The tension in the house was unbearable. Every corner of Enzo’s safe house seemed to hum with stress as the men scrambled to deal with yet another setback. Earlier that day, word had come in that one of Enzo’s warehouses had been raided. It wasn’t just a minor break-in; it was deliberate, calculated, and devastating.
“This wasn’t random,” Enzo growled, pacing the living room with his phone pressed to his ear. His dark eyes were sharp with fury as he barked orders at whoever was on the other end of the line. “I want surveillance footage from every angle. I don’t care how long it takes—find out who did this.”
Jade sat on the couch, her arms wrapped around herself as she watched the chaos unfold. Thiago and Milan were in the kitchen, their voices low but urgent as they discussed damage control. The air felt thick with tension, and Jade felt like a bystander in a world that didn’t seem to have room for her.
After Enzo hung up the phone, he turned to Milan. “They took the whole shipment. Weeks of planning, gone in a night. It’s Vivienne again. I can feel it.”
Milan nodded, his expression unreadable. “She’s tightening the noose. We need to tighten ours.”
Thiago glanced over at Jade, his frown deepening. “If she’s getting bolder, that means Jade’s at even greater risk.”
“I’m fine,” Jade said quickly, sitting up straighter. “She’s targeting you, not me.”
Milan turned his piercing gaze to her. “She’s targeting us, and you’re part of us now. That makes you a target, whether you like it or not.”
Jade opened her mouth to argue, but Enzo cut her off. “From now on, we’re doubling security. Jade doesn’t leave the house without one of us—or without guards.”
“What?” Jade exclaimed, standing up. “You can’t be serious. I’m already stuck here all the time! Now you’re saying I can’t even step outside without a babysitter?”
“It’s not about controlling you,” Milan said calmly, though his tone was firm. “It’s about keeping you alive.”
“This is ridiculous,” Jade shot back, her frustration boiling over. “I’m not some fragile doll you need to protect. I can handle myself.”
Thiago smirked faintly, though there was no humor in it. “Handle yourself against a woman who’s already burned down a house, bombed a warehouse, and now raided another one? Sure, Jade. Sounds totally safe.”
“That’s not the point!” Jade said, her voice rising. “You’re treating me like I don’t have a say in my own life. I didn’t ask for this, and I’m not going to sit here and let you decide everything for me.”
Enzo stepped closer, his dark eyes narrowing. “This isn’t up for debate, Jade. If you won’t protect yourself, we’ll do it for you.”
Jade clenched her fists, her frustration hitting a breaking point. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t just sit here while you all fight your battles and lock me away like some kind of prisoner.”
“You’re safer here,” Milan said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “And that’s final.”
That night, Jade sat on her bed, her emotions swirling. She couldn’t take it anymore. Being cooped up in the house for weeks, treated like a fragile burden, was driving her insane. She needed freedom, even if just for a little while. That’s when an idea struck her.
She grabbed her phone and texted Mia. “I need to get out. Can you help me?”
Mia’s reply came almost immediately. “Say the word. I’ll pick you up.”
Jade glanced toward her door, listening for any sounds from the men. It was quiet, which meant they were likely still in their study, consumed by their plans. She quickly packed a small bag and slipped out of her room.
Mia was waiting just down the road in her car when Jade crept out of the house. Her heart pounded as she glanced over her shoulder, half-expecting Milan or Enzo to appear out of nowhere and stop her. But the driveway was empty, and the house loomed silently behind her.
Jade slid into the passenger seat, her breath shaky. “Thanks for coming.”
Mia grinned, though her eyes were filled with concern. “Of course. But are you sure about this? They’re going to flip when they find out.”
“They’ll get over it,” Jade said firmly. “I just need a break.”
Mia nodded, pulling the car onto the road. “Well, I know just the place to take you. Somewhere quiet, where you can actually breathe.”