The days after Mia’s funeral were slow and heavy, but little by little, Jade began to piece herself back together. She wasn’t her old self—how could she be?—but she tried. She forced herself to leave her room more often, sit in the living room with Luna curled up in her lap, and even eat meals with the men when she could. The three of them were always around, always watching, offering comfort when words felt insufficient.
Milan, Enzo, and Thiago had thrown themselves into uncovering the truth behind the explosion. They knew Vivienne had orchestrated it, but as they pieced together the details, one thing became abundantly clear: Vivienne never worked alone. The way the explosion had been timed, executed, and targeted was too meticulous, even for her.
Jade overheard their hushed conversations late at night as they poured over documents and security footage. She knew they were trying to protect her from the worst of it, but she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something bigger was looming just out of sight.
One evening, Jade was sitting on her bed, flipping through an old photo album Mia had given her years ago. The pictures were of happier times—laughing at the beach, ridiculous selfies at a theme park, and countless late-night snack runs. A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.
“Come in,” she said, her voice quiet.
The door swung open, and to her surprise, all three men entered the room. Milan’s sharp blue eyes gleamed with intensity, Enzo’s expression was unreadable, and Thiago had a rare serious look on his face.
“What’s going on?” Jade asked, sitting up straighter. Their presence felt heavy, charged with energy that made her chest tighten.
Milan was the first to speak, his voice calm but laced with urgency. “We’ve been digging into the explosion. We know Vivienne orchestrated it, but we’ve found out something… unexpected.”
“Unexpected how?” Jade asked, confusion creeping into her tone.
Thiago leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed. “Let’s just say Vivienne wasn’t working alone.”
Enzo stepped forward, pulling a laptop from under his arm. “We think you’ll want to see this.”
Jade’s brow furrowed as Enzo set the laptop on the edge of her bed and opened it. Her stomach churned with unease. “What is it?”
“Security footage,” Enzo replied, his dark eyes meeting hers. “From the venue, just before the explosion.”
Jade hesitated, her fingers clutching the edge of the blanket. “Okay. Show me.”
Enzo pressed play, and the grainy footage filled the screen. At first, it showed nothing out of the ordinary—staff moving about, guests taking their seats, and a few unidentified individuals slipping in and out of the frame. But then, a figure appeared, their back turned to the camera as they moved toward the restricted area where the explosion had been triggered.
“Who is that?” Jade asked, leaning closer to the screen. The figure seemed vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t place them.
“Keep watching,” Milan said, his voice tight.
The footage shifted angles, and the person turned slightly, revealing their profile. Jade squinted, her brain working overtime to connect the dots. And then it hit her. Her breath caught in her throat, and her eyes widened in shock.
“David,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Chapter 251
The faint hum of distant voices echoed in Jade’s ears as she opened her eyes briefly, only to close them again. The world around her was a blur of noise and light, punctuated by cries of panic and the acrid smell of smoke. She tried to move, but her body felt heavy, unresponsive. Darkness soon swallowed her, and everything faded away.
When Jade finally woke, the first thing she noticed was the sterile smell of the hospital room. The bright overhead light made her wince, and she groaned softly, her throat dry and scratchy. As her vision cleared, she became aware of three familiar figures standing around her bed.
“Jade,” Milan’s voice was the first to reach her, soft but filled with relief. His icy-blue eyes scanned her face, his hand gently brushing a strand of hair away from her forehead. “You’re awake.”
Thiago was next to her, his usual playful demeanor replaced with raw emotion. “You scared the hell out of us,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. “Don’t ever do that again.”
Enzo stood at the foot of the bed, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His expression was calm, but his dark eyes betrayed the storm of emotions swirling within him. “We thought we’d lost you,” he said quietly.
Jade blinked, her mind struggling to catch up. “What… happened?” she croaked, her voice hoarse.
“There was an explosion,” Milan explained, his tone steady but laced with anger. “At the wedding. Vivienne… she orchestrated it.”
The memories flooded back in fragments—the ceremony, the explosion, the screams. Jade’s chest tightened, and she tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in her side made her gasp.
“Don’t move,” Thiago said quickly, his hands gently guiding her back down. “You’ve got a few bruised ribs and some minor cuts, but nothing serious.”
“The doctors said you’ll be fine,” Milan added, his voice soothing. “You just need to rest.”
Jade nodded slowly, her head still spinning. “How long was I out?”
“A day,” Enzo replied. “They kept you sedated to manage the pain.”
Jade’s hand instinctively went to her side, feeling the bandages beneath her hospital gown. “It could’ve been worse,” she murmured, trying to process everything. “We’re lucky.”
The room fell silent at her words, and a heavy tension settled in the air. She looked at the three men, noticing the way their expressions shifted—concern morphing into something deeper, something darker.
“What is it?” Jade asked, her voice trembling. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Milan hesitated, his jaw tightening. He exchanged a glance with Enzo and Thiago before finally speaking. “Jade… there’s something you need to know.”
Her heart sank, dread pooling in her stomach. “What?”
“It’s about Mia,” Thiago said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. “She… she didn’t make it.”
Jade froze, the words hitting her like a freight train. “No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “That’s not true. She was fine. She was right there—”
“She was close to the blast,” Enzo said, his tone grave. “The medics tried, but… they couldn’t save her.”
“No,” Jade said again, her voice breaking. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she turned to Milan, as if hoping he would tell her it was all a mistake.
Milan’s face was a mask of pain, his icy-blue eyes filled with sorrow. “I’m sorry, Jade,” he said softly. “Mia’s gone.”
Chapter 252
The sky was overcast on the day of Mia’s funeral, as if the weather itself was mourning her loss. A small group of close friends and family gathered at the cemetery, their somber faces reflecting the gravity of the moment. The air was thick with the scent of fresh flowers, mingling with the faint smell of rain that threatened to fall at any moment.
Jade stood beside the gravesite, her body trembling as she clutched a bouquet of white lilies—Mia’s favorite. The wind tugged at her black dress, but she barely noticed. Her mind was elsewhere, replaying memories of Mia’s infectious laughter, her playful banter, and the way she always seemed to brighten the darkest of days. Now, that light was gone.
Milan, Enzo, and Thiago stood close by, their presence steady and protective. Milan’s icy-blue eyes scanned the crowd, his face stoic but his clenched fists betraying his emotions. Enzo’s usually composed demeanor was softened, his dark eyes clouded with sorrow. Thiago, always the one to lighten the mood, stood unusually quiet, his lips pressed into a thin line.
The minister’s voice broke through Jade’s thoughts, offering words of comfort and remembrance. But it all felt distant, like a muffled echo in her mind. She barely registered the condolences, the nods of sympathy, or the tearful embraces from those around her. All she could focus on was the grave in front of her, the final resting place of her best friend.
Later that evening, back at the house, Jade sat alone in her bedroom, the door closed tightly. She couldn’t face anyone, not even the three men who had been her anchors through all of this. What was supposed to have been the happiest day of her life had turned into a nightmare, and the weight of it was unbearable.
The room was dark, save for the faint glow of the lamp on her bedside table. Luna, her small gray kitten, curled up beside her, purring softly. Jade absentmindedly stroked Luna’s fur, her eyes red and swollen from crying.
There was a soft knock at the door, but Jade didn’t respond. A moment later, the door creaked open, and Milan stepped inside. He closed the door behind him, his movements quiet and deliberate.
“Jade,” he said softly, his voice steady but filled with concern. “You’ve been up here all day.”
“I just need to be alone,” Jade replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Milan walked over to her, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I understand that,” he said, his icy-blue eyes meeting hers. “But we’re worried about you.”
“I’m fine,” she lied, turning her gaze away.
“You’re not fine,” Milan said gently but firmly. “And that’s okay. No one expects you to be.”
Jade’s shoulders shook as she tried to hold back her tears. “I don’t know how to move on from this,” she admitted, her voice breaking. “Mia was… she was my best friend. She didn’t deserve this.”
Milan reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. “No, she didn’t. And neither do you. But you’re not alone in this, Jade. We’re here for you.”
A few moments later, the door opened again, and Enzo and Thiago stepped inside. Thiago carried a tray with a cup of tea and a small plate of cookies, setting it down on the bedside table.
“I figured you could use something warm,” he said, his voice soft.
Enzo stood by the foot of the bed, his dark eyes studying Jade intently. “You don’t have to go through this alone,” he said. “We know how much she meant to you. She meant a lot to us, too.”
Jade looked up at them, her vision blurred by tears. “It’s just so unfair,” she said, her voice trembling. “She was supposed to be there for the wedding, for everything. And now she’s gone.”
Thiago sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “I know, Jade. It’s not fair. But if Mia were here, you know what she’d say? She’d tell you to keep living, to keep fighting. She wouldn’t want you to lose yourself in this.”
Jade sniffled, her fingers gripping the edge of the blanket. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“Start by letting us help you,” Milan said, his tone firm but gentle. “We’ll take it one day at a time.”
Enzo nodded. “And when you’re ready, we’ll make sure Vivienne pays for what she’s done. You have my word.”
Chapter 253
The days after Mia’s funeral were slow and heavy, but little by little, Jade began to piece herself back together. She wasn’t her old self—how could she be?—but she tried. She forced herself to leave her room more often, sit in the living room with Luna curled up in her lap, and even eat meals with the men when she could. The three of them were always around, always watching, offering comfort when words felt insufficient.
Milan, Enzo, and Thiago had thrown themselves into uncovering the truth behind the explosion. They knew Vivienne had orchestrated it, but as they pieced together the details, one thing became abundantly clear: Vivienne never worked alone. The way the explosion had been timed, executed, and targeted was too meticulous, even for her.
Jade overheard their hushed conversations late at night as they poured over documents and security footage. She knew they were trying to protect her from the worst of it, but she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something bigger was looming just out of sight.
One evening, Jade was sitting on her bed, flipping through an old photo album Mia had given her years ago. The pictures were of happier times—laughing at the beach, ridiculous selfies at a theme park, and countless late-night snack runs. A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.
“Come in,” she said, her voice quiet.
The door swung open, and to her surprise, all three men entered the room. Milan’s sharp blue eyes gleamed with intensity, Enzo’s expression was unreadable, and Thiago had a rare serious look on his face.
“What’s going on?” Jade asked, sitting up straighter. Their presence felt heavy, charged with energy that made her chest tighten.
Milan was the first to speak, his voice calm but laced with urgency. “We’ve been digging into the explosion. We know Vivienne orchestrated it, but we’ve found out something… unexpected.”
“Unexpected how?” Jade asked, confusion creeping into her tone.
Thiago leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed. “Let’s just say Vivienne wasn’t working alone.”
Enzo stepped forward, pulling a laptop from under his arm. “We think you’ll want to see this.”
Jade’s brow furrowed as Enzo set the laptop on the edge of her bed and opened it. Her stomach churned with unease. “What is it?”
“Security footage,” Enzo replied, his dark eyes meeting hers. “From the venue, just before the explosion.”
Jade hesitated, her fingers clutching the edge of the blanket. “Okay. Show me.”
Enzo pressed play, and the grainy footage filled the screen. At first, it showed nothing out of the ordinary—staff moving about, guests taking their seats, and a few unidentified individuals slipping in and out of the frame. But then, a figure appeared, their back turned to the camera as they moved toward the restricted area where the explosion had been triggered.
“Who is that?” Jade asked, leaning closer to the screen. The figure seemed vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t place them.
“Keep watching,” Milan said, his voice tight.
The footage shifted angles, and the person turned slightly, revealing their profile. Jade squinted, her brain working overtime to connect the dots. And then it hit her. Her breath caught in her throat, and her eyes widened in shock.
“David,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Chapter 254
Milan nodded grimly. “Yes.”
Jade’s breath hitched as she stared at the screen, her eyes fixated on the grainy footage. “That can’t be,” she said, shaking her head as if to dispel the image in front of her. “What is he doing there? How is he involved?”
Enzo’s tone was calm but resolute, his dark eyes locked on Jade. “He was working with Vivienne. We’ve cross-referenced the footage with other locations, and his movements match up with her network’s activity. This wasn’t a one-off.”
Jade’s heart pounded in her chest, her pulse loud in her ears. The figure on the screen, now unmistakable, moved through the restricted area with purpose, clearly avoiding cameras when he could. Every step he took sent shivers down her spine. It felt surreal, like a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.
Thiago stepped closer to her, his usually playful tone replaced by something more serious. “It seems like he’s been in this for a while,” he said quietly, his eyes searching hers. “Helping her, covering her tracks, and now… this.”
Jade’s mind raced, her thoughts spiraling. David. Her late grandmother’s estranged son, the man who had swooped in and taken her childhood home without so much as a second thought. She had always thought of him as selfish, vindictive, and cruel, but this? Being involved in something so heinous, so catastrophic? It was beyond comprehension.
“No,” she said again, her voice trembling as her hands curled into fists. “David’s… he’s a terrible person, but he’s not—he wouldn’t do something like this.”
Milan’s gaze softened slightly, though his expression remained resolute. “I know this is hard to process, but the evidence is clear. He was there, Jade.”
“And not just there,” Enzo added, his voice colder now. “He’s been tied to several of Vivienne’s operations. This wasn’t a coincidence. He’s involved.”
Jade’s head swam as she tried to process their words. Her hands shook, her nails digging into her palms as tears welled in her eyes. “Why? Why would he do this? What does he have to gain?”
“Money,” Thiago said bluntly, not sugarcoating his words. “Power. Revenge, maybe. Who knows? Vivienne probably promised him something he couldn’t refuse.”
Jade’s chest tightened, a mixture of anger and betrayal coursing through her veins. “He doesn’t even know me,” she said, her voice breaking. “Why would he want to hurt me?”
Milan stepped closer, his calm presence grounding her slightly. “It’s not about knowing you,” he said, his voice steady but tinged with frustration. “It’s about hurting us. You’re important to us, Jade. That makes you a target.”
She felt her legs weaken, and she stumbled back, sitting heavily on the edge of her bed. Her mind replayed every interaction she’d had with David—the way he’d dismissed her, taken what wasn’t his, and looked at her with disdain. Yet this betrayal was on an entirely different level.
Jade buried her face in her hands, her breathing uneven. “He was always cruel,” she murmured, her voice muffled, “but this? Helping Vivienne? He’s responsible for… for Mia.”
Her voice cracked at the mention of Mia, and a fresh wave of tears spilled down her cheeks. Thiago knelt in front of her, his hands resting gently on her knees. “This isn’t on you,” he said firmly. “Whatever grudge David holds, it’s twisted. But we’re going to make sure he never hurts you—or anyone else—again.”
Enzo closed the laptop with a sharp snap, his jaw clenched. “This ends now. He played a part in the explosion. He’s been working in the shadows with Vivienne, but that’s over. We’ll find him.”
“What do we do now?” Jade asked finally, her voice shaking as she looked up at them. Her eyes were glassy, but there was a flicker of determination buried beneath the grief and shock.
“We find him,” Enzo said, his voice dark and unyielding. “And we make him talk.”
Chapter 255
The notification came through on Milan’s phone just after midnight, the quiet hum of the house broken by the sharp vibration. He glanced at the screen, his icy-blue eyes narrowing as he read the message. A single line of text flashed on the screen: David’s location confirmed. Abandoned hotel off Route 22.
Milan stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the hardwood floor. “They’ve found him,” he said, his tone cold and sharp.
Thiago, who had been reclining on the couch, immediately sat up, his easy grin replaced by grim determination. “Where?”
“An abandoned hotel,” Milan replied, already moving toward the hallway to grab his jacket. “Off Route 22. It’s isolated.”
Enzo, who had been reviewing surveillance footage at the dining table, closed his laptop and stood, his expression unreadable but tense. “We need to move quickly. He’s not going to stay put for long.”
“We’ll need backup,” Thiago said, pulling out his phone. “I’ll call our guys. This could be a trap.”
Milan nodded, his mind already calculating the next steps. “We go in fully armed. No mistakes. No loose ends.”
In her bedroom, Jade sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her phone. She hadn’t been able to sleep, the tension in the house keeping her on edge. When she heard the muffled sounds of the men moving hurriedly through the hallways, she knew something was happening.
She threw on her robe and stepped into the hallway, catching Milan just as he was slipping on his holster. “What’s going on?” she asked, her voice laced with worry.
“We’ve got David’s location,” he said without hesitation. “We’re going to handle it.”
Jade’s stomach twisted. “I’m coming with you.”
“No,” Milan said firmly, his eyes narrowing. “It’s too dangerous.”
Jade crossed her arms, standing her ground. “I’m not staying behind. He’s my problem, too.”
Thiago appeared behind Milan, holding his phone to his ear but lowering it briefly to chime in. “Jade, we appreciate your fire, but this isn’t a spectator sport.”
“I’m not going to sit here and wait while you risk your lives,” she said, her voice rising slightly. “I have every right to be there.”
Enzo entered the hallway, his dark eyes assessing the situation. “She has a point,” he said after a moment. “David has made this personal for her.”
Milan exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. “Fine. But you stay close to us. You don’t take a single step without one of us by your side. Understood?”
Jade nodded, already moving to her room to get dressed.
Fifteen minutes later, the group gathered in the living room. Milan handed out weapons, his movements precise and efficient. “Thiago, you’ll handle the perimeter with your team. Enzo and I will take the lead inside.”
“And me?” Jade asked, adjusting the leather jacket she’d thrown on over her jeans.
“You’ll stay with me,” Milan said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “And you’ll follow every instruction I give.”
Enzo’s phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. “Backup is in position and en route. We’re covered.”
“Good,” Milan said, sliding his weapon into its holster. “Let’s move.”
The drive to the abandoned hotel was tense, the silence in the car broken only by the occasional updates from Thiago’s phone. Jade sat in the back seat, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. The closer they got, the heavier the air felt.
When they arrived, the scene was eerily quiet. The hotel stood like a forgotten relic, its windows shattered, and its once-grand facade now crumbling. The parking lot was overgrown with weeds, and the only sound was the faint rustle of the wind.
The men exited the car first, their movements swift and deliberate. Jade followed, her heart pounding as she tried to steady her breathing. The team of backup operatives joined them, their dark uniforms blending into the shadows as they surrounded the building.
Milan turned to Jade, his expression serious. “Stay close to me. No wandering, no questions.”
She nodded, her throat dry. “Okay.”
The group moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing in the empty lot. Enzo gave hand signals to his men, instructing them to fan out and secure the perimeter. Thiago motioned for the others to check the lower levels.
Inside, the air was damp and musty, the faint smell of decay lingering. Jade stayed close to Milan, her eyes scanning the darkness as they moved deeper into the building. Her pulse quickened with every step, her mind racing with possibilities.
Suddenly, Milan stopped, holding up a hand to signal silence. Jade froze, her breath catching in her throat. She followed his gaze upward, her eyes adjusting to the dim light.
“Oh my god,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Her gaze locked onto the ceiling, and her stomach dropped. Hanging from a rusted pipe was David, his lifeless body swaying slightly in the faint draft. His face was pale, and his eyes were wide open, frozen in an expression of terror.
Jade’s hands flew to her mouth, a strangled cry escaping her lips. “He’s dead.”
Milan stepped in front of her, shielding her view as Enzo and Thiago exchanged grim looks. “It’s a message,” Enzo said darkly. “Vivienne’s cleaning up loose ends.”
Thiago cursed under his breath, his hands clenching into fists. “She got to him before we could.”
Jade’s knees felt weak, and she leaned against the wall for support. “What does this mean? Why would she kill him?”
Milan’s jaw tightened as he turned to her. “Because he knew too much. And now she’s sending us a warning.”
As the team began to regroup, a phone buzzed in the pocket of one of David’s jackets. Enzo retrieved it carefully, glancing at the screen. A single message flashed across it: “You’re next.”