Outside, Thiago was flipping burgers on the grill while Enzo handed Milan a drink. The atmosphere was light, the three of them chatting casually as they prepared lunch.
“Jade’s taking her time in there,” Thiago said, glancing toward the house. “Think she’s making one of her fancy salads again?”
“Most likely,” Enzo replied, smirking. “You know she likes to make everything perfect.”
Milan’s sharp gaze shifted toward the kitchen window. Something about the way Jade hadn’t come out yet made his chest tighten with unease. “I’ll go check on her,” he said, setting his drink down.
Milan stepped into the house, immediately noticing the tension in the air. He found Jade standing in the kitchen, her hands gripping the counter so tightly her knuckles were white.
“Jade?” he called softly, his voice steady but concerned.
She turned her head slightly, her face pale and her eyes wide. Milan’s brows furrowed as he quickly closed the distance between them. “What happened?” he asked, his tone more demanding now.
Jade opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, she gestured toward her phone on the counter. Milan picked it up, his jaw tightening as he read the message.
“Enzo! Thiago!” Milan shouted, his voice echoing through the house.
Within seconds, the two men appeared, their relaxed expressions shifting to alarm when they saw Jade’s state.
“What’s going on?” Enzo asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked between Milan and Jade.
Milan held up the phone, his face like stone. “This.”
Enzo grabbed the phone and read the message, his grip tightening as his dark eyes darkened with fury. “Who the hell would send this?”
Thiago leaned over to read it, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by a rare, dangerous seriousness. “This has Vivienne written all over it,” he said, his voice low.
Jade finally found her voice, though it was shaky. “I-I don’t know who it’s from,” she said, her hands trembling. “But why would anyone say something like that?”
Enzo placed the phone back on the counter and approached Jade, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. “Because they’re a coward,” he said firmly. “And they’re trying to scare you.”
“Well, it’s working,” Jade admitted, tears spilling down her cheeks. “What if they’re serious? What if—”
“No one is going to hurt you,” Milan interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. He stepped closer, his icy-blue eyes locking onto hers. “You’re safe here, Jade. We’ll make sure of it.”
Thiago nodded, his jaw clenched. “Whoever sent this is going to regret it. Trust me.”
Enzo’s voice softened, though his expression remained serious. “Jade, we need you to stay calm. We’re going to handle this. But you have to trust us.”
Jade wiped her tears, trying to steady her breathing. “I do trust you. It’s just… this feels so personal. Like they know exactly how to hurt me.”