Oh, I’ve talked to Milan. Every single day. And guess what? It’s always the same answer: no.”
Before Thiago could respond, the front door opened, and Enzo and Milan walked in, their expressions grim. They didn’t even glance in her direction as they headed straight for the study.
Jade clenched her fists, her patience snapping. She stormed after them, catching the door before it could close.
“Milan!” she called, her voice sharp.
Milan paused, turning to face her with an arched brow. “Jade, not now.”
“Yes, now,” she insisted, stepping into the room. “I’ve been asking for days—can I please go outside? Just for a little while?”
“No,” Milan said flatly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Jade’s jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me? I’m going insane in here! Do you even realize how hard it is to be stuck in this house 24/7?”
Enzo leaned against the desk, his arms crossed. “We’ve already explained this, Jade. It’s not safe.”
“Safe, safe, safe!” Jade mimicked, her frustration spilling over. “That’s all I ever hear from you guys. Do you think I’m going to suddenly combust if I step outside? Or are you just using this as an excuse to keep me under control?”
Milan’s eyes narrowed. “You think we’re doing this to control you?”
“What else am I supposed to think?” Jade shot back. “You won’t let me do anything or go anywhere. I’m not part of this fight, but you’re treating me like I’m some kind of liability.”
“That’s not what this is about,” Milan said, his voice hard.
“Then what is it about?” Jade demanded. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re all so caught up in your own mess that you’ve forgotten I’m a person, not a problem to be solved.”
The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Milan stared at her, his expression unreadable, while Enzo exchanged a glance with Thiago, who had followed Jade into the study.
“Jade,” Milan said finally, his voice quieter but no less firm. “We’re doing this to protect you. I know it’s hard, but the alternative is worse.”
Jade clenched her jaw, swallowing the lump in her throat. “I’m not asking to run away, Milan. I’m just asking for a little freedom. Is that too much to ask?”
Milan’s gaze softened slightly, but his answer remained the same. “Right now, it is.”