Emiliano stepped into his grand hallway with a smug expression, his coat still smelling faintly of smoke. The night's mission had been a success, he was sure of it. He poured himself a drink, savoring the taste of both whiskey and revenge.
"He didn't see it coming," he muttered to his right-hand man, Justin, who stood nearby with a knowing smirk. "Ricardo will be too busy scrambling over that warehouse fire to even imagine what's next."
Justin gave a respectful nod. "Everything went as planned. The damage was extensive. He'll be occupied for a while."
Emiliano tilted his glass and the liquid. "And the rat? Any sign of a snitch yet?"
Justin shook his head. "Not yet, sir. I'm still watching everyone closely."
A flicker of frustration flashed in Emiliano's eyes. He slammed the glass down on the marble table. "Find him, Justin. I don't like surprises. If someone is feeding Ricardo information, I want them buried before the next move."
Ricardo stirred awake in the quiet of dawn. Beside him, Elisa slept peacefully, the soft rise and fall of her chest the only movement in the room. Her face, usually so guarded, now seemed vulnerable almost innocent.
Without disturbing her, he slipped out of bed, took a quick shower, and dressed sharply. As he adjusted his cuffs, his mind was already racing with the implications of last night's attack.
Downstairs, he called for the head cook.
"Take breakfast up to my room," he ordered. "She's tired. Let her rest."
The older woman nodded, concealing the smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She had been around long enough to recognize when something had shifted and something definitely had.
"I won't wait for breakfast," Ricardo added, heading for the door. Antonio and a few of his most trusted men were already waiting beside the SUV. Ricardo didn't say a word as he slid into the front seat. The car roared to life, and they sped off
The soft knock on the door stirred Elisa from her sleep. Blinking against the morning light, she sat up slowly only to realize she wasn't in her room. Her eyes widened as the memories of the night before came flooding back. Her breath caught in her throat.
The kisses. The touches. The heat of Ricardo's body.
The way he carried her here.
A mix of shame and longing stirred in her chest as she pulled the sheet tighter around herself.
"Breakfast," the cook's gentle voice called from behind the door.
Elisa didn't respond immediately. She was too lost in thought, her heart pounding, her world once again tilting under her feet
She heard the knock again, softer this time, almost hesitant.
"Come in," Elisa said quietly, her voice still raspy from sleep.
The door creaked open, and to her surprise. perhaps even slight horror—mit wasn't Ricardo. It was the older woman from the kitchen, holding a tray of breakfast. Elisa's cheeks flushed instantly, the memory of where she was, and how she'd ended up here, rushing back like a wave of heat.
The woman paused at the sight of her, registering the faint awkwardness in the air. She gave a small, knowing smile but said nothing. With quiet grace, she walked to the table near the window and began setting the tray down.
Elisa didn't say a word. She couldn't. The lump in her throat was too heavy, the embarrassment too raw. She kept her eyes low, her fingers clutching the sheet tightly around her as though it were a shield.
Sensing the young woman's discomfort, the cook didn't linger. "Enjoy your meal, miss," she said kindly, then turned and left, shutting the door behind her.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Elisa sank deeper into the bed, her mind spiraling. She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her heartbeat.
What just happened between them last night. The hunger, the way he touched her like she belonged to him and the way she responded, like her body had always known him.
But was it love? Or was it just circumstance, desire, and vulnerability blurring the lines
She wasn't sure. All she knew was that Ricardo Castillo was no longer just a man enforcing a contract, he had become something more complicated, something dangerously magnetic.
And that scared her more than anything.