Zane.

I could have chosen to cut the CCTV feeds and kept the cartel men in the dark. Instead, I saw it as a chance to lure the rival cartel into the open. Let them think we're sloppy. Let them strike.

The lounge was filled with the scent of bourbon and cigarette ash, the low thrum of a jazz baseline vibrating through the floor. Dim lights spilled shadows across leather booths. I leaned back in a corner booth, my arm slung over the backrest, Sienna pressed against my side. Her laugh rang out as Noah spun a story about a deal gone sour in Miami.

My eyes flicked to her, searching for fractures in her façade, but her face was smooth, her smile honed to an edge. I kept my hand steady on my glass.

Liam sat to my left, his fingers tapping a slow rhythm on his whiskey, his eyes scanning the room with a predator's focus. Noah sprawled across from me, playing the part of a man with no weight on his shoulders.

Ethan and Damian were at the bar, their laughter loud, deliberate, drawing glances from the crowd.

Every patron in the place was one of our trained men, from the brunette woman in the red dress by the jukebox, her hips swaying to the music, who had a knife strapped to her thigh, to the plump guy nursing a beer in the corner, his eyes half-lidded with a pistol kept under his coat. Even the couple whispered at a high-top, their hands brushing, each carried enough hardware to level the room down to the bartender, who kept filling wine glasses professionally, but I knew he could draw a gun faster than a heartbeat. They were all ours, every one of them ready to snap into action when the time came.

The plan was for the cartel men to see us here, laughing, drinking, and believing that we had our guard down, and they would think they had caught us sleeping. That would trigger them to move. And when they did, we would be ready to beat them at it.

Sienna shifted in her seat, putting a thigh over another, her hand resting against the couch. "You're quiet tonight," she murmured, "Something on your mind?"

I leaned forward to her to hear her better against the loudness of the room, "Just soaking it in," I said, my eyes locked on hers, searching for the truth in them. Despite my lustful desire to loop her in on the plan, I didn't tell her this wasn't another hangout time for the boys and me, but work. I had to be certain she was who she claimed to be before I trusted her with details of our operation.

"Okay, I still don't understand why you dragged me out here anyway."

"Because it is my job to protect you, even if you do not agree with my method," I winked at her. She glared at me without responding, and I was grateful she had chosen to remain silent instead of arguing again. I turned my eyes away from her to my friends.

Noah leaned forward, his glass sloshing, his voice carrying across the booth. "Zane, you remember that time in Vegas? "Ethan nearly lost his car in a poker game." He laughed. It sounded a bit forced and I shook my head at him, silently giving him the cue to stop.

Ethan shot him a mock glare from the bar, raising his glass. Though he remained in his usual relaxed posture, his eyes were fixed on everything, as he kept track of the room.

Damian leaned against the bar beside him, his fingers brushing the edge of his jacket, where I knew a blade was hidden. The crowd buzzed with chatter, the clink of glasses and the murmur of voices blending with the jazz, a saxophone wailing softly in the background. My eyes flicked to the door and the windows at minute intervals as every nerve in my body was taut, waiting for the action to unfold.

I sipped my vodka, swallowing slowly, so it could burn my throat and keep me alert. Glancing at Sienna, I saw how tensed she was, feeling out of place. I reached to her and wrapped my arm around her protectively. Nudging her body warm against mine. She didn't fight it. That was progress.

She laughed again at something Noah said, her head tilting back, which exposed her silk porcelain skin, and for a moment, I could almost forget the photos and the plan, only to take her out of the lounge and perhaps to the car. Almost. My fingers tightened on my glass as I struggled to gain control of my desires. Not right there.

Liam's fingers stopped tapping, sliding his hand under the table, his fingers brushing the grip of his gun, a movement so subtle only I'd notice his eyes locked on something across the room and I followed his gaze, my pulse kicking up, but it was just the woman in red by the jukebox who had walked out of the lounge.

Sienna leaned closer, her lips grazing my jaw, "You're tense, really. You should relax, I am the one in danger," she said.

My eyes flicked to hers, searching for the lie, but her face was a mask, her smile a shield.

I leaned in. "You would tell me if something was off, right?" My hand slid to her waist, my fingers brushing the edge of her dress, feeling the contours of her, the warmth of her skin against mine.

She raised her eyes to mine, "Always," she said. She reached for her drink, the glass catching the neon light as she took a sip.

Noah kept talking about Vegas spinning on, but his eyes flicked to me again, his grin faltering for a fraction of a second. Ethan and Damian were still at the bar, their laughter quieter now.

The lounge door swung open, and the air snapped instantly as three men stepped inside, all dressed in glossy leather jackets and pants. When their eyes swept the room with a predatory focus. I knew at once who they were. The Cartel. They had taken our bait and showed up.

My pulse roared in my ears, but I kept my arm around Sienna as I gave Liam a nod. His body stilled in response as his gaze locked on the newcomers. Ethan and Damian shifted at the bar, their laughter gone, their hands hovering near their jackets. The woman in red turned fully now, her hand inside her purse.

The guy in the corner leaned forward while the bartender set his glass down, his movements slow, deliberate, his fingers brushing the edge of a hidden panel.

"Here we go," I said, my eyes flicking to the three men, now spreading out, one heading to the bar, the others moving toward the back, their hands close to their jackets.

The cartel had walked in, thinking they'd caught us slipping, but they were the ones in our crosshairs now.

Sienna

"Zane Calloway, how could you do that to me...?"

The treachery filled my insides with uneasiness and as the car wheezed away in the chilly night, it did nothing to calm the storm raging in my chest. I stared out of the tainted window, my hands were clenched into fists in my lap, trying to put my rage to words. Nothing.

I hadn't spoken to Zane since we left the bloody and messy ruin of the lounge. I couldn't bring myself to say the words to express my hurt and betrayal without breaking.

Why did you put me in danger like that? And why did you keep me in the dark about the whole plan?

Those questions kept popping in my head until I could feel them seeping through my veins. Sweat beads formed on my forehead, while I soaked in air through my mouth. He had not only put me in danger but kept me in the dark about his plan. If the Cartel had believed they had walked in on the guys by surprise, I wouldn't be fooled. From the way Zane and his friends conducted the fight, I knew right away it was planned. Why had he withheld his plan from him? The same man whose hands had traced my skin while his breath warmed my neck as he whispered my name had used me as bait, luring them to the lounge like I was some expendable piece in his chess game. Had he suddenly realized he could no longer trust me with the cartel plan?

I tilted my head, watching him from the corner of my eyes. After the bloody chaos, he sat there with hands tight on the steering wheel, his knuckles still bruised from the fight, acting like it was just another night. Like he hadn't ripped my heart out and left it bleeding on the lounge floor. God, that fight. The way he had moved was like he was in sync with the wind itself, cutting through professionally. I heaved a sigh to ease the buzz my body felt at the memory, my pulse quickened as I processed the way he had taken down those men without flinching.

My protector.

It was infuriating, how much I wanted him even now. When I was so angry, I could have screamed at him.

"Sienna" Zane started to say when the car slowed, turning into the driveway of his place.

I opened the door and hopped out of the car, cutting him off. I slammed the door hard enough to make the frame shudder. He needed to know I wasn't pleased with his decision.

I heard his door close behind me.

"You don't get it, Sienna wait." Zane called after me, yet I quickened my pace, covering the distance to the elevator in quick strides. He strode toward me, his steps heavy. I couldn't let him catch up with me.

Of course, he was. Zane was always in control, who was I fooling, thinking I had earned his trust. I spun to face him, ready to let the words fly, but his eyes stopped me dead.

They were dark, stormy, like twin hurricanes ready to devour everything in their path. He was pissed too.

The nerve of it set my blood boiling. He had no right to make the moment about himself.

"Zane," I whispered.

He stopped abruptly, eyes searching for mine like he was trying to read the chaos swirling inside me. Then, without a word, he grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me to the elevator with a force that made my breath hitch... I tried to fight him off, but I knew I was no match for the man. I gave up trying. Waiting for him. Once again, he had taken control of my rage.

My body betrayed me. Despite the anger and hurt, all I wanted was to close the distance between us, to press my lips to his and forget the world. Blame it on the way he'd fought earlier, the raw power and confidence that radiated off him in waves. Or maybe it was just that I was hopelessly tangled up in him, no matter how much it hurt.

I stared at him, heart pounding, waiting for him to explain. Waiting for the truth.

The elevator doors slid open, and he pulled me inside the penthouse, not giving me the chance to even catch my breath. Zane's hands were in my arms, pushing me back against the door. He pressed his body into mine, pinning me between the door and himself. We were so close that I could feel the heat radiating off him like a wildfire.

My heart hammered in my chest, each beat louder than the last, echoing in my ears. I was dizzy with anticipation, the sharp ache of longing twisting deep in my gut. His face was so close, way too close, and when his lips brushed mine, I closed my eyes without hesitation. His lips brushed mine softly, and it sent a shiver racing down my spine. Oh, Zane!

I parted my mouth, aching to let him take me at that moment, to drown out the confusion and pain I was feeling at that moment. I was ready to forget, just for a moment, how he'd used me, how he had left me in the dark. I hated how much I wanted him, despite the betrayal still burning in my chest.

Then he chuckled in an intentional, low, mocking sound that sliced through the haze of my desire. My eyes snapped open, and the emptiness hit me, catching me as I stepped away, leaving me standing against the door, nothing but the weight of my own longing holding me up. My cheeks burned with humiliation, twisting down to my gut. How could I be so stupid? How could I still want him after everything that's happened?

He turned, walking toward the center of the room.

I yelled at him. "You pull me in, you push me away. "What the hell is wrong with you, Zane?"

He froze mid-step, his back to me, and for a moment, the silence was deafening. Then he turned, locking his eyes onto mine. They weren't just angry anymore; they were filled with a suspicious glare, like he was seeing me for the first time.

"Who are you, Sienna? How about you start by telling me your real name?"

The questions hit me like a slap, stealing my breath. I stared at him, my mouth open, but no words came. I thought we were past this. I thought he would trust me. But the way he was looking at me now, like I was the enemy, made my stomach twist.

"What?" I finally managed to voice out. "Zane, what are you talking about? You know me."

"Do I?" He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. "Because I'm starting to wonder. You show up out of nowhere, get close to me, get under my skin, and now..." He cut himself off, his jaw tightening as he ran a hand through his hair. "What's your angle, Sienna? What do you want from me?"

My heart pounded, a mix of hurt and anger swirling in my chest. I swallowed hard, trying to make sense of what had changed, what had turned him into this distrustful stranger. He had held me like I was his lifeline, his hands gentle. Now, he was looking at me as if I were a threat. What has happened between then and now? Had someone said something? Had he found something? My mind raced, searching for answers, but all I could feel was the sting of his doubt.

He moved suddenly, closing the distance between us in two long strides. Before I could react, he had me pinned against the wall, his hands on either side of my head, caging me in. His face was so close that I could see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes and feel the heat of his breath on my skin. "Tell me who you are, Sienna," he said, his voice low and commanding, sending a shiver down my spine despite my anger. "Tell me everything."

My breath hitched, my body betraying me again as it leaned toward him, drawn to his intensity like a moth to a flame. I wanted to shove him away, to scream at him for doubting me, but my hands were trembling, and my heart was racing for all the wrong reasons. God, he was so close, his scent filling my senses, making it hard to think.

"I'm not playing a game," I said. "I'm the same person I was before tonight, Zane. The same person who trusted you, who let you in, who..." I stopped, my throat tightening as the memory of his hands on me, his lips against mine, flooded back. "You know me. You know my name. Sienna Carter. Why are you doing this?"

His eyes searched mine, relentlessly, like he was trying to peel back my skin and see the truth underneath. "Because things don't add up," he said, "You're too good at this, Sienna. Too calm in a firefight, too quick to pick up on things most people wouldn't notice. You're not just some girl who stumbled into my world. So, who are you? Really?"

My stomach dropped. He wasn't entirely wrong. I had never told him about the years I had spent scraping by, learning to survive in places where trust was a luxury I couldn't afford. I had kept those parts of me buried. But now, pinned against the wall, his eyes boring into mine, I realized those omissions were coming back to haunt me.

"I'm not hiding anything. I told you who I am. I told you why I'm here. I didn't ask to get caught up in your world, Zane. You pulled me in, and then you..." My voice cracked, and I hated how weak it made me sound. "You used me. You put me in danger without even telling me, and now you're acting like I'm the one who betrayed you?"

He flinched, just barely, but I saw it. His hands dropped from the wall, but he didn't step back, his body still close enough to make my skin hum. "I didn't want to hurt you," he said. "But I need to know I can trust you, Sienna. I need to know you're not playing me."

"You think I'm the one playing games after tonight?"

He stared at me. "Sienna, these men don't just think you are a threat without a reason. They have intensified their attacks since you showed up here. They stayed away for years and suddenly they are acting this reckless just because of you and I am going to find out why you are this person of interest to them."

"No," I snapped, stepping forward, closing the distance between us again. "You don't get to do this. You don't get to make me feel like I'm the one who's done something wrong. I've been honest with you, Zane.

His hands were on me again, gentle this time, one cupping my face, the other gripping my waist. "I'm trying to protect what's mine."

"What's yours?"

"Yes, Sienna, you either come clean or nothing. I have come too far to project Atlas to let you ruin it," he said.

The air between us crackled, heavy with everything unsaid. My body was screaming for him, my lips aching to close the distance, but my heart was bruised. I didn't know if I could continue the confrontation, but I knew I was ready to walk away.

ZANE

I broke Sienna, and I broke her badly, too.

The way she had looked at me after my questions sent a shiver down my spine. She had felt hurt deeply. But how was I to know it wasn't just a show? Just as she had been playing me since day one.

"Dammmit!" I pulled my right hand into a fist and hit the bag. The heavy bag swayed under the force of my fist, the chain groaning as it absorbed the blow. I had been at this all morning, knowing I needed to ease the tension within me, and the gym was the best way to release the heat.

My knuckles had started to sting from the relentless pounding, but I didn't stop. Each hit sent a jolt through my arm, sending my breath out in a sharp rush, matching the rhythm of my punches. I would switch the punching fist between my palms, making sure both were getting equal aim at the bag.

The fight at the lounge replayed in my mind as I tried to process the fight from a viewer's perspective. Each time, I came to the conclusion that the men had stormed in targeting her and merely fought us off to get to her. We were never their target. Sienna was.

I had orchestrated it, hoping they would come for me and my brothers, but though the plan had worked, the outcome wasn't what I had expected. I took another swing at the lurching bag, hitting harder this time. My company, which had enjoyed years of smooth operation, was now threatened by their relentless pursuit. They weren't after me or Atlas, they were after her. Why? What made Sienna Carter worth their time and their resources? The gang leader's words haunted me. It may have been a taunt for them to plant a seed of doubt between us and it had taken root. Was she playing me? Hiding something? Or was she just as lost in this mess as I was?

I drove my fist into the bag again, the impact jarring my wrist, but it wasn't enough to drown out the questions. I had always trusted my instincts and that had built my empire and kept me alive. But with Sienna, they faltered.

The bag took another hit, the chain rattling under my punch when my phone buzzed on the bench, cutting through my thoughts.

I ripped off my gloves, the Velcro tearing loudly, and walked to the couch and picked up the phone. Damian's name lit up the screen. "Yeah?" I said, leaning against a pillar.

"Zane, it's Noah. He's stable. Cleaned up, stitched, and on bed rest. Doc says he's out of danger, but he's down for a while," Damian replied.

Relief hit me, sharp and fleeting, followed by a fresh wave of guilt. Noah had almost lost his life because of my plan. "Good," I said, my throat tight. "Anything else?"

"Yeah." Damian's voice lowered, cautiously. "We have got the IT spy. He's in the bunker, right where you wanted him."

My pulse quickened. "I'm on my way," I said. "Keep him locked down."

"Zane," Damian added, hesitating. "What's the guy at the lounge saying some stuff about Sienna?"

"Weird stuff. I don't know what to make of it yet." My grip tightened on the phone.

"If you say so," Damian said, sounding very unconvinced.

"Would be there soon," I said, and hung up. My mind raced, the leader's words echoing again. She's not what you think. The idea of Sienna working with them, playing me from the start, made my blood run cold. But the image of her broken expression, the way she had recoiled from my accusations, didn't fit. None of it fit. I needed answers, and I needed them now.

I grabbed my jacket, the leather cool against my overheated skin, and headed for the hallway. As I passed the guest room, I slowed, my hand twitching toward the door. Sienna was there, probably awake, probably replaying our argument. I could still see her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Part of me wanted to barge into the room and shake her until she spilled every secret so we would both be out of our misery. But I couldn't trust myself to stay calm, not with my head this screwed up.

Instead, I walked on, heading to my room to get cleaned up.

Thirty minutes afterward, I was ready to leave the house. I called out to Jason, her security detail, stationed at the end of the hall. "Keep her safe. No one in or out until I'm back."

Jason nodded. "Understood, boss."

I turned away, my boots heavy on the hardwood, and stepped out into the driveway. The cartel was all closing in, and I was running out of time to figure out who I could trust.

֍

I pulled up to the bunker, inches away from the door, and hesitated, holding both hands on the wheel. I wondered if I had made the right decision, leaving Sienna behind. She was going to be safe inside, under Jason's watchful eye, and for now, that was enough. Both cartels had taken heavy hits in yesterday's clash in the lounge and for a brief moment, the power balance had shifted. It gave me breathing room, but not much. The war wasn't over, and the traitor in my ranks was still bleeding my company dry. That IT spy was my next target, and I'd carve the truth out of him if I had to.

I have always hated snitches. Betrayal was what birthed the dangerous side of me and whoever the spy was, his fate would be no different from Robert's.

I stepped out and nodded to the guard at the door. He opened it without a word, and I strolled in.

The bunker was my domain, a high-tech vault where I handled the most sensitive and complex aspects of my business. The torture room was down a concrete corridor, its walls soundproofed, its tools gleaming under intense fluorescent lights. I pushed open the door, my boots echoing, and took in the setup. I walked to the steel table, which held an array of equipment, including blades, pliers, blowtorches, and syringes filled with chemicals that could break a man's mind. The huge water tank sat in the corner. I spared no expense when it came to answers. Every tool was precise, designed to inflict maximum pain with minimum mess. I had learned from the best and perfected it.

Damian stood nearby, arms crossed, his face unreadable. "He's been babbling," he said, nodding toward the guy. "Keeps saying he didn't have a choice."

"Rookies love to blab," I laughed as I walked over to the center of the room.

The spy was younger than I had expected; he was a nobody, but one who had cost me millions and put my people on the ground.

"They always say that they don't have a choice," I muttered as I shrugged off my jacket, tossing it over a chair, and rolled up my sleeves. The guy's eyes widened, his breath hitching as I approached. Good. Fear was a great motivator.

"Zane," he stammered, his voice cracking. "I didn't want to do it, I swear. They threatened my mother, said they would..."

"Shut up," I snapped, leaning in close, my face inches from his. "You sold out my company. My people. Noah's in a hospital bed because of your leaks. So you're going to talk, and you're going to tell me everything. Or I'll make you wish you'd never been born."

Adam's apple bobbed, and he nodded frantically. "Okay, okay! I'll tell you what I know!"

"What's your real name and how did you get tangled up in this?"

I straightened, my jaw tight, and glanced at the table. My fingers brushed over a pair of pliers, the metal cool against my skin. I haven't picked them up...not yet. I wanted him to feel the weight of what was coming.

My mind was a tangle of rage and doubt, Sienna's face flashing again the way she had looked at me, like I'd betrayed her. Was she the real traitor? Or was this guy about to confirm my worst fears? I needed clarity, and I would rip it out of him if I had to.

"Start with what you know about Sienna Carter," I said. "What's her connection to the Reyes Cartel?"

His eyes darted to Damian, then back to me. "I am Raul Agadez. Robert recommended that I act as the IT rookie, so the cartel could gain access to Atlas's operations."

"Dead and still haunting me with his betrayal" I shook my head, wishing I could kill Robert all over again.

"Go ahead," I added,

"I don't know much, I swear. I just overheard stuff. Rob was the direct link to them. They said she's important, as if she has something they need. Something big."

"Like what?" I pressed, stepping closer. My shadow fell over him, and he shrank back.

"I don't know! They didn't discuss details. Just that she is tied to Victor Rey. Not just a target, she is someone they know. Whatever she had on them is colossal," he said, breaking into a smile.

"Think this is some comedy show, right?"

Knowing he was merely playing along made my control slip. I grabbed his collar, yanking him forward, and the chair scraped against the floor. "Playing me how?" I growled. "What do they want with her?"

"I don't know!" he wailed in panic. "They just said she's the key! Something about a deal, leverage, I don't..."

I backhanded him, the sound sharp in the quiet. His head snapped to the side, blood trickling from his lip. "You're lying," I said, "You think you can hold out on me? You think I won't break you?"

"I'm not lying!" he sobbed, "I swear, that's all I heard!"

I turned to the table and picked up a roll of cellophane. His eyes followed me, widening with terror. "No, please," he whispered. "I'll tell you anything, just.."

"You had your chance," I said, unrolling the plastic. I wrapped the cellophane around his head tightly, cutting off his air. His muffled screams vibrated against the plastic, his body thrashing against the restraints.

"Talk," I said, but he couldn't. Not yet. I held it for ten seconds, watching his eyes bulge, his face reddening. Then I ripped it off, letting him gasp for air.

"What does Rey want with her?"

"I don't know," he gasped, tears streaming.

I grabbed his head, my fingers digging into his skull, and dragged him to the water tank. The surface of the water rippled as I shoved his face under the cellophane back in place, sealing his screams. He thrashed, bubbles erupting, his body jerking against my grip. I held his head inside the water for minutes until his struggles grew weaker.

While he struggled against my grip to no avail, all I could think of was getting my answers. I was no longer acting cool. They had unleashed the monster and there was no going back.

A hand touched my shoulder, "Zane," Liam's voice cut through my raging thoughts, "Enough. You will kill him."

I froze, loosening my grip on his neck. I hadn't even noticed Liam walking into the room. I glanced at Damian, who was clearly enjoying watching me torture the guy. I could see the faint lines of disappointment as he glared at Liam.

The guy coughed and raised his head a little out of the water, but didn't move out of the tank. He couldn't. I stepped back, water dripping from my hands.

I realized that it was Liam's voice and touch that had pulled me back from the abyss. I had let the rage take over. And for what? A few scraps of information, none of it clear enough to solve the puzzle.

"Get him up," I said, turning away. I wiped my hands on my pants, the fabric clinging to my skin. Liam moved silently, hauling the guy back to a chair, checking his pulse. The guy was alive, barely, his breath a wet rattle. I didn't look at him. I couldn't.

"Keep him alive," I said to Liam. I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door. I stepped out, the door slamming shut behind me.