ZANE.

I shifted gears, the engine roaring as I pulled out of the lounge garage. My mind churned, replaying every moment with her. The way she had melted under my touch, her body arching against mine like she was mine to claim. But she had bolted out of the lounge like I was the enemy. If she loved me, why run? Why hide? I had seen the hurt in her eyes when I laughed, but what did she expect? Trust? After everything.

My phone buzzed in the center console, and Liam's name flashed on the screen. I hit the speaker button, "What?"

"Zane, get to the east branch. Now." Liam's tone was urgent, "There's been an explosion."

"What the hell do you mean, explosion?" I swerved into the next lane, ignoring the blare of a horn behind me.

"A bomb. Part of the building's gone. We've got injured workers and the emergency crews are on site. It's a mess. You need to be here."

The line went dead just as my SOS alerts started pinging from my tablet synced to Atlas's security grid. I slammed my foot on the gas, the car lurching forward as I wove through traffic. An explosion at the east branch? Atlas was a fortress, the kind that didn't just get hit by accidents. My gut twisted. This wasn't random. It couldn't be.

By the time I reached the east branch, the scene was chaos, ambulances and fire trucks clogging the street. The air reeked of smoke and melted metal, a jagged scar ripped across the building's facade.

Shattered glass crunched under my boots as I stepped out, my eyes scanning the wreckage. Half the second floor was gone. Paramedics darted through the crowd, stretchers carrying bloodied workers. My jaw clenched, a surge of rage burning through me. The perpetrator was going to pay.

Reporters swarmed the place, their cameras and microphones thrusting in my direction the second they discovered my arrival.

"Mr. Calloway! What can you tell us about the explosion?" A woman in a black blazer shoved her recorder in my face, her eyes hungry for a soundbite.

I pushed past her, "No comment until we have more information. Let the first crew do their job." My PR training kicked in, but inside, I was seething. I needed answers, not headlines.

Liam met me at the cordoned-off entrance. "What's the damage report?" I asked, joining him.

"Six injured, two critical," he said, falling into step beside me. "A bomb was planted near the server room. It contained enough not to take the whole building, but it did enough damage."

"Cartel?" I asked, my voice barely audible over the sirens.

His eyes met mine, hard and knowing. "Who else?"

We pushed through to the makeshift command center, a tent set up for emergency coordination. Inside, I faced a dozen board members. They had been pulled from their normal lives, and now they wanted assurances I wasn't sure I could give. I stood at the head of the folding table, my hands braced against the edge, as their stares pressed into me.

"This was an isolated incident," I said. "A gas leak or faulty wiring. Whatever the investigators pin it on, we will handle it. We've already allocated an emergency fund for victim treatment and rebuilding. The branch will close temporarily while we assess the damage."

"An accident?" Madison leaned forward, her glasses glinting under the fluorescents. "Zane, this doesn't feel like a coincidence. Atlas has enemies. This is the second attack this quarter."

I met her gaze, my expression unyielding. "We don't jump to conclusions without evidence. Let the authorities do their work. Our priority is our people and making sure they're taken care of."

The lie tasted too easy but I couldn't afford to let the board spiral. If they suspected the cartel, they would pull funding, lock down projects, and that would stall our operations. I needed time to handle this my way.

The meeting dragged on with more questions from the board, I answered with practiced calm, promising transparency while giving nothing away. By the time we adjourned, my shirt clung to my back with the acrid smell of smoke.

I stepped out of the tent, hoping to catch some fresh air, but the tension didn't ease. Liam and Damian were waiting.

"Walk with me," Damian said, his eyes scanning the crowd like he expected an ambush. We moved away from the tent, toward the edge of the perimeter, where the press couldn't hear and the wreckage loomed like a warning.

Damian pulled something from his jacket. It was a scorched piece of metal, no bigger than a credit card, etched with a single line.

"Give us the girl or we burn it all down."

I read out the words as I took it, my fingers brushing the rough edges. This was about Sienna. They wanted Sienna.

"This was meters from the blast site," Liam said. They're not fucking around, Zane."

I closed my fist around the metal, the sharp edge biting into my palm. "They think they can hit us and walk away?" My voice barely contained the rage clawing at me. "They want a war, they will get one."

Damian crossed his arms,. "This isn't just a hit, Zane. It's a message. They know about Sienna. They know she's a leverage point. Question is, how much is she worth? I don't think she's worth this bomb and the lives of our labor force." he snorted

I stepped toward him, my fists clenched. "Watch your mouth, Damian. You don't know what you're talking about."

"Enough," Liam cut in, "We don't have time for this. Noah's still in the hospital, recovering from their last 'message.' Now they've hit the east branch. They're coming for Atlas, Zane, and they're not stopping until they get what they want. So what's the play? You gonna hand over Sienna, or are we fighting a war we might not win?"

I stared at him, my pulse hammering in my ears. Hand over Sienna? The thought made my stomach churn, but so did the image of Atlas burning. Now the cartel was tearing at its foundations, and Sienna was the fault line. I wanted to trust her, to believe her confession was real, but the doubts gnawed at me. What did she know? What was on that flash drive she'd hidden in her necklace?

"We don't negotiate with terrorists," I said finally. "They want Sienna, they will have to go through me. We lock down Atlas, double security, pull our key projects off-site, and get our best people on this. I want every lead on the cartel followed. Names, locations, anything."

Damian shook his head, "You're gambling with our lives, Zane. Hers too. If she's the key, maybe we cut our losses."

I grabbed his collar, yanking him close, "Say that again, and you're out. Atlas is mine, and so is she. You don't get to decide who's expendable."

Liam stepped between us, his hand on my chest, pushing me back. "Cool it, both of you. Damian's got a point, Zane. We need to know what Sienna's hiding."

I released Damian, stepping back, my chest heaving. "Get to work," I said, turning away, my boots crunching on the debris. "I will handle Sienna."

As I walked back to my car, the city's pulse thrummed around me, but all I could hear was the cartel's threat.

Give us the girl or we burn it all down.

SIENNA.

The elevator hummed softly as it climbed to Zane's penthouse, and I took a deep breath, letting out the air in a whiff. The glass walls reflected my tense expression. When I glanced at Belinda beside me, she could barely contain her excitement. If things hadn't hit off the way it had with Zane, I may have given myself the grace to appreciate and bask in the thrills of being in one of the finest penthouses in Los Angeles.

My fingers tightened around the broken pendant in my pocket. I was desperate to know what it held, yet the thought of being in Zane's space again made my stomach churn. I didn't want to face him, not after his laughter had sliced through my confession in the lounge.

Belinda, oblivious to my inner chaos, grabbed my wrist, "Girl, I can't believe I'm about to see Zane Calloway's penthouse," she said with a gleeful voice.

"You are Bel," I said, half interested.

"You know how many blogs rave about this place? I'm ready to be dazzled."

I forced a smile to match her enthusiasm. "It's just a fancy apartment, Bel. Don't get too starstruck."

"Fancy?" She scoffed, nudging my shoulder. "This is billionaire-level fancy."

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open to the sleek foyer. Belinda grasped it instantly, and I glanced at her. Her eyes darted from the crystal chandelier to the panoramic windows showcasing the city's glittering skyline.

"Okay, I take it back," she whispered, stepping out of the elevator. "This is next-level. Sienna?"

I didn't answer her rhetorical questions as I followed her with Jason trailing behind us silently.

Belinda was about to make a comment when Jason's phone buzzed. It kept blaring with such urgency that I froze in my step. I turned to him watching as he glanced at the screen, and I noticed his jaw tightening as he read from the screen.

"What is it?" I asked.

He met my gaze and looked towards Belinda. He was probably considering whether he could talk in her presence. Belinda was lost in our talks. She had her full attention on a painting. "This is an SOS alert. One of Atlas's branches just got hit. Bomb."

My breath caught, and the only image flashing through my mind was Zane's. Was he there? Was he hurt?

"My God. Is he...?" My fingers tightened over the pendant in my hand.

"Zane's fine," Jason cut in, as if he had read through me.

"What happened? How much damage?" I asked.

"From my report here, no deaths, just some injuries. Nothing to get you worried."

Relief washed over me, knowing Zane was safe. I nodded, relaxing my fingers around the pendant as the realization of the news hit me. Zane wasn't there. That meant we could dig into the flash drive without him watching.

"Let's get to the tech room," I said, "Come on Bel, we can do a house tour later," I said, literally pulling her away from her hypnotized state.

Reluctantly, she followed me as Jason led us through the hallway. "Sienna, you're living the dream."

"I don't live here," I muttered. The idea of calling this place home felt foreign. I didn't belong here. This was Zane's world.

The tech room was located at the end of a hallway, and upon entering, it was like stepping into a sci-fi movie. It had lots of monitors and a rack of servers humming quietly. There was a massive touchscreen table that was connected to all the monitors. Jason gestured to one of them.

"That's the one with the old ports. I am positive it will read your drive."

I pried the pendant open and extracted the tiny flash drive before handing it to Jason, my pulse racing with anticipation of what we were about to discover. "Let's do this."

"What spy movie does this remind you of, Sienna?" Belinda asked.

"Not now, Bel."

Jason plugged it into the desktop. Belinda leaned over my shoulder. "What do you think's on it? Secret government files? Don't be a bore?"

I swallowed. "I don't know. But he called it my lifeline. It's got to be something big."

"Have a look" Jason said, stepping aside just as the screen prompted for a password,

I stared at the screen, my heart sinking. A passcode? I racked my brain, searching for anything my dad might've used, birthdays, names, random numbers he had mentioned. Nothing clicked.

"I don't remember him saying anything about a code," I said, feeling some of the hope I had draining out of me.

Belinda squeezed my shoulder, "Okay, let's think. What was your dad like? Did he have favorite words, phrases, anything he repeated a lot?"

I closed my eyes, picturing my dad's face, "He used to say power is loyalty," I said, "Maybe that?"

Jason typed it in, but the screen flashed red with an Access Denied prompt. We tried variations and each attempt ended the same. With each denied access, my frustration intensified.

I started to pace the room, trying to remember anything that had happened that night that could be the likely code. Why hadn't my dad told me? Why leave me with a puzzle I couldn't solve?

Belinda flopped into a chair, blowing a stray curl out of her face. "Your dad was no joke, Sienna. What kind of accountant hides a flash drive like this?"

"Apparently, he wasn't just an accountant," I said. "I had always suspected there was more to him, but now the evidence is staring me in the face. Whatever's on this drive, will explain it all. I know it."

Jason leaned back, rubbing his neck. "We're not cracking this today. I think it needs serious decryption software, maybe even a specialist. This is beyond specialty."

I shook my head, panic flaring. "No specialists. We don't know who we can trust." The thought of Zane or the cartel discovering the drive made me uneasy.

Before Belinda or Jason could respond, the door opened, and Zane stepped in. He looked exhausted, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made me want to shrink and stand taller at the same time.

"Mr Calloway!" Belinda's squeaky scream made him turn away from mine to face her.

"Miss Adams, welcome to my humble house." He smiled softly, his eyes taking note of everything, yet he acted like he had not just caught us in his tech room. Jason stepped away from the desktop and I hastily flipped the buttons, until the screen went blank. I turned around to find Zane's eyes on me,

"Dinner's ready," he said, his eyes leaving mine to Jason and finally on Belinda.

Belinda perked up. "Dinner in a billionaire's penthouse? Count me in." She shot me a grin, oblivious to the tension crackling between me and Zane.

I wanted to argue, to stay glued to the computer until we cracked the drive, but my stomach growled in hunger, betraying me. And a part of me wanted to be near him, even after everything.

"Fine," I said, avoiding his gaze.

"Yess" Belinda grinned, marching out of the room.

֍

The air smelled of the braised duck Cantonese. I was munching on having finished the crispy boneless chicken and left with the lettuce when Belinda let out a low whistle, "Okay, Zane, this is straight-up palatial. Do you eat like this every night?"

Zane's lips twitched in a smile. "Only when I have guests."

Belinda speared a piece of salmon and grinned at Zane. "So, Mr. Billionaire, what's the deal with this place? I heard it is fully smart. Does it make your coffee for you in the morning?"

Zane leaned back. "It could, if I wanted. The system controls security basically."

"Fancy," Belinda said, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "You ever get tired of all this high-class living? Look at this table. It's bigger than our apartment."

I snorted, unable to help myself, and Belinda winked at me. Zane's gaze flicked to me, softening for a moment, but I looked away, focusing on my plate. I didn't want his warmth, not when I could still hear his laughter from the lounge.

"High-class has its perks," Zane said. "But it's just a tool. Keeps things efficient."

"Efficient's one word for it," Belinda said, gesturing to the chandelier. "I'm calling it fabulous. Sienna, you didn't tell me you were chilling in a palace."

"I don't chill here," I muttered, poking at my risotto. "I'm just... visiting."

Belinda raised an eyebrow but didn't push. Instead, she turned back to Zane. "So, what's the craziest thing this penthouse can do? Like, can it lock out unwanted guests? Or play mood music on command?"

Zane's eyes glinted, and he leaned forward, engaging her in a way that made my chest ache. "Voice-activated playlists, sure. And the security system's tight, biometric locks, motion sensors. Nobody gets in unless I want them to."

I gripped my fork tightly, his words hitting too close to home. Did he want me here, or was I just another guest he could lock out when he was done? As we finished, Zane stood, his gaze lingering on me. "You're welcome to stay," he said, "All of you."

Belinda clapped her hands, grinning. "I'm never leaving. This place is my new home."

I forced a smile, but my heart wasn't in it. I needed answers, not Zane's hospitality.

I pushed my chair back, the legs scraping faintly against the polished floor, and stood, avoiding his eyes.

"Sienna," Zane said as he rose. "Can we talk?"

"I'm keeping Belinda company," I said, hastily moving toward her. It was a flimsy excuse, but I would rather hide behind it than face him.

I gripped Belinda's arm, steering her toward the living room. "Later," I muttered, not trusting myself to say more. I couldn't let him unravel me again, not when the flash drive in my pocket held secrets I needed more than his apologies.

Belinda's eyes flicked to me, a knowing glint in them, but she played along, leaning closer with a grin. "Yeah, Zane, no boys allowed. We've got important things to discuss, like how I'm stealing your interior designer's number."

Zane's jaw tightened, but he didn't push. "Fine," he said, standing, "I'll be in the office if you need me." His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, before he turned and strode out, his silhouette disappearing down the hallway.

Belinda didn't say anything nor resist as I pushed her along with me into the living room. The plush velvet sofas looked inviting, but I was too restless to sit. She plopped down, kicking off her shoes and tucking her legs under her,

"Okay, girl, what was that?" she asked, her eyes glinting with mischief. "You practically sprinted out of there. Zane's got those puppy-dog eyes, and you're over here playing hard to get."

I crossed my arms, leaning against the wall. "It's not a game, Bel. He doesn't care about me. Not in the way you think."

Belinda tilted her head, "Sienna, come on. I saw the way he looked at you at dinner. Like you're the only person in the room. And you're not exactly indifferent, Miss 'I Love You' Mid-Orgasm." She grinned. I grabbed a throw pillow nearest and hauled it to her.

"Stop it," I said as she dodged the throw pillow I lobbed at her.

"Can we focus? The drive's all that matters right now. I need to know what's on it."

She sighed, stretching dramatically. "Fine, fine. But for the record, you two are giving me rom-com vibes, and I'm here for it." She paused. "Zane's gone to his office. Now's our chance to call Travis."

"Who is Travis?" I asked.

"My IT guy's a genius with this stuff, and he owes me for covering his ass three times in a row."

I hesitated at the idea of bringing in a stranger. It made my skin prickle. "Can we trust him? If this drive is as big as I think, we can't risk it getting out."

Belinda waved a hand, her bracelets jangling. "Travis is a nerdy pushover. I'll make him swear on his Star Wars collection to keep it quiet. Plus, he's been trying to get me to go on a date with him. He'll behave knowing that could get him a chance."

I nodded, my pulse quickening. "Okay. Call him."

She pulled out her phone, her fingers flying over the screen. As she chatted with Travis, I glanced out the window. The penthouse's smart lights dimmed slightly, adjusting to the evening, but the tech only heightened my unease. Zane's world was too controlled and I felt like a glitch in his system.

"He's on his way," Belinda said, hanging up. "Twenty minutes, tops. Let's get back to the tech room before Zane comes sniffing around for you."

"Don't you even start" I eyed her as we made our way to the tech room. The hum of servers greeted us. I sank into the chair while Belinda leaned against the touchscreen table. I texted Jason to bring Travis to the tech room when he arrived before dropping the phone next to me on the chair.

"So, what's your bet? Spy secrets? Buried treasure map?" she asked.

I managed a weak laugh. "Knowing my dad, probably his old tax returns." But my chest tightened as I spoke. Whatever was on it, it wasn't mundane. "I just want to know why he left, Bel. Why didn't he tell me anything?"

She reached over, squeezing my hand. "We'll figure it out. Travis's got this."

A soft knock interrupted us, and Jason ushered in a lanky guy with messy brown hair and glasses that kept sliding down his nose. Travis clutched a battered laptop bag, his eyes darting around the tech room like a kid in a candy store. "Holy crap, this setup is insane," he said. "Is that a quantum processor?"

Belinda rolled her eyes, stepping forward. "Focus, Travis. You're here for a job, not a tech tour." She crossed her arms, "And before you touch anything, you swear this stays between us. You breathe a word, and I will tell the whole office you've got a micropenis and cry during rom-coms."

Travis's face went beet red. "Jesus, Belinda, that a lie and yes I get it! My lips are sealed, I swear." He glanced at me, then back at her, his Adam's apple bobbing. "What's the deal?"

I pulled the flash drive from the pendant, holding it up. "This. It's encrypted, and we need to get in. Can you do it?"

His eyes lit up, and he adjusted his glasses, suddenly all business. "Old-school Type-A connector? Nice. Let's see what we're working with." He took the drive, plugging it into his laptop, which he'd set up next to the desktop. The screen filled with code and his fingers flew over the keys expertly.

Belinda leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Oh, and Travis? Crack this, and I'll go out with you. One date, my choice of place."

Travis froze, his fingers hovering mid-keystroke. "For real?" he squeaked, his blush deepening.

"For real," she said, winking as she ran a hand through his hair. "Now get to work, nerd."

I stifled a laugh, grateful for her ability to lighten the mood. Travis dove in, muttering about firewalls and encryption protocols. I watched the screen, my heart pounding as lines of code scrolled past.

Sixty-something minutes later, Travis let out a triumphant "Got it!" and I jolted upright in my chair.

"Really?"

"Bypassed the initial encryption," he said, pushing his glasses up. "But i have narrowed down the firewall to a a seven-letter word. Any ideas?"

I leaned forward, my mind racing. "We have tried most of the words I can remember, what is it?"

Belinda tapped her chin, grabbed Travis' noise-canceling headset and placed it over his head.

"What?" Travis tried to ask but she shut him off.

When she was sure, Travis couldn't hear us. She turned to me. "What about your actual family name? I remember you had to adopt Carter at some point."

I hesitated, then nodded. "Ellison?"

She nodded.

"It is seven letters. Can it be?"

I tapped Travis while she took off the headset.

"Try this word." I gave him the letters of my family's last name, holding my breath as he typed them in. The screen blinked green, and a folder icon appeared; I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth. "It worked."

Belinda squealed, launching herself at Travis and planting a kiss on his cheek. "You're a genius!" she cried, then spun to face me, her eyes wide. "Sienna, we're in! Holy shit, we're in!"

Travis blinked, dazed, his face flaming. "Uh, yeah. Cool." He cleared his throat, glancing at Jason, who had been silently watching from the corner. "So, uh, what now?"

Belinda's expression turned serious. "Now, you give us some privacy. Sienna and I need to see what's on this drive. Alone."

Travis, still blushing from the kiss, grabbed his laptop bag and shuffled out, mumbling about being on call if we needed him before leaving me and Belinda alone in the tech room.

I reached for the mouse with a trembling hand. "Here we go," I whispered to Belinda. The secrets were finally within reach, and I wasn't sure I was ready for what they would reveal.

SIENNA.

I swallowed repeatedly, and it felt foreign in my throat. As I clicked on a folder in the drive, it was named Ellison Archive. My breath hitched as my finger hovered over the mouse, wondering what I was going to find there. What if this broke everything?

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Belinda asked, glancing at me with concern etched on her face. Her brown eyes were wide, reflecting both her curiosity and fear.

I nodded, my throat dry. "I have to know, Belinda. My father... he left me this for a reason."

"Come on then, let's do it," Belinda said, sensing my hesitation. As her shoulder brushed mine, that gave me an anchor through the chaos I knew I was about to unleash on us.

"Okay," I clicked on the folder and as it spilled open to reveal scanned documents, audio files, blurry photos, I heaved a sigh as my eyes settled on a sub-folder inside it, perhaps because it was just there, like a shell inside another shell.

"Wow," Belinda breathed, her eyes darting across the screen. "This looks intense."

"Journal Scans." I read out the title as I opened it, and pages of my Dad's slanting handwriting filled the screen. I scrolled through the content, which dated back to before I was born.

"I think this will be our guide to understanding all these documents," Belinda said beside me. Her breath fanned my cheeks. My stomach suddenly started to twist as I scrolled through the words scribbled down in my father's writing. They were about shipments, deals, and names I didn't recognize. Until I saw that each section of the journal was written with a caption on each page, divided into three parts. Cartel, territory, blackmail.

"I'd be damned" I whispered, realizing that he had actually been a part of this dark world. I only had few pages to know just how involved he was at it.

"Look at this," I said, pointing to a passage that detailed Frederick Ellison's rise to power through manipulation and blackmail. "They were ruthless." My father had been at the center of it all, pulling strings in a dark game I had never known existed.

Belinda leaned closer, her brow furrowed. "And your dad was part of this?"

I swallowed hard, trying to process the implications. "It seems so. He was one of the leaders, one of the four."

"Sienna..." Belinda's hand gripped my arm. "Are you okay?"

I didn't answer. I couldn't. My eyes burned as I continued to read on, each line peeling back the lie I had lived with my whole life. In thirty minutes, I found out everything I had known for over twenty-five years was mere acting. And he was such a fine actor if he had fooled me that effortlessly. My father had always portrayed himself as a man of integrity in front of me, but these documents painted a different picture. He was a man who thrived in chaos.

I read out the content. "March 3rd 90s... Meeting at the docks. I proposed a new power structure with rotating leadership. The others agreed, but I could see the calculation in their eyes. No one trusts anyone."

Belinda's lips parted. "He documented everything?"

"Everything," I whispered. "Even the meetings they thought were off the record. He had them all recorded. He had always been a lover of writing anyway."

I clicked on another file. "They were all afraid of him," I said. "But they needed him because he had the leverage over them; we just needed to find out what it was."

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "This is... this is so much darker than I ever imagined."

Belinda reached over and squeezed my hand. "You don't have to keep reading."

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog of disappointment and anger clouding my mind. "But I have to understand who he really was... who I really am." I owed it to myself, to the girl who had believed her father was a hero. I owed it to the woman I was becoming.

The next entries were darker. "I started blackmailing them by recording their criminal conversations. I kept evidence of every crime, every secret deal they were involved in. I threatened to destroy them if they ever crossed me."

I looked at Belinda, "He was supposed to be their equal. But he wanted to be their only leader."

She nodded. "Absolute power corrupts. It always does."

I scrolled further. The entries grew more frantic. He wrote about his plans hastily, then came the betrayal. "Here, it says they tried to kill him. But he was always one step ahead. He bought their men. He knew everything planned before they carried out the plans."

Belinda's jaw tightened. "He had eyes everywhere."

I found the entry that changed everything. "He hired an assassin to take out Gregory Calloway. He succeeded. But Butler and Anderson fought back. They killed him and burned our house to the ground."

"Gregory Calloway? As in Zane Calloway's dad? Oh my world," Belinda squeaked and then hastily clasped a hand over her mouth.

I stared at the screen as I remembered the words of the men who had killed my parents. For the good of the realm.

I shook my head. "He was a monster. And I never saw it."

"Wait, roll back. I am confused. Could you summarize all these findings for me in simple language? I am lost."

"Okay. Gregory Calloway, who is Zane's father, along with Frederick Ellison, Hilary Butler, and Wilson Anderson, were the four leaders of every cartel and gang operating in LA and beyond its shores. All four shared equal power and control in the operations until Frederick Ellison, my father, decided it was time to split power on a rolling basis. Initially, they agreed that he should take the lead. However, he began to blackmail the other three in order to remain in power till death. He would record their discussions, document their secret deals, and every atrocity that had incriminating evidence, which, if discovered, could ruin the leaders and even political leaders. Hence, the three continued to obey him while secretly resenting him. They met and decided to put an end to him, knowing he had become too power-hungry and could ruin them. But Elisson had bought their men, and this plan was snitched to my father just before they could carry out their plans. He hired an assassin to take out the most threatening of them, Gregory Calloway. He was successful, but before he could kill the other two, they ganged up on him, killing and burning down his house for the good of the realm."

Belinda squeezed my hand again. "Now this is messed up. Zane's father? Your father. I have always known that this was all connected in some way, but never so deeply. We are screwed babe."

We sat in silence as I thought of the man who had taught me to ride a bike, who had cheered at my piano recitals, who had tucked me in at night with stories of bravery and honor. How could that man be the same one who had orchestrated murders, who had ruled through fear and manipulation?

I felt the tears before I realized I was crying. Belinda pulled me into a hug, her arms wrapping around me tightly.

"It's okay," she whispered. "It's okay to be angry. Let it all out."

I buried my face in her shoulder, letting the grief wash over me. For the innocence I would never get back.

I pulled away, wiping my eyes. "Bel, I have always wondered why he gave me this drive before he died. Now I get it. He wanted me to have it. To continue what he started."

"Wait," Belinda said suddenly, "If your dad was blackmailing them... what if he had something on your dad too?" The thought sent a chill down my spine.

"Look here," I said, scrolling down to an entry that detailed how my father had managed to turn the other leaders against each other. "He played them like chess pieces."

Belinda frowned. "And it ultimately led to Calloway's death."

Belinda's eyes searched mine. "What are you going to do?"

I stared at the screen, at the evidence that could destroy Zane. "I could use this," I said slowly. "I could take control and fight off the other gangs."

Belinda's voice was gentle. "Is that what you want?"

I didn't answer. I didn't know. All I knew was that I was standing at a crossroads, the weight of my father's legacy pressing down on me. I could become the new devil, hungry for revenge. Or I could walk away, leave the darkness behind.

But could I ever really escape?

I pressed my hands to my mouth, trying to choke back the sob clawing its way up. "He wasn't who I thought he was."

She didn't say anything, just watched me, her jaw tight, her eyes soft with something like pity. Then she leaned closer, her voice steady but gentle. "You didn't know. None of this is on you."

"But it is," I snapped, shoving my chair back and standing, my hands curling into fists. The room suddenly felt too small.

"He gave me this drive. He wanted me to know. Why? So I could take his place? Be like him. "He was a villain, Belinda. The worst of them. And I spent my whole life thinking he was a hero."

She stood too, crossing her arms, her eyes tracking me. "Maybe he thought he was giving you a weapon to survive in his dark world."

"This is poison. This could destroy Zane, sure. But it would destroy me, too. My father's legacy is built on blood, and I'm supposed to... what? Move in?"

Belinda's gaze softened, but she didn't back down. "You don't have to do anything. You could burn it all down by exposing it all, then walk away. Or..." She hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. "You could use it. Take control. Push Zane out, take the cartel, fight off the others."

I froze, staring at her. "You sound like him."

She flinched, but her eyes held mine. "I'm not saying you should. I'm saying you could. This drive could be your leverage."

I turned away, my hands gripping the edge of the table. She wasn't wrong. Zane had been different these past few days, acting suspicious with his questions about my past, and it would get worse when he found out about my father's role in his father's death.

"I need to think" I muttered,

"You're not him, Sienna. You're not defined by what he did."

"But I am," I said. "I have been working for Zane, falling for him, thinking I could live clean and free for once. But it's all built on blood. My father's blood, Zane's father's blood. And now I'm holding the key to it all. What am I supposed to do with this? Use it to take Zane down? Become the new queen of this hellhole? Or expose it all and lose everything... Zane, my life, myself?"

She leaned back, her fingers tapping the glass, her expression calm. "Zane's not clean either, you know that." She trailed off, letting the implication hang.

I looked away, as I stared out at the city. "He's been good to me," I said softly, almost to myself. "He's kept me safe. But if he knew about this..." I shook my head, the thought too heavy to finish. Would he protect me still? Or would he see me as a threat, a loose end to be tied off?

Belinda sipped her wine, her eyes never leaving me. "You really do love him. You don't have to decide tonight," Belinda said. "But you need to be careful. Zane's not just your boss, from this all, he's a player in this game. And players don't stay loyal when their throne is at stake."

I nodded, knowing she was right. The drive could end him, could give me the power to take his place, to fight off the rival gangs circling us. But it would mean becoming the monster my father had been. "I need time to figure out what I'm willing to lose."

Belinda nodded, no judgment in her eyes, "Whatever you choose, I'm here."

I managed a small smile, "Thanks," I said, and meant it.

We sat in silence while I considered my options. I was at a crossroads and didn't know which path to take.