The table was set, the spread of food laid out perfectly as Jade and the men sat down to eat. The smell of grilled meat, roasted vegetables, and fresh salad filled the air, but none of them had much of an appetite. The tension was palpable, the recent threats weighing heavily on everyone’s mind.
Jade picked at her salad, her fork scraping against the plate as she pushed a piece of lettuce around. She could feel the weight of the men’s silence, their usual banter replaced by grim expressions and furrowed brows.
“This is pointless,” Thiago said finally, setting his fork down with a frustrated clink. “How are we supposed to eat when we’re sitting on this much tension?”
Milan leaned back in his chair, his icy-blue eyes scanning the table. “We have to try. Sitting here stewing over what Vivienne might do next won’t help anyone.”
Enzo, however, was focused on his phone, his fingers tapping rapidly against the screen. “My men are closing in,” he said, his tone sharp. “They think they’ve found someone.”
Jade looked up, her heart skipping a beat. “One of her men?”
Enzo nodded, his dark eyes gleaming with determination. “A possible associate. They’re bringing him in now.”
“Bringing him in where?” Jade asked, her voice hesitant.
“To my… facility,” Enzo replied, his tone clipped. “Somewhere we can ask him questions.”
Jade glanced at Thiago and Milan, trying to gauge their reactions, but their expressions were unreadable. The room fell into a tense silence again until Enzo’s phone buzzed. He picked it up, his jaw tightening as he read the message.
“They’ve got him,” he said, standing abruptly. “He’s at the chamber.”
Jade’s stomach churned at the thought of what “the chamber” might entail, but she didn’t have the courage to ask. Instead, she watched as Milan and Thiago rose from their seats, their movements swift and purposeful.
“We need to move,” Milan said, his voice low but firm.
“Wait,” Jade said, her voice stopping them in their tracks. “What exactly are you going to do?”
Enzo turned to her, his dark eyes serious. “We’re going to get answers. Don’t worry about the details.”
“Don’t worry?” Jade repeated, her voice rising slightly. “How can I not worry when you’re talking about… about interrogating someone?”
Thiago placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch meant to be reassuring. “Jade, this is how we handle things. We’re not going to let anything happen to you. But to stop Vivienne, we need information.”
Milan stepped closer, his gaze steady. “Stay here. Lock the doors. We’ll be back as soon as we can.”
Jade nodded reluctantly, though her heart felt heavy as she watched them leave.