Lorenzo beamed. The cartel lieutenants nodded approvingly. Only Julietta remained still, her expression fixed in that hollow smile, the slight tremble in her fingers visible only to someone watching as intently as I was.
I exhaled slowly, centering myself. The wind had died down, leaving the night air still and heavy against my skin. Humidity at 62%. Distance: 380 meters. Adjusting for drop. Conditions perfect.
My hands didn't shake. They never did.
But my mind... my mind betrayed me.
What would she do when he fell? Would she scream? Would she run? Or would that mask finally crack, revealing relief? The possibilities tasted like smoke on my tongue.
"I'd like to thank my beautiful fiancée," Miguel continued, pulling Julietta closer. His hand slid lower on her back than propriety allowed, the possessive gesture making my jaw clench. "Without her, none of this would be possible."
Something dark uncoiled inside me. His hands on her body. His ring on her finger. His claim on what should be mine. The blood in my veins turned to ice, then fire.
Mine.
The thought should have disturbed me. I didn't know this woman. Had never spoken to her. Yet something ancient and territorial recognized her. Wanted her. Needed her with a hunger that burned through my chest.
I squeezed the trigger.
The silenced shot whispered through the night, a deadly secret between me and the air. Through the scope, I watched the bullet's impact—a red mist, a sudden jerk, then Miguel crumpling like a marionette with cut strings. The scent of gunpowder, faint but sharp, filled my nostrils.
Chaos erupted. Security swarmed. Women screamed, their high-pitched terror cutting through the night. Men ducked for cover. Lorenzo was dragged away by bodyguards, his face ashen.
And Julietta...
Julietta stood perfectly still, staring down at the body. At the blood splattered across her emerald dress, darkening the fabric to black where it landed. Her expression hadn't changed. No shock, no horror. Just that same distant calculation.
Then, slowly, she raised her eyes—looking out into the night, toward the surrounding buildings. Toward me. A shiver raced down my spine despite the warm night air.
She couldn't see me. Impossible at this distance, in this darkness. Yet I felt exposed beneath that gaze. Like she'd peered through the scope and straight into whatever remained of my soul. Like she could feel the weight of my attention on her skin.
I lowered the rifle, breaking it down with practiced efficiency. My fingers moved automatically, muscle memory taking over. Barrel. Stock. Scope. Each piece into its padded case, the soft clicks and snaps creating a rhythm that steadied my racing heart.
"Extraction route clear," Vince confirmed in my ear, his voice a welcome anchor to reality. "Car's waiting three blocks east."
I stood, muscles protesting after hours of stillness, joints cracking audibly in the quiet night. Below, police sirens wailed, red and blue lights painting the night in alternating flashes. The cartel would blame Lorenzo. Lorenzo would blame rivals. No one would look for a third player—not yet.
By the time they did, Julietta Altieri would be gone. Not dead. Never dead.
Mine.
I smiled, tasting victory and anticipation on my lips like fine whiskey. "Change of plans," I told Vince, moving toward the roof access door, my footsteps crunching on the gravel. "We're taking more than just territory."
"Boss?"
"The girl. I want her brought to the penthouse. Unharmed." The words felt right in my mouth, inevitable.
A pause. "That wasn't part of the plan." Vince’s voice carried a note of caution. In all our years working together, I’d never made a reckless decision.
"It is now."
I descended the stairs, mind already racing ahead. The cool concrete of the stairwell against my palm grounded me. The chaos I'd created would last days. The Altieri compound would be vulnerable, Julietta would be vulnerable.
Perfect.
Some men collected art. Others, rare cars or watches. I collected leverage. And Julietta Altieri was the most valuable piece I'd ever seen—not just for her strategic worth, but for the hunger she awakened in me. A hunger that clawed at my insides like a living thing.
I'd tell myself this was business. A calculated move to control the city's underworld. Lorenzo would do anything to get his precious bargaining chip back; even with the Suarez family out of the deal, he could find another man to sell her off to.
