Page 27 of Take Me Darkly

“Understood. I’ll need to do a site walk first. Old structures can hide structural surprises—asbestos, ancient wiring, code issues. You want this bumped to priority?”

I smiled at that. It was code to say he’ll shift his other jobs, but only for a hefty fee that he knew I would pay.

“I always do.”

“How fast are we talking?”

“As fast as you can manage without cutting corners. I want this done right.”

“That’s my favorite language,” Tony grunted. “I can be there tomorrow afternoon to measure the footprint and check the load-bearing beams.”

“Good. Have the initial estimate to me by the end of the day.”

“What’s the budget ceiling?”

“There isn’t one. I want top-of-the-line everything.”

“Consider it done, Mr. Romano.”

I ended the call and set the phone on the table. The apartment had grown darker while I worked. Dusk settled over Manhattan, painting the skyline in deep shades of indigo and brushed steel. The city below was awakening to its nocturnal beat.

I stood and pressed my hand against the cool glass, looking out over the endless sea of lights. I pictured Serena’s face when I finally revealed the studio to her. A part of me had considered involving her in the planning, but I quickly discarded the thought. No. I wanted it to be a surprise. I wanted to give her a sanctuary where she could heal, create, and find her fire again.

But there was another reason, too—one I was less proud of but couldn’t deny.

While she is distracted in the safety of that studio, I will hunt.

The people who wanted her dead would become my sole focus. If Serena was safe, occupied, and distracted, it meant I could do what needed to be done without worrying about her putting herself in danger to satisfy some need for justice or revenge.

The thought carried a heavy weight of pragmatic guilt, but I didn’t care.

Earlier today I had told Zeke that I didn’t want the FBI involved. I still felt that way. Bringing in federal agents meant scrutiny. Scrutiny led to questions. Questions could bring the past clawing its way back to the surface, unearthing secrets that I’d buried long ago.

Yet, I wasn’t arrogant enough to believe Zeke and I could wage a war against a global cartel entirely alone. The Serpent’s Disciples were a cancer that had metastasized into law enforcement, academia, and international shipping. They had unlimited resources and a terrifying body count.

I just needed time. Time to clean every paper trail, lock down every vulnerability, and ensure every piece of my past with Jerry stayed buried where it belonged. Once I was certain my past was impenetrable, I would consider making the call.

Because keeping Serena breathing mattered more than my secrets.

More than my empire.

More than my life.

More than anything.

The city lights glimmered like distant stars in the night. I gripped the window ledge, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. Somewhere in the darkness, the Serpent’s Disciples were coiled and waiting.

But so was I.

And I’d be damned if I’d let them strike first.

I turned from the window and headed back toward the bedroom. Serena was still sleeping, her dark hair spread across the pillow, and one hand curled near her face. She looked younger in sleep, and vulnerable in a way she never allowed when awake.

I stood in the doorway for a moment, just watching her breathe.

This woman had crashed into my life like a force of nature, turning everything upside down. She’d made me feel things I’d convinced myself I was incapable of feeling, and she made me want things I’d sworn I’d never want.

And now she was mine to protect.