ZANE.

I stood in the heart of the showroom, the vast space echoing with an unnatural quiet that felt both luxurious and isolating. The air carried the faint scent of fresh polish on the marble floors and the subtle floral notes from the display cases, where diamonds glittered under strategically placed spotlights like stars trapped in glass. The entire building had been locked down the moment our convoy pulled up; my security teams had swept every floor and sealed off entrances.

Sienna moved beside me with that graceful stride of hers, her hair flowing over one shoulder, her hand slipping into mine as we approached the ring display. Her warm touch sent a storm brewing inside me.

Belinda followed beside us, her eyes wide with genuine delight, chattering endlessly about the planner's suggestions.

I squeezed Sienna's hand, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach the worry lines etching my face. The rings sparkled before us, each one a promise of forever, but my mind couldn't stop wandering if to the brotherhood that had been my foundation for years could stand the test of the ongoing chaos. The cartel couldn't afford weakness, not now.

Sienna's voice pulled me back, teasing as she pointed to a ring. A platinum band with an emerald-cut diamond flanked by sapphires. "This one, Zane. Strikes as bold and unbreakable. Like us."

I lifted her hand, sliding the ring onto her finger. Her eyes met mine, that mix of love and fire that had drawn me to her from the start, and for a moment, the worries receded.

"Like us," I murmured, my thumb tracing the band. "Can't imagine anyone else wearing it."

Belinda winked from the side, clapping her hands lightly, her delight as pure as her smile. "You two are too romantic! Sienna, it looks perfect. Try the matching earrings, oh, and the planner mentioned those pre-wedding bracelets.

Sienna laughed, leaning into me, her body fitting against mine like it always did, a perfect puzzle piece. "Okay Bel, let's see them."

While Sienna and Belinda were focused on the staff bringing out the trays of pre-wedding engraved cufflinks for me and a delicate anklet for her, the showroom's quietness amplified the knot in my gut. I stepped back slightly, pulling my phone from my pocket. "Excuse me for a sec," I said.

I needed to reach Noah; the cartel was dividing. My fingers dialed his main line, the ringtone buzzing in my ear as I paced the hallway.

No answer. I tried the burner line, too; it was dead. Was he pulling away? The empire needed him.

Begrudgingly, I scrolled to Damian's number. I still had not been able to overlook his overstepping the boundary by dating Ava, but I needed answers. I dialed him

The call connected, his voice coming through laced with the same rudeness I had picked up since our fight. "What now, Zane? Another lecture on family lines?"

I gripped the phone tighter, and lowered my voice to avoid drawing Sienna's attention. "Cut the bullshit, Damian. Noah's lines are down even the burners. Where is he? And we still need to talk about Ava..."

He interrupted quickly. "There you go again, like a broken record. Ava's my choice, Zane. Yours is to accept it or lose me. We're done talking about anything, not until you see reason with that."

The line went dead before I could snap back, the click echoing in my ear like a door slamming on our brotherhood.

Frustration boiled over me, I balled my free hand into a fist as I stared at the blank screen, the reflection of my tense face staring back. The cartel was fracturing, since my brothers had chosen to defy me when unity was our only strength. I couldn't let it fall. Atlas was the legacy protecting all of us.

I called the one I knew would stand firm among the brothers, Liam. He answered on the second ring. "Zane? What's the play?"

"I need you back in LA," I said, "Things are dividing. I cannot get hold of Noah and, Damian's pushing back. We need to deal with this now, together."

Liam paused, then said "Shit. On it. Private jets are always on standby anyway. I would be there by dawn. I have got your back, brother. Hang tight."

The call ended and I felt a thread of relief loosening the knot in my chest. Liam would come through; he always did.

I pocketed the phone, forcing the worries down as I rejoined Sienna and Belinda at the bracelet display. Sienna glanced up, her eyes softening as she read the tension in my posture. She slipped her hand into mine, her fingers intertwining with a gentle squeeze. "Everything okay, love?"

I nodded, pulling her close, my arm wrapping around her waist, feeling the curve there that always centered me.

Belinda hovered nearby as she watched us. "Zane? You look like you could use a break. Yes, wedding planning's stressful, but we've got this."

I managed a chuckle, kissing Sienna's temple, her hair soft against my lips. "Just business worries. Noah's still not reachable and Damian's... being Damian. But Liam's on his way back."

Sienna leaned into me, her body fitting perfectly, "They'll come around. You're the heart of this. We'll handle it together." Her hand rested on my chest, fingers tracing light circles over my heart, a romantic gesture that eased the weight of my worries.

Belinda nodded exchanging a glance with Sienna.

Sienna extended her wrist to me, and I fastened the bracelet, my fingers lingering on her skin, "Looks beautiful, Like you. Can't wait to see you in the dress, walking towards me. You and me against the world."

She turned her hand, the charms catching the light, her eyes meeting mine with that romantic glow. "Against the world. That's our promise, Zane. I love you for carrying it all, but let me share the load when necessary."

I pulled her closer, our foreheads touching as I whispered, "I love you more. For being my strength."

Belinda sighed dreamily, clasping her hands. "You guys are too cute. Okay, but we have to go, it's cake tastings next, the planner's waiting!"

Belinda and the planner, Eloise, with a tablet perpetually in hand, guided us to a private alcove where tasting samples waited. They had tiers of cake in flavors from vanilla bean to chocolate hazelnut, frosting swirled in elegant patterns.

"Oh wow" I said, wondering if I had seen such a number of cakes in one place before that day. Sienna laughter filling the space, as she spooned a bite for me. "Try this one. Bel, you have to taste. It's heaven."

I took the spoon from Sienna, our fingers brushing, her eyes twinkling as I sampled it. The sweetness burst on my tongue, but my mind wandered to the cartel again.

Sienna noticed, her hand on my knee under the table, she called to me. "Hey, come back to me. We'll fix the cartel. But right now, us."

I covered her hand with mine, squeezing gently. "You're right. Always are. I love these moments with you, planning our forever. I apologize for zoning out on you."

She smiled, leaning in for a quick kiss, her soft lips soft tasting of frosting. "Forever starts now."

Belinda grinned, raising a spoon like a toast. "Up next are the invitation cards. Should it be embossed or minimalist?"

"Remind me again why I have a word class planner on my payroll and still going through this much stress?"

"It is what we do, Zane. You have to personalize it. Sorry about it" Sienna said, as I sighed, shaking my head. I had successfully managed a multibillion-dollar tech company but with these two women dragging me through Los Angeles for the wedding shopping. I could never get anything done with the chaos going on in the cartel

But for the Calloways' bride, Sienna Cartel was worth every second of the moment of stress. "Lead the way, ma'am."

****************

THE CALLOWAYS' WOMEN TO THE RESCUE.

SIENNA

The boutique's private showroom felt like a sanctuary of silk and lace, its air infused with the subtle scent of lavender sachets tucked among the racks of custom wedding dresses. The space was bathed in soft light from crystal chandeliers, creating a dreamlike shimmer that made my heart flutter with anticipation.

I stood on a low platform, a makeshift runway, as the seamstress adjusted the hem of the first gown, the flowing creation of ivory silk that clung to my curves before tacking it into a delicate train.

The mirror before me reflected a bride-to-be, but my thoughts weren't entirely on the dresses; they lingered on Zane, the cartel, and the fragile threads holding our world together. Tradition dictated the groom couldn't see the dress, so I had called Belinda, my best friend, and Ava, my soon-to-be sister-in-law, to join me. Their presence would be a counterbalance to the weight I carried as Zane's partner in both love and worries.

Belinda was already there when I arrived, her curly hair bouncing as she flitted between racks, her eyes sparkling with that infectious delight that made every moment brighter. She wore a bright yellow sundress that seemed to radiate her energy, her laughter echoing as she held up a veil studded with tiny pearls. "Sienna, look at this! It's like something out of a fairy tale. You have to try it with the first dress. It is giving total princess vibes."

I grinned, stepping off the platform to take the veil, the silk of the gown whispering against my legs. Her enthusiasm eased the tension that had coiled in my chest. "Princess vibes, huh? You think Zane's ready for a fairy-tale queen?"

Belinda smirked, tossing her curls. "Zane's ready for anything you throw at him. But this veil? It's magic. Try it!"

When the seamstress pinned the veil in place, its gossamer fabric caught the light.

"Oh my!" I turned to the mirror to catch the instantaneous transformation. For a moment, I let myself imagine the wedding day with Zane's eyes on me. It would be just perfect.

"I told you" Belinda winked back at me.

The boutique door chimed, and Ava swept in, her presence commanding despite the subtle gloom in her eyes. "Look who's here. Fresh from her Paris modeling shoot." I called out, waving at her.

"She clearly still carries the city's elegance, just look at that tailored blazer and jeans," Belinda joined,

Ava broke into a grin, her sleek ponytail swinging to each side with each step she took closer to us.

She dropped her leather weekender bag by the door. "Sienna, sorry I'm late, jet lag's a beast. These dresses, though wow. You're already slaying."

I stepped down, the gown's train trailing, and hugged her, "No apologies needed. Saw the terrific Paris cover of your shoot, way to go!. Ready to help me pick the perfect one?"

Ava's smile widened, "Born ready. Let's see you work that runway."

"Yes, we will be your audience, girl," Belinda said,

The seamstress guided me back to the platform, and I began the impromptu show. The first dress was the ivory silk, its simplicity elegant but understated. I walked the length of the room, the fabric flowing effortlessly.

Belinda clapping enthusiastically from a velvet chaise, Ava leaning against a rack with a critical but warm gaze. "Gorgeous," Ava said, tilting her head. "Clean timeless lines. But maybe too safe for you. You're Sienna Calloway, let's go bolder."

Belinda nodded, her hands clasped in delight. "Yes! Something with drama. Try the one with the lace bodice next!"

I laughed and disappeared behind the curtain to change. The second gown was a masterpiece of lace and tulle, the bodice intricately embroidered, the skirt flaring into a cathedral train that demanded attention. As I stepped out, Belinda gasped, her eyes wide. "Oh, Sienna! That's stunning. Spin, show us the back!"

I obliged, turning slowly, the train sweeping across the floor like a royal decree. Ava's lips curved, her nod approving. "Now that's you. Bold, intricate, a little dangerous. Like you and Zane together."

Their reactions fueled me as I tried three more dresses, each one drawing gasps and commentary. Belinda's sassy quips punctuated the air with "That one screams 'queen of the empire'!"

while Ava's model's eye catches the details we had missed. "The off-shoulder one? It frames your collarbone perfectly, but the train's too heavy for dancing," she noted.

Finally, I slipped into the last gown, a strapless creation with a fitted bodice of shimmering pearl beads and soft tulle. As I walked the runway, the fabric caught the chandelier light, sparkling with every step. I felt it instantly. This was it.

I stopped at the mirror, my reflection almost unrecognizable. I was a bride ready for forever.

Belinda's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes glistening. Ava leaned forward, her usual poise softening into awe. Neither spoke, but their silent gushing confirmed it. This was the one.

"That's it," I whispered, smoothing the bodice, my heart swelling with excitement. "This is the dress."

Belinda squealed, bouncing up to hug me, her curls tickling my cheek. "Sienna, it's perfect! You're going to make Zane lose his mind."

Ava joined us. "It's you. Bold, beautiful, unstoppable. This is perfect."

The seamstress beamed as she jotted notes, and I stepped off the platform. Belinda's phone buzzed then, and she glanced at it, her expression shifting to apologetic. "Sorry, loves, gotta take this. Don't pick any veils without me!" as she darted out.

I turned to Ava, catching a gloom in her eyes again. I had noticed it when she arrived. She was staring at the gown, but her thoughts were elsewhere, her fingers twisting the hem of her blazer. "Ava," I said softly, sitting beside her on the chaise, the tulle pooling around me. "What's going on? You've got that look like something's eating at you."

She forced a smile, shaking her head, her ponytail swaying. "It's nothing, Sienna. Jet lag, probably. Let's focus on the stunning dress."

I tilted my head, my hand resting on hers, stopping her fidgeting. "Don't dodge me. I saw it when you walked in. Something's off. Talk to me. We're family."

Her shoulders slumped, and she exhaled, "It's the brothers. They're fighting and fracturing. Noah's talking about quitting Atlas for good because of that damn journalist. Damian's at odds with Zane over me. I'm just joining, Sienna, and it feels like the Brothers are falling apart before I can prove myself."

My heart tightened, the worry I had been pushing down surged back. I squeezed her hand. "I know it's heavy. Zane's worried too about Noah and Atlas. But tell me more. What's got you so scared?"

Ava's eyes met mine, "I'm scared we'll lose each other. The brothers. They're family, but Zane's rules are choking them. Noah's with that journalist, Harper, probably spilling our secrets. Damian's fighting for me, but Zane won't budge. I want to fix it, Sienna. I'm mapping ways to get them to reason and to stop the fighting. But I need your help. Talk to Zane, make him see they need to live their own lives. They have always followed his rules forever. It's time for them to have a choice in their affairs too."

Her words echoed my own fears for the cartel. The cartel was our strength, but division could topple it all. I nodded, my hand still on hers. "I'll talk to him. Zane's stubborn, but he loves you all. He's worried about the cartel too. We'll do our part, Ava to save the Brotherhood and keep Atlas standing."

She exhaled, relief softening her features, "Thanks, Sienna. I just... I want us to stay whole. I'm new, but I'm all in. I need to prove I'm invaluable, not just Zane's sister."

"You will," I said, "You've already proven it. Taking down Echo and Hale, You're a force. We'll hold it together."

The door swung open, and Belinda swept back in, her phone tucked away, her smile bright as ever. She noticed the mood in the room and frowned.

"Okay, what's with the serious faces? I leave for five minutes, and you're plotting a heist or something!" She plopped onto the chaise, her sassy energy instantly lightening the room.

"Come on, Sienna, back to the dress, tell me you're picking that one. And Ava, spill, what's the vibe? You look like you need a mimosa stat."

Ava laughed, the sound a little forced but warming under Belinda's charm. "Just jet lag and family drama. But yeah, that dress, it's the one. Sienna's going to kill it."

I stood, smoothing the gown, Belinda's delight pulling me back to the moment. "It's the one," I confirmed, twirling for her, the tulle catching the light. "And mimosas sound perfect. You're buying, Bel."

She gasped, mock-offended, her hand on her chest. "Me? The maid of honor works for free! But fine, mimosas on me if you let me pick the veil. Deal?"

"Deal," I said, laughing. Ava joined in, her gloom easing, and we dove back into wedding plans, shopping for veils, shoes and the perfect bouquet. But beneath the laughter, my worry for the cartel lingered. I would have to talk to Zane, but for the moment, the dress was all that mattered.

HARPER.

The bathroom door whips open, and Noah fills the entryway, his overwhelming presence sucking all the air from the room. He slammed the door shut, and the click of the lock cut through the thickening silence. His blazing dark irises fixed on mine, and he walked toward me.

I shrank back on the couch and bumped the mirror behind me as Noah walked closer like a lion focused on his prey.

What was wrong with me? I was supposed to think about the options he had dealt me, not want to fuck him. His piercing eyes raked over me, and a shudder roared up my spine. That single, feral look left me completely exposed and bare before him.

He stopped only inches away, his legs nearly brushing my knees. I drew in a breath to slow the thundering beats of my heart. His expression was lethal, but I couldn't tell if it was anger or lust burning through those midnight eyes.

The same was true for me. My mouth was dry, and my pulse was skyrocketing, but heat flared between my legs. The familiar ache from our previous tango had returned and was pulsating below.

He stepped closer and forced my legs apart. The rip of expensive fabric had my heart kicking against my ribs.

"My dress!" I cried.

Of all the things to say at that moment, it was the only dumb thing that came out.

"I'll buy you a new one."

A mischievous grin curled his lips as he bent down, eyes smoldering. His hands closed around my thighs, and he spread them another few inches apart. I gasped at the sound of another rip. He glanced down at the indecent tear, and fire surged down my belly. If he bends any further, he would have a front row view of my sheer, lace thong and everything hidden beneath.

He licked his lips, and it felt so sinful and sexy. I chomped down on the inside of my cheek to keep myself from tangling my hand around the back of his neck and dragging that mouth to mine. His fingers seared into my flesh, and every ounce of restraint teetered on the edge. I needed to focus on my instincts, which were warning me about the danger I was getting into by fucking with a Cartel guy, because I knew if I let that happen, we could never go back.

"Wait...," I murmured.

He crouched down further, bending his knees, hands digging into my heated flesh. He was too close now. His nostrils flared, and he breathed in deeply. "Mmm, you smell delicious, just like the last time."

All the heat flaring below raced up my cheeks, burning my face. And if it wasn't the hottest thing anyone had ever said to me.

"Atlas," I blurted out, because my brain was too overcome with lust to string together an entire sentence.

His gaze turned savage. "What about Atlas? Have you arrived at a decision yet?"

I heaved in a breath and focus. Which was so damned hard when his fingers were inching up my thighs. "You said you had rules..."

His lips slanted into a hard line, and the tendon in his jaw fluttered. His nostrils flared again, his pupils distending. "I did, we do. All cartels do," he finally rasps out as if saying the words were physically painful. Endless silence pervades, our gazes locked in an epic battle I was fairly certain I could never win.

"Like what?"

He shook his head. "It doesn't matter right now."

"It does."

Another never-ending minute of silence passed with the air only thickening between us. "What more do you want from me?" he murmured, the softness in his tone so unlike the one I had come to expect from the ruthless mobster.

Everything.

The errant thought frightened the shit out of me. How could this dangerous man I barely knew stir such strong feelings? I wanted to let loose. I want to forget that my career was over because of him and I was holding the cards to his life.

"I want you to fuck me." The words flew from my lips beyond my control. The moment they were out, I snapped my traitorous jaw shut and bit my tongue.

A dangerous glint sharpened his eyes, and a hiss slid free through his pursed lips. "Oh, Lila, you have no idea what you're asking for."

"Harper. Then explain them to me while at it."

He shook his head, sinking his teeth into his lower lip. "I like you as Lila." He winked, then his hands closed around my waist, and he spun me around so that I was facing the mirror. I sucked in a breath as he dropped to his knees in front of me. "Keep your eyes on the mirror."

"Wha...?" The rest of the word dies in my throat as his head dips between my legs. He slides my damp thong to the side and runs his tongue across the inner seam of my leg. I gasp and dig my fingers into his hair.

"Mmm, that's my good girl Lila, you're already soaked and ready for me." He slips my panties down to my ankles.

His warm tongue drags through my center, and a moan parts my lips. "Noah," I groan, my fingers tangling in his dark locks.

He dips a finger inside me, and my hips buck against his palm. "Keep your eyes on your reflection, Lila," he murmured against the bundle of nerves at my apex. Lifting his head, his blown-out pupils met mine. "I want you to watch every tantalizing second as I fuck you with my tongue and allow you to come in my mouth. I want you to memorize your exact expression, the sparkle in your eyes, the flush of your cheeks, the curve of your lips, every moment of pleasure so that you never forget you are mine."

I swallowed hard. No one has ever talked to me like that, and fuck, it got me hot as hell.

His head disappeared beneath my gown once again, and his tongue flicks at my clit. My hand threaded through his hair, and the other gripped the edge of the couch. His tongue ran circles around the sensitive bud, driving me to the precipice of insanity. Then he dipped a second finger inside me, curling it until it hit the spot. Between his tongue and his fingers, I was a squirming mess. I grind my hips into his palm, into his mouth. I was an explosive ball of lust and pleasure, feeling my knees get weak.

"Lila, you're not looking ...," he murmured against my sensitive flesh. How the hell does he know? The vibrations against that taut bundle of nerves were nearly enough to throw me over the edge.

I forced my eyes away from his silky hair and met my reflection. My lower lip was swollen from biting it, leaving my cheeks flushed. I had never seen myself on the brink of orgasm. There was something oddly erotic about it.

Noah's free hand glides up the front of my gown, and my focus pivots to those strong fingers moving toward my breast. He jerks the fine silk down and slides his hand inside, cupping me, his fingers working my nipple to a taut peak. He pinched, and I let out a squeal. The rush of desire was too much.

I gasp as raw pleasure tears through me. "Noah," I moaned. "I'm going to..."

"That's right, Lila, come for me." His words reverberate through me, throwing me over the threshold.

My body constricted around his tongue, his fingers, as I rode out the storm, desperately rubbing up against his palm. He didn't let up until he had squeezed out every ounce of pleasure, and I was nothing but a writhing puddle of vibrating desire.

I gripped the couch, a boneless mess. Noah's head popped up from between my legs, with his chin covered in my juices, smiling like he had just discovered gold buried deep inside my pussy. He ran his tongue over his lips and licked the two fingers that were just inside me before running his thumb over my bottom lip.

"Mmm, just like I thought, sunshine and rainbows."

"What?" I finally managed.

"Nothing." He shook his head as he tugged my soaked thong back up my legs and dragged down my torn dress, the smile curling in the corners of his lips. He offers me a hand and pulls me to my feet. Standing behind me, his eyes meet mine through the mirror.

"My sweet Lila." His heated breath skates over the shell of my ear, and my body instinctively leans back to rest on his chest. He stiffened for an instant before his hand moved to my hip and fingers dug into my side possessively. His rock-hard cock presses against my ass, kindling another rush of desire. "You're mine, do you understand that? No one else can ever touch you."

I didn't want to state the obvious and ruin that moment. Who else would I have access to after an experience like that? Not to mention the fact that our time together has an expiration date if I decide to use the card with me. So I nodded slowly. His mouth skated down my ear and stopped at the crook of my neck. He sucked hard, then nibbled at my soft flesh. I let out a squeal when his teeth sank in. "What are you doing?"

His warm tongue replaced his teeth, and he lavished my sensitive skin. "Marking you as mine." He smirked as my gaze lifted to the mirror to find the deep red hickey.

"What are you, Noah, sixteen?"

A deep chuckle rumbled his entire chest, the sound was so warm and inviting, I sank deeper into his firm hold. The hand on my hip tightened, then his free arm laced around my waist, drawing me closer so that his arousal drove into my ass. I was so tempted to turn around, to meet that hungry gaze. But I forced myself to keep still. I was already into Noah Bennette way over my head, and if I went any deeper, I was terrified I would drown.