After Milan and Thiago left, Enzo sat on the couch beside Jade, his presence reassuring but silent. Luna, sensing the tension, climbed into Jade’s lap, purring softly. Jade stroked the kitten’s fur absentmindedly, her mind racing with questions she didn’t want to voice.
Finally, she broke the silence. “Do you think this will ever end?”
Enzo turned to her, his dark eyes steady. “Yes. It has to. And we’re going to make sure it does.”
Jade looked down at Luna, her fingers trembling slightly. “I just feel like I’m caught in the middle of something so much bigger than me. Like I don’t even belong in this fight.”
“You belong here,” Enzo said firmly. “Vivienne made this personal the moment she came after you. And as much as we hate that she’s using you, it also means she’s made a mistake.”
Jade frowned. “What mistake?”
“She’s underestimated you,” Enzo said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “She doesn’t know how strong you are.”
Jade let out a shaky laugh, though tears welled up in her eyes. “I don’t feel strong.”
Enzo reached out, placing a hand over hers. “You are. And you’re not alone in this. We’re with you every step of the way.”
Hours passed, and the tension in the house remained thick. Jade tried to distract herself by cleaning up the kitchen and playing with Luna, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the list and Vivienne’s ominous plans. Enzo stayed close, his eyes constantly scanning for any signs of danger.
Finally, Enzo’s phone buzzed again, and he answered it immediately. “What do you have?”
Jade watched as his expression darkened. He nodded a few times before hanging up and turning to her. “They got him to talk.”
“What did he say?” Jade asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Enzo hesitated, his jaw tightening. “He confirmed that Vivienne is planning something big. And it involves you.”
Jade’s stomach dropped. “What does that mean? What is she planning?”
“We don’t know the details yet,” Enzo admitted. “But Milan and Thiago are on their way back. We’ll figure this out together.”
Jade nodded, though her chest felt tight with fear. “I don’t want to be a liability,” she said quietly. “I don’t want to put any of you at risk.”
“You’re not a liability,” Enzo said firmly. “You’re part of this now, whether you like it or not. And we’re going to protect you. No matter what.”