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.”