Zane.

 I took a long sip of the black coffee, swallowing it in one gulp then I let down the mug to the saucer with a loud bang. The sound rattled the stuff on my desk. "Dammit" I yelled, leaning forward, I grabbed a crystal ball, rolling it between my fingers. I felt the warm sensation of the coffee as it flowed through my body. Who was I fooling, it wasn't the coffee, it was my desires. The bump poking at my zipper between my thighs was evident I was doing a bad job of controlling the intense desire coursing through my loins. The moment the twenty-five-year-old brown-haired, round face, curvy lady walked into my office, I knew I had made a miscalculation. And in all the years of strategically deciding things in Atlas, that was one grave mistake. I realized as her sharp, witty tongue spoke during the interview how I had miscalculated my move. The mistake wasn't in inviting her to be hired for the role; that decision was deliberate. It was a necessary move in a much larger game. The mistake was in underestimating the sexuality of her presence. I didn't realize how much power having her around me would set off passionate flames I had believed to have control over. Everything in my thirty-year-old life was meticulously calculated. The streams of businesses I owned, the investments I made, and the enemies I crushed before they even thought of betraying me. Even the ladies I had had flings with, all were never done without careful consideration. That was why when Sienna Carter walked into my office. I knew she was going to be more of a problem than a means to a solution I had wanted. "Goddaamit" I cuss, crossing my thighs as I shut off the lustful thoughts trying to invade my head. I needed to focus on work, draft a careful plan of the strategies I needed to draw out the enemies now that I have a lethal weapon in my care. Sienna was supposed to be just another assistant. Another nameless employee who would handle my paperwork and follow orders. If only Madison Gaye hadn't quit on short notice to pursue her supposedly happily ever after with a clown she met days ago on the job. The bimbo, who I had only tolerated because she gets things done a quarter of the time, better than the other ten I had worked with in years. But the moment I saw Sienna with those chestnut-brown long waves, her golden-hazel eyes that burned with something defiant, the fierceness I would have a sweet time bending to my will and a mouth that looked like it had never once bitten back a retort. And those gorgeous long legs that filled out the pants in the right ways, they would be perfect, wrapped around my neck as I plunged into her, while she grabbed onto the sheet, begging for more. And her perfect dentition that had come from years of sticking to her dental routines when she spoke, it would be awesome watching them open wide without care while she screamed her release. I shrug off the thought recalling how she had looked at me like she wasn't afraid of Zane Calloway of the Atlas Group, how dare she. Not acting like she feared me may have felt like a good step in her books but in mine, that was her first mistake. Her second mistake was lying to me. I knew exactly who she was and the other identities she had used in the past. I had seen her face before in a classified report about a cartel that was taken out a few years ago. A clean-out operation that should have left no survivors. And yet, here she was, looking vibrant and untouched. A goddamn walking question mark. And a very sexy looking one at that. I didn't believe in coincidence. I believed in leverage. So, I let her think she had a job and let her believe she was just another assistant working under my name because I wanted to know why a ghost from a supposedly dead cartel is in my office. Yet the feistiness about her unnerves me. Unlike every other lady who had worked with me, she didn't shrink under the weight of my gaze. She didn't fidget and stumble over her words like people do in my presence. She met my stare head-on and was too damn challenging for my liking. Most people broke under my scrutiny. Sienna held her ground. And that was going to be a problem. Or not... considering what I was planning to do to her, it wouldn't take me more than a few days to break her. Not mentally but in every sexual way possible, and from the satisfied cries from my ladies, she would want it very much. None had ever refused my experienced touch and Sienna wasn't about to be the first. Focus I sighed, feeling the bump between my legs slowly disappearing as I grind my teeth against each other, gaining back control. In seconds, it had leveled down. The bright sun streamed through the glass windows of the office and I let my gaze wander to Sienna sitting at the desk outside my office. I almost regrated it because that triggered a reaction between my legs, I hastily covered it with both legs to stop the swelling. The glass walls gave me the luxury of watching her work. Not out of curiosity but necessity knowing she was a wild card. One, I had no choice but to keep close. The one question I needed to answer was to know if she was aware of her situation too. Her body language was too careful, shoulders squared, spine straight, and every movement was deliberate. She typed with precision, her fingers flying over the keys, posture flawless. But there was something in the way her hand tightened on the mouse, the slight stiffness in her shoulders when she sensed me watching. She was trying to hide something. And I was going to figure out what it was. I stepped out of my office, my presence enough to send a ripple through the space. People tend to move differently around me, quieter, sharper, and more aware of every breath they take. Yet Sienna didn't flinch. She didn't even look up. We will correct that soon enough. By the time I was done with her, my presence would have her jumping for attention. "Do you always type that fast, or are you trying to impress me?" My voice was quiet but loud enough to reach her. She didn't pause. "If I wanted to impress you, Mr. Calloway, you would know." My lips curled slightly. Sharp tongue. I should have expected as much. Leaning against the edge of her desk, I folded my arms. "You're new here so I will give you some advice." "Is this the part where you tell me to be respectful?" I cocked a brow. "No. It's the part where I tell you that working for me means absolute control over every detail. I do not tolerate mistakes and will not take any excuses." She finally looked up, meeting my gaze with those infuriatingly unreadable eyes. "And if I don't like being controlled?" So they always say at first, soon I liked challenges, the type she was throwing at me at that moment. "Then you're in the wrong office." For the first time, I saw a flicker of something behind her masked face. Momentary irritation. She exhaled slowly, then turned back to her screen. "Duly noted, sir." Sir The way she said that word made me realize I was not going to have a hard time making her bend to my rules. It felt just right. I should have left then, but instead, I let the silence stretch until she finally glanced up at me, her golden-hazel eyes flickering with something unreadable before she straightened. "Is there something else you need, Mr. Calloway?" Oh yes Sienna, I want to bend you over this desk and show you different ways on how to be a perfect assistant. I want to make you cry with passion through this wing. Oh I have so much I want to do to you. Instead of voicing these thoughts out loud, I stepped closer, watching the way her posture stiffened as I rounded her desk. "I want the rest of my appointment for the day canceled," I said surprising myself. She tilted her head. "Why? You're still here," she said. The defiance in her eyes teased me. If only she knew how much I was fighting the urge to grab her at that moment. "I own the damn company." I grumbled She shrugged. "I see. And since I work for the man who owns the damn company. I will do as asked, sir." She was good. She knew exactly how to play this game never outright defiant, never overtly dismissive. Just enough pushback to let me know she wasn't afraid of me. She should be. And yet, when I placed my hands flat on the desk beside hers, she didn't pull away nor even blink. "Is that how you see this?" I murmured. "A job?" Her breath hitched. Just slightly. If I hadn't been so close, I might not have caught it. But I did. And for some fucking reason, I liked it. Her chin lifted. "Isn't it?" Without another word or a glance at her, I walked out of the room to the elevator. It wasn't until the doors were shut behind me that I was able to feel the bulge between my legs reduce to bubbles in seconds. Oh Sienna Carter, you have no idea the things I have planned for you! *** The exclusive lounge hummed with low conversations, the kind that only happened in places where men like us gathered. Powerfully dangerous men. Light smoke curled in the air from Damien's cigar mixed with the satisfying scent of expensive whiskey. The lighting was dim, just as we preferred. A low hum of jazz played from the speakers, but the sound barely cut through the murmured conversations and the occasional clink of crystal against marble tabletops. This was our usual hangout spot, an off-the-books lounge hidden away in the heart of Los Angeles. The kind of place where men like us didn't have to look over our shoulders because we own the damn building. No one walked through these doors without our permission. Yet, my mind wasn't in the room nor was the conversation going on around me. It was on Sienna and the shades of dirty things I wanted to do to her. I swirled the whiskey in my glass absentmindedly, watching the amber liquid catch the glow of the chandelier above my couch. She had no idea how deep she had fallen into my domineering world and clearly had no idea that her presence in my life was deliberate. A necessity. She was my bait, whether she realized it or not. A bait I would want a taste of before the actual game began. Across the table, Damien exhaled a long stream of smoke, his sharp gaze narrowing on Noah. "You look like you're about to kill someone." Ethan smirked, sipping his drink. "Which isn't unusual, but tonight it feels... different." Liam, who had a brunette sitting on his lap, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. He had that look, the smirk expression that said he was enjoying the coziness between him and the lady caressing his body. Noah, who had barely said a word since we got there, had his eyes fixed on me, like he was having me studied. He reached for his glass of rum before speaking. "Go on, Damien, out with it." Damien leaned back, stretching his legs across the floor like he had all the time in the world. "You should've seen the guy's face when I told him who I was," he said, smirking. "He went pale, stammered like a kid caught stealing candy." Noah snorted. "And yet you still let him walk away?" "I'm trying to be merciful." Ethan chuckled, nursing his drink. "That's not what I heard. Word on the street is you let him crawl out of the alley, half-conscious and in enough blood to swim in." Damien shrugged, grinning. "Same thing." The table erupted into laughter, but I barely heard them. My glass sat untouched in my hand. The conversation faded into background noise, my thoughts consumed by one person. Sienna. She was supposed to be bait. A way to draw out the last remnants of the cartel men who destroyed my life years ago. They had vanished into thin air and hidden in the shadows. But now, they had resurfaced, and in an odd way, their focus was set on her, too. It is why I wanted her by my side. Why Sienna and what does the Cartel want with her? That was the question that kept me awake at night since her resume popped up on my screen. She was the least qualified for the job, with a career gap and deliberate missing information, yet I had asked HR to invite her over. She had no idea the kind of danger she was in. perhaps not even the slightest idea that her presence in my world wasn't a coincidence. I needed to keep her close in order to use her to lure them out. But every time I looked at her, the cold logic of my plan wavered replaced with a crazy burning lust for her gorgeously sculpted body. Liam must have noticed my silence because he nudged his drink toward me. "Are you going to keep brooding all night, or are you actually going to drink that?" I exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand across my jaw. "Just thinking." Liam raised a brow. "About?" I didn't answer. Not right away. I glanced around the lounge, taking in the familiar faces and the safety of our territory. It wasn't often I let my guard down, but with these men, I didn't have to pretend. The other three were busy jesting and had no interest in our side talk. So, I said, "Excuse the brunette" "You heard the man, baby. Let's continue this later," Liam said, kissing the brunette on the lips. I watch, wondering how he keeps up with the number of ladies at his beck and call. Different ones every time we hung out. I prefer mine in a certain way that doesn't come in handy. The brunette cuddled him for a few seconds, whispering words I didn't bother to listen to before she got off his lap, wiggling her ass at him seductively before finally walking away. I sighed, shaking my head. Liam shrugged at me, "Come on, man, don't judge a brother for obliging the ladies. They love me, man" "Whatever. I have got a more pressing issue," I said, glancing over at the other guys. They were still engrossed in the bloody tales Damien was feeding them with. "What is it, Zane? I haven't seen you brood this much in years," Liam said. "Sienna Carter." Liam didn't react at first. He just took a slow sip of his whiskey, letting my words settle. Then, he leaned in slightly. "What about your new Personal Assistant? That's her name, right?" I let out a slow breath. "The cartel. I believe they are after her." He frowned. "You're sure about this?" I nodded. "Crystal. Same men. The ones we didn't finish." His jaw tightened. He didn't need me to explain further. He knew exactly who I was talking about. The shadows of our past. "What does she have in common? What do you want us to do?" he asked, taking another sip of his drink. I should have said what I needed to say, that we simply put security on her, keep her at a reachable distance, and let my men track every step she takes until we find the bastards hunting her. That's what I should have done. Instead, I said, "I'm keeping her close." Liam's eyes sharpened. "How close?" "She stays as my P.A." His expression darkened. "That's a bad idea, you know this." I knew it was. But I didn't care. "She's safer with me," I said. Liam studied me for a long moment. "This isn't just about keeping her safe." I clenched my jaw, looking away. "It doesn't matter what it is." He sighed, shaking his head. "You're playing a game I do not approve of." I didn't argue because, deep down, I knew he was right. Silence stretched between us, the weight of the past pressing down. We had spent years wiping out the men who had taken everything from us. The men who had left scars, some visible, some buried so deep they still bled when touched. All of them had been eliminated. Except the ones who had vanished. Until now Liam studied me for a long moment, his gaze piercing. "And that's all this is?" I didn't answer. Because I wasn't sure I had one. "Keeping her close is the only way to control the situation." "Damn," Liam said shaking his head. "We're really doing this?" "We don't have a choice," I said. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Then we do it right. We keep eyes on her." Liam nodded. "Agreed. If she's staying with you, we need backup plans in place. This isn't just about her safety, Zane. If they're making moves, this could be blown up into something bigger than we planned." I exhaled slowly, my grip tightening around my glass. I knew what he was saying. This wasn't just about Sienna. This was about finishing what we started. And I would burn the city down before I let those motherfucking assholes from the Cartel take control of the seat I had to crawl to hell to keep.

Sienna.

 The city hummed with life around me as I stepped onto the sidewalk to my car that evening. The air carried the scent of spring, the faint hints of jasmine and rain lingering from the earlier drizzle, but it did little to settle the unease crawling up my spine. I was exhausted. My body ached everywhere from sitting at my desk for too many hours, and my stomach twisted with hunger after skipping lunch. The long day had drained me, but it wasn't just the work. It was him. Zane Calloway. Every second in that office, I could feel his eyes pressing in on me. The way he watched me like I was something to be figured out, like I was a puzzle he was piecing together in real time. It was unnerving. Infuriating. And worst of all, it made my pulse spike in a way I wasn't ready to acknowledge. It had been a long time since another man set my body on fire like that, Ian had been the only one who had made his mark on my heart and body after three years of chasing me. And yet, just one encounter with Zane Calloway, and every one of my defense walls had started to melt away like wax. I tightened my grip on my purse and quickened my pace, knowing such distracting thoughts were the last thing I needed in my current environment. My car was only about five blocks away from the store where I had gone to grab some groceries for Belinda and me, it was at that moment I realized that it was too far. It was the only available spot when I had arrived, now it felt too dark, and too quiet for a lone walker with such a history as mine. Halfway there, the sensation started. A prickle of awareness at the back of my neck. A feeling I knew too well. I wasn't alone. I forced myself not to turn around too quickly, keeping my movements deliberate as I glanced at the storefront window beside me. The glass reflected the glow of streetlights and the shadow moving behind me. I swallowed hard. No. Not this again. My breath came faster as my fingers tightened around my purse strap. A deep-rooted fear clawed its way up my chest as panic coiled in my stomach. Not here. Not now. I tried to stay logical. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was just some guy heading in the same direction. But my gut told me otherwise. I picked up my pace. So did he. I turned the corner sharply. My heart started to hammer loudly as I reached the parking lot. It was empty, with no one in sight. Just rows of cars, the faint hum of the city beyond, and the man behind me. I yanked my keys from my bag, my fingers fumbling with the metal. My car was right there. If I could just...The step became too close and the sound of approaching boots. I halted my internal dilemma as ice-cold fear gripped me by the throat. My body locked up, my heart pounding so fast it was hard to breathe. Not again. I was seconds from a full-blown panic attack when a strong hand grabbed my arm. A sharp gasp tore from my lips as I twisted, ready to fight it. I opened my eyes wider in surprise as my brain processed the face of the person holding me. It wasn't a stalker I had feared was following me. It was Zane. His grip was firm but not rough. His intense blue eyes, flashed at me in the dim light. "What the hell are you doing here?" My voice was breathless, laced with panic. He didn't answer. His gaze flicked behind me, scanning the lot with lethal precision. A muscle ticked in his jaw. "Get in the car," he ordered. His voice was controlling and I resented it at once. I shook my head. "No. I'm not going anywhere until you tell me why..." I heard a spooky sound behind us and then the rattling sound of loading a gun. Zane heard it, too. His body went rigid, and before I could blink, he was pushing me toward the passenger side, unlocking the door with a swift movement. "Now, Sienna." There was no room for argument in his tone. My pulse thundered as I slid into the car, barely getting the door shut before Zane was behind the wheel, the engine roaring to life. The moment he pulled out of the lot, I found my voice. "Are you following me?" I snapped, my nerves stretched thin. His hands flexed on the steering wheel, his expression carved from stone. "You're welcome." "Answer me, Zane Calloway." His jaw tightened, he let go of the wheel, using the button to steady the drive. Then he turned his head towards me, gazing into my eyes like he was searching for something in them. That set off several alarms in my body and I had to slouch away from him to feel my breath again. He took back the wheels, and I instantly felt at ease without his eyes on me anymore. "I had a feeling you might run into trouble and see I am right." He said with a shrug of his shoulders, I stared at him, disbelief warring with suspicion. "A feeling?" His silence was answer enough. I let out a bitter laugh. "Right. So, walk me through this, you just happened to be a few blocks from my car at the exact moment I needed saving?" His gaze flicked to me, a smirk was visible yet I ignored it, "It wasn't a coincidence." I swallowed hard, my skin prickling. "Then why? Were you watching me, do you watch all your Pas are you that paranoid of your employees?" The car pulled to a stop at a red light, and I could hear my pulse racing. "Answer me!" I yelled through gritted teeth. Zane turned toward me again, his blue eyes seemed unreadable. The space between us felt too small and for a second, I believed he was going to grab my hands and..... "Because someone else is watching you too." His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper cutting through my thoughts. The words crashed over me, sending waves of panic inside me. The traffic light turned green, but I barely noticed. My mind was tangled in the weight of his statement. "What?" I forced a swallow past the lump in my throat. "What do you mean?" My voice was quieter now, the sharp edge dulled by something dangerously close to fear. Zane didn't answer immediately. He kept his hands on the wheel, fingers flexing like he was considering how much to tell me. "I need to know, Zane." My breath was shallow. "Do you think I am in danger?" Of course I knew I was, I was merely testing the waters to hear just how much he knew already. His jaw clenched. That was all the confirmation I needed. Heat rushed up my spine as frustration ignited my blood. My hands curled into fists. "And you weren't going to tell me?" His grip tightened on the steering wheel. "You do not need to know. Not yet." I let out a hollow laugh. "Not yet?" The words came out sharper than I intended, but I didn't care. "Someone was following me, Zane Calloway! You think I wouldn't notice?" His gaze flicked toward me, something unreadable behind his ice-blue stare. "You almost didn't." I sucked in a breath, my skin going cold. He wasn't wrong. I hadn't noticed soon enough. If only I had felt and sensed the stalker before my brain caught up. "I would have handled it," I said. A muscle in his jaw ticked. "I know," Zane replied. The certainty with which he said it made my stomach twist. His gaze flicked back to the road as he turned onto a quieter street, the hum of the city fading into the background. "Who was the stalker back at the store?" I asked, my voice softer now. His hesitation was brief but noticeable. "I don't know." I turned toward him, studying his profile, the sharp angles of his face carved in stone. Zane Calloway was a lot of things but he never said something unless he was certain. He didn't just come to my rescue because he didn't know who the stalker was. "You're lying, Sir." His fingers flexed on the wheel again. "I love when you say that word, but let's stick to Zane for the time being" He grinned, visibly pleased. I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through my hair. "Damn, Zane." I shook my head. "What the hell is going on?" I had wanted a safe space from my past, now it dawned on me I may have unknowningly walked right into the heart of the heat. The Atlas were not going to keep me away from the danger of my past, but fuel whatever was going on. His lips pressed into a thin line. He didn't speak anymore. I didn't know if I wanted the truth or if I was too afraid to hear it. For a long moment, neither of us spoke. I turned to the window, staring at the city lights as we drove past. "Take me home." Zane hesitated. "Sienna." "Take me home," I repeated, firmer this time. I couldn't do this right now. I couldn't sit in his car, in his overbearing presence that burned through my core, suffocating under his gaze. Zane inhaled deeply, then exhaled through his nose. And without another word, he turned the car toward my apartment. *** The tension between us had gotten awkward by the time we pulled up to my building. Zane barely shifted as I reached for the door handle, but his voice stopped me. "You need to be more careful. Sienna" I turned back, my fingers still on the handle. "I always am." His gaze locked onto mine. "Not careful enough." A fresh wave of frustration rolled through me. "What do you want me to do, Zane? Stay locked inside? Look over my shoulder every second?" I let out a bitter laugh. "That's not living." His eyes darkened. "And being reckless is dying." Something sharp twisted in my chest. I swallowed hard. "I'm not reckless." He leaned slightly toward me, his voice a quiet storm. "Then prove it." For a second, I thought he might say more and let me in on what he was withholding. But then I broke the moment, pushing the door open and stepping out. The cool evening air hit my skin, sending a chill through my body. I took a steadying breath, closing the door behind me. Zane didn't drive off immediately. He sat there, engine humming. I didn't look back to know he was watching me. I walked up the porch to my building, pulling my keys from my purse with steady hands. But when I reached the door, something made me pause. A single white envelope sat on my doorstep. My stomach twisted. I bent down slowly, my pulse hammering as I picked it up. There was no name. No return address. Just a plain, unmarked envelope. A cold chill ran down my spine. I turned it over, hesitated, then tore it open with shaky fingers. Inside was a single sheet of paper. A message printed in clean, bold letters. WE FOUND YOU AT LAST. The blood in my veins froze up. For a long moment, I just stood there, staring at the words. Then, slowly, I turned my head back toward the street, toward the black car still idling at the curb. Zane was still there watching me. His gaze locked onto mine through the windshield, and even from this distance, I could feel the shift in the air. He knew. My fingers tightened around the paper, my breath shaky. Zane Calloway was right, I had become reckless and now I was going to pay for it with my life.

Zane.

We have been hacked. That single text from the IT department had woken me up that morning and less than an hour afterward the boardroom was buzzing with tension. We had to call an emergency meeting with the top stakeholders of Atlas Group to deliberate on the hit of the hack. The windows let in the sunlight, but even that warmth couldn't cut through the cold weight settling in my chest. I adjusted my customized cuff links, a forced habit, something to keep my hands occupied while the board members argued across the round oak table. My friends Liam, Ethan, Noah, and Damien were seated strategically around the room, each one observing in their own way. They were my backup, my silent force. Watching the graphical analysis of the hack, I didn't like what I was seeing. This was a mess. "Mr Calloway, this isn't a minor incident." Robert McCain, one of the older board members, leaned forward, his glasses slipping down the bridge of his nose. His voice held the forced patience of a man barely keeping his temper in check. "The security breach affected our ratings. Our stock dropped 9% in two hours. That's not something we can ignore." "We clearly are not ignoring it," I said, voice calm but firm. "We currently have the best team actively working on a firewall." "You mean the same team that allowed the breach to happen in the first place?" Robert scoffed. "Forgive me if that doesn't inspire confidence and I speak for every member of the board." I fought the urge to grind my teeth. I didn't like Rob, never had. He was old money, the kind of man who believed power came from pedigree, not earned through authority. "The breach was masterminded, perhaps with an insider's help" Ethan spoke up. "We're not dealing with some random hacker trying to flex their skills. Whoever did this knew exactly what they were looking for and went for it." "And what exactly were they looking for?" Madison Grey, another board member, asked, her brow furrowed, widening her forehead wrinkles more. Sienna pushed back her seat that moment and when she realized that act had distracted everyone in the room, she gave me a nod and then rushed out of the room. Even though it had taken a few seconds, her vanilla fragrance filled the room minutes after she was gone distracting my thoughts. I needed my head in the best space at that moment. Not now Sienna. I glanced at Noah, who had already analyzed every angle before we even walked into this meeting. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Atlas core team. Us. And one of you helped them do it." "Who are they exactly?" Rob asked, his eyes searching mine. The room went silent. I dreaded that Ethan was going to mention the hacker's name. I sighed with relief when he stopped talking. If he had said the name, that would tip off whoever was involved. The name alone carried weight, even among these people who had no idea what it truly meant. The cartel was supposed to be buried alongside others from the past. But the fact that someone was actively trying to breach our systems, searching for anything related to them, meant only one thing. They weren't gone. They were watching. "Who exactly is targeting you guys?" Madison asked, her voice a scared shill. I exhaled slowly, my fingers pressing against the cool surface of the table. "We don't have confirmation that it was them." Damien scoffed. "Oh, come on. Who else would it be? The timing is too perfect." "Assumptions aren't facts," I muttered. "But they're a damn good warning," Liam countered, speaking up for the first time. He was sitting back in his chair, arms crossed, watching me the way he always did when he knew I wasn't being completely honest with myself. I knew exactly what this meant. The cartel was testing us. They were trying to see if I would react. Because if I reacted, that meant I still cared. That meant I still considered them a threat. But what bothered me most was the thought I couldn't shake, the one rattling in the back of my mind. If the cartel was resurfacing, then Sienna was in more danger than I had anticipated. And that was something I couldn't afford. Robert cleared his throat, regaining the attention of the room. "Regardless of who is behind the attack, our investors need reassurance. The stock drop was bad enough, but if word gets out that we were breached at this level? It will send a message that we aren't as untouchable as we claim to be." I leaned forward, keeping my voice even. "Then we make sure that message never leaves this room." "And how exactly do you plan to do that?" Rob asked I glanced at Liam, then at Damien. I already had a plan. We just needed to execute it before the carter made their next move. "Please excuse us," I said. The members nodded and each got up, ready to leave. The weight of the meeting still sat heavily on my shoulders as the last of the board members filed out, their hushed whispers trailing behind them. I didn't bother acknowledging them. Their panic, their greed it was predictable. They didn't care about the real danger, only how it affected their bottom line. The only people I actually trusted were still in the room. My brothers. Liam leaned against the edge of the conference table, arms crossed, his sharp gaze locked on me. Ethan stood by the window, staring out at the skyline, lost in thought. Noah was already on his phone, fingers moving fast probably running new security protocols. Damien sat back in his chair, spinning a pen between his fingers, watching me squarely. Knowing he was not the patient type, I could tell he was a time bomb, ticking to explode when triggered. "The fact that they went after Atlas confirms it," Ethan finally said, turning back toward us. "They're done hiding." "Which means we can stop pretending this is over," Noah added, not looking up from his phone. I exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over my jaw. "We always knew it wasn't over." "Yeah," Damien muttered, "but knowing it and dealing with it are two different things." He sat forward, the glint in his eyes replaced by something much darker. "They tested us today. The question is, what's our response?" I knew what he wanted. A strike as a reminder that we weren't to be toyed with. But that wasn't the move. Not yet. "They're trying to bait us," I said, keeping my voice calm and controlled. "If they wanted a war, they would've gone after more than just our stock." Liam nodded. "They're watching." Noah glanced up, meeting my gaze. "And they're waiting." We went quiet afterwards because we all knew what they were waiting for... or whom. My grip tightened around the edge of the table as an image of Sienna flashed through my mind. The way she had looked at me earlier. "Jason's watching her, right?" Liam asked, reading me like a damn book. I gave a curt nod. "I told him not to let her out of his sight." "Who?" Damien asked, glancing between Liam and I I glanced around for a while, wondering if I should tell them about Sienna and the connection to the Cartel. "Out with it man," Noah said, My jaw ticked. "The new PA, Sienna Carter" Damien's smirk deepened. "So, it is about her. didn't I say it guys, it is a woman who would make Zane act weird" I shot him a glare, but he just chuckled, leaning back in his seat "She's in danger," I said, keeping my voice level. "The same bastards we've been hunting for five years have set their sights on her." The mood at the table shifted instantly. Ethan exhaled sharply, setting his glass down. "How do you know she's connected to the cartel?" "Because they left a message," I said. "A warning. They want her or something from her." Damien's expression darkened. "Then they're as stupid as they are suicidal." Noah leaned forward, elbows on the table. "Why her? What's the connection?" "I don't know yet," I admitted. "But I'm going to find out." "That's not going to be enough," Ethan said, his voice edged with concern. "If the cartel really wants her." "They can't have her." The words left my mouth before I even thought about them, laced with more anger than I intended. The room went still. Damien raised a brow, exchanging a quick look with Liam. I knew exactly what they were thinking. I had just made this personal. And that was dangerous. "I thought the plan was to keep her close," Liam said carefully. "Use her as bait to draw them out." "That was the plan." "Is it still?" Liam's question hung in the air between us. I looked at him, at all of them, and I knew I couldn't lie. Because somewhere between hiring her and now, she had stopped being bait. And she had become something else entirely. Something I wasn't sure I could afford. Liam studied me for a long moment before nodding. "Then we tighten security. No gaps. No second chances." Ethan slipped his phone back into his pocket. "I'll set up background sweeps and see if anyone on the inside is leaking information." Noah was already on it, his fingers flying across his screen. "I'll run a full diagnostic on our firewall. If they got in once, they might try again." Damien cracked his knuckles, standing up. "And I'll do what I do best to find out exactly who is pulling the strings." There was nothing more to say. We all knew what needed to be done. Liam was the last to leave, pausing by the door. His phone beeped a notification and he checked, his expression became stoic at once "Zane." He said, I met his gaze. " I just got an update from Ethan" He said. "Who betrayed us?" "It was Robert," he said quietly. "Little wonder he's acting all defensive. You know what we must do." Fuck Robert! The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I hated the double life I had to live. Investment CEO by day and a Cartel leader by night. But it had to be done. Regardless of how much I have been trained for the role, it was draining, but it had to be done. I never liked Robert anyway. *** I counted all six bullets from the magazine and nodded at Liam, "Ready?" I asked, popping the bullets into the shotgun before I strap it into the waist of my denim pants. "Born ready, Brother, let's go get that traitor the punishment he deserved," Liam replied, a pleased smile on his face as he ran his hand through the lines of guns, taking his time to choose his best gun from the stash. He had been waiting for me to make this call all day, and I knew I couldn't delay the inevitable any longer. Robert had betrayed Atlas Group, and now he had to pay and the clan expected that as the head, I had to be Robert's angel of death. Liam settled for an HPDA commander and reached for a clean wipe to shine it. I was pleased with his choice of gun. It could deliver justice at any distance, aimed at the perfect angle, and whoever got hit with it was sure never to see the light of another day. "Nice," I said I grabbed the black leather jacket I had hung on the sofa, then wore it, covering the bump the shotgun showed. Liam did the same, and we stepped out of the ammunition room. Halfway to the truck, a thought crossed my mind, and it felt like the best way to handle the kill. When we got there, Liam walked ahead to enter the driver's side dutifully, but I stopped him. "No, I am driving," I said, and he broke into a pleased smile, understanding what that meant. While I handled the drive, he was free to aim for the traitor. "Thank you!" He said, his voice vibrant with excitement as he jogged around to the other side of the car. I strap in, and we drive off out of the safe house. "Do we still have eyes on him?" I asked "Sure, he's driving around Ted's Street. We could take the west route and block him at the tunnel. He's going to get what he deserves without seeing us coming," Liam replied "No, we don't kill from behind. That is what weaklings like him do. He needed to see us coming. That way, he would know why he had to die," I told him. "Hmmm... that feels even better. I want to see the look on his face when I pulled the triggers." Liam said, tapping on the dashboard not so gently. "See? Now you get it," I said, stepping on the throttle. With Liam obviously lost in thought about the best way to go about his killing, it gave me time to reminisce about Leighton to distract me from what was about to happen on my watch. I kept wondering what Sienna had been up to since she left the boardroom and why she hadn't returned.pain I glanced over at Liam. His right hand was inside his jacket, and the movement of his hand was familiar. He was creasing the gun, living the moment, but his eyes were fixed on the GPS tracker. I turned my eyes back to the wheels. "He's left the clubhouse. Heading over to the Pantry," Liam said, the hint of excitement very hard to miss in his voice further nibbling at my conscience. "Okay. I think I know just the right spot to block him. Get your gun ready, okay?" I said, easing the wheel to the left as I took the turn. Since Robert was heading to the pantry, there was a route that most folks avoided at night because of how secluded it was. Only a few of us who were strapped had the mind to ply the route, and Robert knew this, too. "We are five minutes away from him," Liam said, the buckle of his belt jingling as he reached for the gun. I increased the speed to cover the distance faster. The chill of the night felt eerily quiet like the world knew a traitor was about to lose his life. "He's just ahead now," Liam announced, flipping the tablet on the dashboard. I saw Rob's customized SUV ahead and nodded at Liam. I kept driving behind him, making sure he didn't suspect any foul play until he took the secluded street. I closed the gap between us, driving ahead. He honked back at us just before I swirled the car around and blocked him in a corner. He stopped, almost bumping into the truck, and in two seconds, he was out of the car and over to us, clearly pissed. "You fool, how dare you block my ride." He swore at us, oblivious to what was going to happen to him. Good thing we had used a disguised car with tinted window frames. When Liam and I stepped out of the car, he knew instantly. His eyes ogled out, and he started to shiver. He peeped over at his car, perhaps trying to see if he could get to it and drive out of there fast enough. "Don't even think about it, you motherfucking bastard," Liam spat on him, pulling out his run. "I am sorry. I had to do what I had to do to protect my family. They threatened to" "To do what? From what I see, your weak ass idiot had always wanted us out of the picture forever, and the best way you feel you could get it was to snitch on the group? How convenient," Liam yelled at him, hitting him on the head with the tip of the gun. Rob fell to his knees, and blood gushed out of the cut on his head. "Liam, hold on, I have questions for him," I said, moving closer to Rob's side. I leaned forward until my ear was close to his mouth. "Tell me everything you said to the cartel." "Nothing.... I promise, it was just that one time." He said, saliva drooling from his mouth as he stammered on. "No, you lied again. You told them about the loopholes on the servers, but see. My brothers saw it coming and were able to stop the hack from taking everything." I said, shaking my head. He was due for Liam's wrath. He was shaken at my confessions. "I had to do what I had to do when none of my family would take the hit. You and your friends have been calling the shots for a long time. I think it is time another member takes the reins. I did it for my folks, and I will do it again," He yelled back at me. "And the best way to do that was to blow up our operations? You are one unrepented rat, and you will die like a rat," Liam yelled, kicking him with the edge of his boots. "You heard it, goodbye Robert," I said, stepping away from them as Robert winced with pain that didn't stop Liam from kicking him more. I went into his car and searched for any incriminating evidence. I found two hard drives and some journals. I grabbed them quickly and left the car. Rob was too weak to move when I got back. I picked him up and bundled him into his car and then waited for Liam to pull the trigger. However, when I turned to face Liam, he was not holding the gun but cans. "Gas? I thought we agreed on guns?" I asked, shocked. "No, he deserves a gentleman's death," Liam replied, shaking the can. Robert pleaded, but it was too late. Liam drenched the car, shot the tires, and lit it ablaze. I watched the flames grow, heart racing, then called to Liam, "Let's go."