He glanced at her, still asleep beside him, her breath soft and steady. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to take her in the way her hair sprawled across the pillow, the way her lips were slightly parted, the way she fit so perfectly beside him. But he couldn't afford distractions. Not now.
Without a word, he slipped out of bed, dressed, and left with his men to deal with the aftermath of the attack
Hours later, Elisa woke up, stretching lazily until her hand met cold sheets. She turned, expecting to see Ricardo, but the bed beside her was empty. Ricardo already left , a strange feeling settled in her chest, one she wasn't prepared for. She told herself it didn't matter, that last night had meant nothing, but she couldn't shake the hollow feeling creeping in. She pushed it aside and got up, determined not to dwell on it.
Downstairs, the housekeeper greeted her warmly."Good morning, dear," the older woman said and Elisa hesitated. "Did Ricardo... say anything before he left?"
The housekeeper shook her head. "He left early. Didn't say much."
Elisa forced a smile and nodded, but deep down, she hated that she had even asked. What was she expecting? That he'd leave some sweet message for her? She felt foolish.
Shaking off the thought, she headed back upstairs, took a long shower, and changed into a pair of bum shorts and a loose T-shirt. Maybe comfort would help her clear her mind.
When she finally made her way back down for breakfast, she nearly froze in place because Ricardo was already there.
He sat at the dining table, dressed casually in joggers and a fitted T-shirt, looking completely at ease as he sipped his coffee.
Elisa swallowed hard, her pulse quickening. She hadn't expected to see him so soon, and after last night, she had no idea how to act. Her cheeks burned as she debated sitting far away from him.
But before she could, Ricardo looked up, his sharp gaze meeting hers."Sit here," he said, gesturing to the chair beside him.
Elisa hesitated for a second, then reluctantly moved to sit down. The tension between them was thick, almost suffocating. She kept her gaze on her plate, hyper-aware of every breath, every glance, every shift in the air. Ricardo studied her for a moment before speaking.
"About last night..." His voice was low, careful. Elisa's grip on her fork tightened.
"Thank you," he said, his eyes still on her. "And... I'm sorry I left without saying anything."
She looked up then, surprised. Of all the things she had expected him to say, that wasn't one of them.
Their eyes met, and for the first time, Ricardo looked... uncertain.
Elisa wasn't sure what to say, but deep inside, she knew one thing ,this man, dangerous and powerful as he was, had just let his guard down for her.
Emiliano sat in his office, his fingers tightening around the whiskey glass as he stared at nothing. The room smelled of alcohol, frustration thick in the air. His men had been wounded, Elisa had been taken by Ricardo and had taken her right under his nose. He knew this would happen eventually, but what bothered him most was that it happened after he left. That meant one thing: there was an informant in his ranks.
The door swung open, and Justin stepped in, his expression unreadable. He took one look at Emiliano slouched in his chair and let out a disappointed sigh.
"Is this what it's come to?" Justin asked, crossing his arms. "Drowning yourself in alcohol while Ricardo takes everything from you?"
Emiliano scoffed, taking another slow sip. "What do you expect me to do? Applaud him?"
"I expect you to act," Justin snapped. "You still have power. Ricardo may have Elisa, but you have influence. Are you really going to let him win?"
Emiliano exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I knew this war wouldn't be easy," he muttered. "That's why I made sure our father's allies were on my side. But if I don't find out who the informant is, I'll always be one step behind."
Justin's jaw tightened. "Then start by handling that."
Emiliano didn't respond, but deep inside, he knew Justin was right.