ZANE.

The helicopter's roar was a relentless pulse in my ears, but my eyes were fixed on Sienna, slumped against me on the chopper's cold metal floor. Her hair fell across her face as she took shallow breaths. Her grip on Belinda loosened as her eyes fluttered shut. I had caught her as she passed out, my arm was wrapped around her waist, stirring up my desire.

Belinda lay beside her, sedated, her face pale, her lips had a blue tinge from the cartel's drugs. Even though I had pulled off the duct tape, her breaths were faint,

Noah's voice crackled from the cockpit. "ETA to the penthouse, eight minutes. Hang tight, guys."

I nodded, though he couldn't see. I tightened my hand around Sienna's waist. Her cheek was smeared with blood. She had been reckless in an admirable way, climbing that ladder with Belinda despite how bullets were raining around her. The way she had fought for her sister back on the roof gave me the strength to fight harder. Because even if I was fighting it, the glaring truth was that I was in love with Sienna Carter and couldn't bear to lose her out there.

Damian leaned back. "Hell of a night, huh?" His voice was rough, his eyes flicking to Sienna, then me, a knowing glint in them.

Liam, clutching his arm, glanced up from his tablet. "We're not clear yet. They could still be out there."

Damian tapped on his seat. "Step on the gas, brother."

I listened to their talks but was too tired to attend. I merely nodded when they directed any questions to me. The chopper descended on the penthouse's rooftop pad, and Noah brought us down with a jolt, slowing the rotors.

I lifted Sienna, resting her head against my chest, while Damian and Ethan took Belinda. We stepped onto the pad and walked off the helicopter. A medic was there waiting to receive us. He rushed forward, leading us through the glass doors into the penthouse's foyer. "This way," he said,

I carried Sienna down the hall. I fought the urge to hold her closer and let my hands explore her beautiful body. She was vulnerable, and I was supposed to be her protector, not a man losing himself to desire. I loved her, and every moment I held her made it harder to hide.

The medic directed Damian and Ethan to a guest room and laid Belinda on a bed. The medic moved fast, hooking her to an IV. He checked her vitals, muttering about sedatives and recovery times. I watched for a moment, ensuring she was in good hands, then turned down the hall, carrying Sienna to my bedroom. I needed her close to know she was safe.

I laid Sienna down in the king-sized bed when I got to the room, her body sinking into the white sheets, her hair fanning out. I let my fingers linger on her arm, tracing the curve of her skin to her cheek. My chest tightened with want, the sight of her stirring that fire I couldn't douse.

Damian appeared in the doorway, his shoulder bandaged now. "We're heading out," he said.

"All of you?" I asked as Liam and Ethan joined him.

"Yes. We need to patch up and lie low. You good here?" he replied.

I nodded, my eyes still on Sienna. "Yeah. I have got this."

Liam's eyes flicked to Sienna, then back to me. "Lock it down, Zane. They will come again."

"I know, go. I will handle it," I said,

Ethan clapped my shoulder, "Watch your back, brother."

"You too. Thank you for today," I said.

They nodded silently at me before they left the room. I listened to their receding footsteps until the house was silent.

I stood over Sienna, my hands itching to touch her and smooth the hair from her face. I wanted to feel her warmth under my fingers. I sat on the edge of the bed, brushing my hand over her arm. My pulse quickened as my body came alive with want. I forced myself to pull back. I stepped away from the bed and began pacing the room to distract myself from the growing desire I felt. But my eyes kept returning to her slightly parted lips.

I kept staring at her until her eyelids fluttered, and a soft moan escaped her lips. I was at her side in an instant.

Her eyes opened slowly, searching the room before landing on me. "Zane?" Her voice was weak, but it sent a jolt through me, igniting the fire I had been fighting.

"You're safe," I said, "You're in my penthouse."

She sat up slowly, wincing as she touched her hand to her cheek, "Belinda?" Her eyes widened in panic, flaring, and she tried to stand.

I caught her, "She's in the guest room. Medics have checked her. She's stable but not yet awake. She will be okay."

Her breath hitched with relief, flooding her face, but her eyes stayed on mine. "Thank you, Zane."

My hands lingered on her waist. She was so close, her fragrance filled my senses. I couldn't hide it anymore, especially the need that burned through me.

She stepped closer, her hands brushing my chest as her fingers curled their way into my shirt.

My body tensed with every nerve alive with her touch. "Sienna," I murmured, lifting my hand to cup her face. Her skin was warm and soft,

"Zane," she whispered, her body leaning into mine. I slid my hand to her neck, tangling her hair with my fingers, and she tilted her head, parting her lips open.

Our lips met in a slow kiss that burned through every lie I had told myself. Her hands roamed my chest, and I pulled her closer. I used just one finger to expertly tilt her shirt to explore the ripeness of her swelling breasts. She wasn't wearing a bra. She mused distractedly; she waited, breathless with anticipation, as I trailed my fingers patiently down, drawing inexorably towards the throbbing mounds. When my fingers finally scooped up the shirt to cup it, she let out a little gasp, unconsciously egging me on for more.

Her nipples instantly hardened at the sweet tenderness of my touch. I played with one, lazily tracing its tip with my forefinger. My left hand came down as well, first lowering the other strap and then caressing her other breast, gently rubbing the rosebud peak until it hardened too, resulting in similar pleasurable sensations coursing through her.

I looked into her eyes, which had clouded with arousal. My gaze dropped to my own hands, now cupping her breasts.

"Exquisite!" I exclaimed.

She closed her eyes, trying to shield herself from the brilliance of my gaze.

"Please." That one single word escaped her lips before she could stop it.

"Kiss me, Zane."

As I lowered my head to take one of the tumescent peaks into my mouth, my tongue flicking it expertly, she sighed with pleasure. The wetness of my mouth assuaged the heat I had caused, my tongue now lapping at the engorged tip. When I raised my head momentarily, she groaned her protest.

I laughed delightedly and moved to her other breast, taking it into my mouth to bestow the same treatment I had on its twin. She traced the hairs on my head, ruffling them gently, gasping with each movement of my mouth.

Delicately, I played with the taut peaks, drawing them into my mouth again and again, alternately bathing them with my tongue and blowing gently on them with my warm breath. She whimpered as her arousal grew, soft sounds of pleasure emanating from her lips.

She cradled my head in her hands, unconsciously guiding it in response to her body's yearnings. When I stopped kissing her breasts, she moved her own hands over me to keep them in place, cupping the now tender mounds. My fingers still toyed with our tips, replacing my lips and tongue, the rhythmic rubbing of my thumbs ensuring her arousal remained unabated.

"You are something to die for, Sienna," I said huskily.

Without thinking, she began to giggle as they both ripped off each other's clothing as quickly as they could until they stood before each other completely naked.

I lay her down gently onto the bed, between the pillows, and as her back touched the mattress, she smiled at me.

She winked as I parted her legs until they were wide enough to accommodate my head. I stared at her navel and kissed the soft curls until I was at the edge of her wetness. She was already wet for me, and I was happy,

"Hmmm, don't ever stop, poke me harder," Sienna whimpered over and over as I sucked at her clits selfishly, just like she wanted.

Sienna's moans jostled me to the task at hand. She continued to moan aloud, calling my name randomly when she could not hold the cries. She would chuckle, scream, and pull at my hair, but I continued to eat the juicy flesh. After a few minutes, I stuck out my tongue until it was over my chin, flat and wide, then I put it at the tip of her vulva, making sure it was wet. I started to move my head up and down, pulling my tongue over her vagina slowly until my tongue was over her clit. I did this for a few more minutes, then made a small "o" shape with my lips, the perfect size for her clit. I poked my tongue inside her and gently started to suck, then I increased the pace, sucking as fast as I could, wildly. I used my tongue to massage her clit. She clings to my head in reaction.

Her cries grew louder, and I felt the urge to keep going at it, not getting tired.

"Zane, I want you inside me. Now."

"Gladly," I said. My fingers found their way to her thighs. I was not surprised to discover she was slick with thick wetness. I rolled her onto her back and thrust her in one quick movement, and she cried out with pleasure. My hands were rough on her breasts as I pinched lightly at her burgeoning nipples, holding them roughly between my thumb and forefinger. She cried out again. "Please, yes, oh my. Oh, please. Faster!"

I obliged readily, thrusting into her as hard as I could, the rhythmic movements mimicked by the synchronized arching of her hips, matching him stroke for stroke. When it rose to a crescendo, I couldn't help letting out a guttural cry of triumph, matched by her moans of satisfaction as she called out my name repeatedly. We climaxed together. I lay on top of her, reluctant to move away. I didn't want to say anything either, careful not to ruin the magic between us. When I glanced over at her, she stared at the ceiling, a dreamy look in her eyes.

Just then, the IV machine rang off, and we sat up at once, staring in the direction of the door as it dawned on us what that sound meant. Belinda was awake.

SIENNA.

The IV machine's piercing beep cut through the room, snapping me out of the lasciviously satisfied dampness that had settled over me. One second, I was on the highest cloud of ecstasy that Zane had taken me to as he pleasured me without stopping, and the next second, I was back to the reality of things in the penthouse.

Belinda was awake.

I stumbled out of Zane's king-sized bed, my bare feet hitting the cold hardwood floor, as I grabbed my shirt from the edge of the bed. The room tilted for a second since my legs were still weak from holding Zane's masculine body as he plunged into me.

I wore the shirt as I bolted for the door with my pulse roaring in my ears. Zane's broad frame brushed past me, his feet thudding against the floor. We raced down the hallway to the guest room.

The door was slightly open, and I shoved it open immediately. When I saw Belinda, my breath caught. I had to hold the edge of the wall to steady my breath. Belinda lay on the huge bed, and an IV line ran from her arm to a bag hanging on the metal pole. Her hair fanned across the white pillow, and her chest rose and fell as she breathed. The doctor hovered over her, holding a clipboard and a stethoscope dangling from his neck. He adjusted the drip before he glanced up towards us.

"She's stable," he said, reading her chart. "The sedatives are wearing off. She's groggy, but she's coming around."

I barely heard him. My eyes were still locked on Belinda's pale face. Her eyelids fluttered as a soft moan escaped her throat. That was my cue. I crossed the room in two strides, dropping to my knees beside the bed. With trembling hands, I reached for hers, feeling her skin clammy under my fingers. "Bel," I whispered. "I'm here, baby girl. You're okay."

Her fingers twitched in mine, giving me a weak squeeze that sent a flood of warmth through my chest. Her eyes opened slowly and unfocused, searching the room until they found me. "SiSi?" Her voice was barely audible, but it was her. My Belinda, alive and there with me.

Hot tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them back. I wouldn't cry, not now when she needed me to be strong. "Yeah, it's me," I said, forcing a smile. "You scared the hell out of me, you know that?"

Her lips twitched into a grin, and my heart lifted. Even half-conscious, she was still my delightful Belinda. "Takes more than a few cartel goons to keep me down," she mumbled in slurred words.

I laughed with half relief. "You're impossible," I said, squeezing her hand tighter. My gaze flicked to the doctor who was scribbling something on his clipboard. "How long until she's fully awake?"

"An hour, maybe two," he said, not looking up. "She's dehydrated, and the sedatives were heavy. She needs to rest and drink plenty of fluids. No stress."

No stress? I almost laughed at that. Stress was our lifestyle. The cartel had made sure of that. My jaw tightened as I brushed a strand of hair from Belinda's forehead, noting how warm her skin felt under my touch.

I stood, curling my hands into fists at my sides as I turned to Zane, who was leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed; he had his gaze fixed on me. Those eyes seemed to see straight through to the storm raging inside me. He didn't say anything, but the way his fingers flexed against his biceps told me he knew what I was about to say.

"We need to put an end to this," I said. "The cartel. All of them. They don't get to come after us again."

Zane's brow lifted as a flicker of surprise crossed his face. "Sienna," he started, "You know what that means? It's not just going to be a diplomatic fight. It's a war."

"I know." I met his gaze with an unflinching glare. "And I'm not asking for your permission. I'm telling you I'm in. All the way."

Belinda's hand tightened around mine, pulling my attention back to her. Her eyes were clearer now, a spark of mischief in them. "Damn, SiSi," she said in a weak voice but laced with teasing. "You're out here sounding like a badass. What happened to my girl who used to jump in her own shadow?"

I snorted, shaking my head. "She's still here. Just pissed off." I leaned closer, "You're not going through this again, Bel. I'm not losing you."

Her grin widened, and she lifted a shaky hand to poke my arm. "You're stuck with me, babe. Cartel or no cartel." She glanced past me to Zane, her eyes narrowing playfully. "And you, Mr. Mafia Kingpin, better keep up. My girl's got a vendetta now."

Zane's lips twitched. "Noted," he said, stepping closer. "But Sienna, this isn't a game you just jump into. You go after him, you're painting a target on your back bigger than the one you've already got."

"I already have a target," I snapped. I gestured to Belinda, "They took her, Zane. They tied her to a chair, drugged her, and played their sick games. And for what? I'm done being their pawn."

He stepped close enough that I could feel the heat of his determination radiating off him, "You think I don't want them gone?" His voice was low, a growl that sent a shiver down my spine. "Every bastard in that cartel is on my list, Sienna. But rushing in only gets us dead." He nodded toward Belinda. "I'm not letting that happen."

I opened my mouth to argue, but Belinda's laugh cut me off. "Oh, you two are cute," she said, propping herself up on her elbows despite the doctor's disapproving grunt. "Fighting like an old married couple already. SiSi, he's got a point. You're fierce, but you're not bulletproof. And you..." She pointed a shaky finger at Zane. "Don't act like you're not impressed with her decision."

I shot her a look. "Bel, not now."

"What? I almost died. I get to say what I want." She grinned at us, "And what I want is for you to stop pretending you don't trust this guy. He hauled my ass out of that hellhole. Give him some credit."

Zane's gaze flicked to Belinda, a flicker of amusement softening his features. "You're welcome," he said,

I exhaled, my shoulders slumping as the fight drained out of me for a moment. Belinda was right...she always was, damn her. Zane had saved us both, risked his life and his brothers' to pull us off that rooftop.

"Bel," I said, sinking onto the edge of the bed, my hand still wrapped around hers. "What happened out there? What did you hear?" Her grin faded instantly, making me hate myself for dropping that random question prematurely. I gave Zane a glance, and he had the same startled expression as I.

"Bel?" I asked, watching her eyes cloud as she stared at the ceiling. Her fingers tightened around mine.

"They didn't think I was listening," she said. "They thought I was out. But I heard them, SiSi. That scarred bastard while he was on the phone, talking about hitting Zane where it hurts. His investments and his allies. They want to gut the Atlas Group by leaking everything to the feds and the press. Make it so he can't hide anymore."

I glanced at Zane, whose face had gone stone-hard as he processed her words. "They're going for the servers," he said, more to himself than to us. "The financials, the offshore accounts. Everything."

I nodded until I remembered I still had the flash. "We can use the flash," I said, "We can turn their plan against them. Draw them out, hit them first."

Zane's eyes snapped to mine, "You're talking about baiting them. Using yourself as the lure."

I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze head-on. "If that's what it takes, yes."

"No." He said, his hands flexing at his sides like he wanted to grab me and give me a shake. "You don't get it, Sienna. They don't just want you dead. They want you broken. I'm not letting you walk into their trap again."

I stood, my chest brushing against his, "It is my call to make, Zane."

Belinda let out a low whistle, "Told you she's a badass," she said, nudging the doctor, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere else. "You should've seen her, Zane. Took on a frat boy twice her size for stealing my phone. Knocked him flat."

I shot her a glare, "Not helping, Bel."

"Oh, I'm helping," she said. "You two need to stop circling each other like alley cats and work together. SiSi, he's got the muscle, the brains. And you..." She paused. "You've got that fire. Use it. But don't be stupid."

Zane's gaze softened as he looked at Belinda with a flicker of admiration in his eyes. "You're tougher than you look. Most people would be a mess after what you went through."

She shrugged, wincing as the movement tugged at her IV. "What can I say? I'm a survivor. Like my girl here." Her eyes locked on mine, and for a moment, it was just us.

"I trust you," I said to Zane, "But you have to trust me too."

For a moment, I thought he'd argue, but then he exhaled and nodded. "Alright," he said, "We do this together. But you follow my lead, Sienna. No heroics."

I smirked, echoing Belinda's defiance. "No promises."

Belinda laughed, an infectious sound that cut through the tension. "That's my girl," she said, "Now, can someone get me a burger? I'm starving."

The doctor sighed, shaking his head. "You need to stick to fluids for now."

"Fluids?" Belinda scoffed, propping herself higher on the pillow. "Unless it's a milkshake, I'm not interested."

Zane's lips curved into a real smile this time, and my heart stuttered at the sight. "I'll see what I can do," he said, his eyes flicking at me, holding my gaze for a beat too long. Heat crept up my neck, and I looked away, focusing on Belinda to hide the flush in my cheeks.

"You're ridiculous," I said to her. "I thought I lost you."

Her expression softened, her hand finding mine again. "Never," she said, "Like I said earlier, you're stuck with me, SiSi. Always."

I squeezed her hand, my throat tight. The weight of the past five years pressed against me, but it is different now. We were not alone anymore.

I glanced at Zane, catching him watching me. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes held an emotion I wasn't ready to name. "Come on, she needs to rest." his hand brushes my arm, which sends a jolt through me.

Belinda's voice broke the moment, "Okay, lovebirds, save the staring contest for later. Get me that burger, and then go kick some cartel ass. I want to be there when you burn those bastards down."

I laughed hard and, for the first time in years, I felt like I could breathe. The fight was coming, and it would be brutal. But with Belinda's fire and Zane's strength beside me, I was ready.

ZANE.

Los Angeles city sprawled below the glass walls as I stood by the bar, the whiskey in my tumbler sat untouched, while the ice melted into amber swirls. My phone buzzed on the glass counter. I snatched it up, my gut already tightening as Liam's name flashed across the screen.

"Zane," Liam's voice came through, sharp and urgent, no trace of his usual calm. "They are moving on Atlas Group's servers. Tonight. If they pull this off, we're done. Feds, press, the whole damn world will have us."

My fingers tightened around the phone. Atlas Group was the clean face of everything I had built, the shield that kept the feds off my back. If those servers went down, it would be open season on me, my brothers, everything we had fought for. "Go on" I said.

"Noah's been sniffing their comms since you hinted it," Liam said. "Intercepted a call."

I set the tumbler down, the clink loud in the quiet room. My eyes found Sienna across the living space, curled on the leather couch, her dark hair spilling over her shoulder like ink. She was hunched over her laptop, her brow furrowed, fingers tapping the keys with a focus that made my chest ache. Since Belinda woke up, she'd been relentless, digging into that flash drive like it held the key to our survival. Maybe it did.

"Get the team to the office," I told Liam. "Damian, Ethan, Noah. Now. We're not letting them take us down."

"Already moving," Liam said, and the line went dead.

I crossed the room walking silently on the plush rug, but Sienna sensed me coming. Her head snapped up, her eyes locking onto mine. "What's wrong?" she asked, closing the laptop with a soft click, she knew trouble when she saw it.

"They're targeting the servers," I said, "They want to gut Atlas Group. We're moving to stop him. Tonight."

Her face didn't flinch, instead, her jaw tightened. She stood, shrugging on one of my jackets that hung too big on her frame, the sleeves swallowing her hands. "I'm in," she said, not a request. A demand.

"You stay close," I said. "Remember no heroics."

Her lips curved, a grim, determined smile that sent a jolt through me. "I've got something better," she said, pulling the flash drive from her pocket, "This has their funds and other accounts. Everything. We can use it to lure scar-face in, set a trap."

"You're sure it's enough to draw him out?" I asked, my eyes searching hers for any hint of doubt.

"Dead sure," she said. "He'll come for it. I'll make him."

I nodded, the plan taking shape in my head. "We move now. Atlas Group headquarters. Let's go."

֍

Sienna and I walked into the elevator, riding to my wing in silence, the only sound around us were the hum of the engine working optimally. Sienna stood beside me, her shoulder brushing mine. Her soft vanilla scent cut through the sterile air. I didn't like her being in the line of fire with me, but she had made it clear she wasn't staying behind. Not this time anyway.

The door slides opened and we stepped inside my office, Liam sat at the head of the conference table eyes on his laptop and when we got closer, I saw maps and data streams flickering on the screen. Damian was leaning against the wall, flipping a ballpen between his fingers, a restless habit that matched the glint in his dark eyes. Ethan paced near the window, while Noah sat hunched over his own laptop, working.

Sienna stood at my side with confidence knowing she had earned her place here, and my brothers knew it too. I caught Damian's glance, a raised brow that said he was impressed, though he would never admit it out loud.

"Alright," Liam said, "We let them think they've breached the system, then we close the trap."

focusing on Liam I said, "We stage a breach. Make it look like the system's vulnerable. Let them walk right in."

Sienna stepped forward, her voice commanding the attention of everyone in the room. Holding up the flash, "For backups, I am to contact him and offer to trade it for a truce. He'll think I'm betraying you, that I'm desperate. He'll come himself to get it."

The room went still, every eye on her. Damian grinned approvingly. "Well, damn," he said, leaning forward. "You've got guts, princess. You sure you can play bait with a shark like him?"

Sienna's eyes flashed, meeting his challenge without blinking. "I've been dodging his kind for years," she said, "He's greedy, arrogant. He'll take the bait, and he'll regret it."

Noah looked up, his glasses reflecting the screen's light. "I can rig the servers to show a fake breach," he said. "Loop the security feeds, make it look like we're scrambling to fix it. They'll walk in blind."

"Into what?" Ethan asked, crossing his arms, "We can't just mow them down in the server room. It is too public."

"We don't," I said, "We lead them to the loading dock. That's empty and secure and has no cameras. Damian, you and Ethan take the ground floor, cut off their exit. Liam, you're with Noah on comms, have their signals jammed. I'll be with Sienna in the server room."

She nodded, tucking the flash drive into her pocket. "I'll need to move fast," she said. "Once he's in, he'll want to verify the data. I can stall him, but not for long."

"Stall him long enough for us to close the net," I said, "Damian, Ethan, you take the loading dock. Liam, Noah, you're our eyes and ears. We move as one."

Ethan nodded, "This is gonna be fun," he said, cracking his knuckles. "Been a while since we had a proper fight."

Sienna shot him a look, her lips twitching. "Try not to enjoy it too much," she said, "We're here to end this, not start a brawl."

Damian laughed, leaning back. "You're growing on me, princess. Keep that up, and I might let you borrow my knife."

"Enough," I said, cutting through their banter. "We move in one hour. Get your gear, check your comms. No mistakes."

Sienna's jaw tightened, but she nodded, her fingers curling around the flash drive. "I'll need a comms unit," she said. "And a gun."

Damian laughed, "You're full of surprises, princess," he said, tossing her a small earpiece from the table. "Gun's on you, though. Zane's call."

I hesitated, my instinct to protect her warring with the reality of what we faced. She had no doubt proven herself, but handing her a weapon meant she was in the fight, no turning back. "You know how to use it?" I asked.

Her gave me a smirk in her defiance. "Point and shoot, right? I've had practice. Rolled with bikers back in the day."

I didn't ask where or when. The confidence in her eyes told me enough. I pulled a Glock from the lockbox on the table, checked the clip, and handed it to her. Her fingers brushed mine as she took it. "Don't make me regret this," I said, holding her gaze.

"You won't," she said, tucking the gun into her waistband. "Let's burn them down."

֍

An hour later, the server room was empty since my brothers had gotten busy with their tasks, but Sienna stayed, standing next to me, her eyes on the map. She had her fingers tracing the server room's outline. I watched her, the way her brow furrowed, with her lips pressed together in thought. She was in deep, deeper than I would ever want her to be, and yet I couldn't imagine doing this without her. Not anymore.

"You don't have to do this you know," I said,

She turned to me. "I'm not asking, Zane," she said. "This is my fight too. They took everything from me. I'm not sitting this out. My father wouldn't approve."

I stepped closer enough to see the pulse beating in her throat. "I know," I said. "But if anything happens to you..."

"It won't," she cut in, her hand brushing my arm, a fleeting touch that burned through me. "We do this together. We end it."

I nodded even though I wanted to say more, but the words were stuck in my throat. There would be time for that later. There had to be.

"Ready?" I asked as I stood by the main console, my eyes on the security feed Noah had looped to show a flickering, vulnerable system. Sienna was standing a few feet away, the Glock was tucked into her waistband.

She nodded, "Let's do this."

I tapped my comms. "Liam, status."

"Feed's live," Liam's voice crackled through. "They're moving in. Five minutes out."

"Damian, Ethan?" I asked.

"First floor's locked down," Damian said. "No one's getting out."

"Noah?"

"Signals jammed," Noah said. "They're blind."

I glanced at Sienna, her fingers tightening around the flash drive. The plan was set, and the pieces were in place. "Zane," she said, her voice soft, pulling me back. "We've got this."

I nodded. "Together," I said, and the word felt like a vow.

"I'm going to use the restroom. This anxiety is getting my bladder overworking," Sienna said, smothering her shirt with a palm. As she got up, I nodded at her before turning my eyes back to the screen before me.

"Be quick," I said, as she walked out of the office. I heard the door open and click shut, but I was too engrossed in what I was doing to pay attention to Sienna. I couldn't wait for the final battle to be over, and she would once again become the prioritized subject of my undivided attention. For now, I was all in to making sure that the rival cartel was wiped off the earth.... And perhaps that was a huge miscalculation on my part.