Chapter 3 JULIETTE'S POV

"You took the files, didn't you?"

The voice behind me was calm.

Too calm.

Like a man standing on the edge of something he didn't want anyone else to see.

I didn't turn around.

I kept my eyes on the streetlights blinking below the hotel balcony.

"Did you expect me to sit there and play trophy?"

"I expected you to act like someone who wanted her brother to stay alive."

I turned then. Slowly.

"You threatened me with his life, Nico. Don't act like you gave me a choice."

His jaw flexed.

"Where are they?"

"I don't have them anymore."

"Juliette."

"I don't."

He stepped closer.

"You broke into my safe and left a note like this was a game."

"No," I said. "I left you a message so you'd know what it feels like to have everything taken."

"You don't know what I've lost."

"You think this marriage is the first time I've been used? You think you're the only one who's ever had something ripped away?"

His eyes tightened. His jaw locked.

"I never pretended to be good."

"You didn't have to," I said. "You just had to pretend I mattered."

Silence.

He walked past me, poured himself a drink like it was just another night.

Like I hadn't just stolen every secret he locked in a vault.

"Who has them?" he asked.

"I'm not telling you."

"You're not stupid enough to keep them yourself."

"You said it yourself. I'm brave."

"There's a difference between brave and reckless."

I crossed my arms.

"Why does it matter to you, Nico? If this is just business-why do you care?"

He didn't flinch.

"Because those files are the only thing keeping five families from tearing this city apart."

I shrugged. "Sounds like a you problem."

He slammed the glass onto the table.

"You're playing with fire."

"Then maybe you shouldn't have handed me the match."

His gaze darkened.

"What did you do with them?"

"I made sure they wouldn't be in your hands anymore."

"You realize what you've done?"

"I stopped letting men like you make all the rules."

"You think the people in those files will spare you just because you took my leverage?"

"They won't have to," I said. "By the time they realize I was involved, I'll be gone."

He looked at me like he didn't recognize me.

Or maybe like he finally did.

"You really think you can disappear from me?"

"I already have."

His hand shot forward-not to hit, but to catch my wrist. Drag me closer.

Like he needed to see the defiance up close.

"Tell me who you gave them to."

"No."

"Juliette-"

"Let me go."

He didn't. Not right away.

Then his grip eased. He stepped back.

"You're going to get people killed."

"So are you."

He dragged a hand through his hair-

The first crack in the armor.

"Where's Luca?"

His eyes met mine.

"Safe."

"I want proof."

He didn't answer.

"Nico."

He pulled out his phone. Dialed.

"Bring him to the basement. Ten minutes."

Then he hung up.

"You'll see him. After that, you're coming with me."

"Where?"

"Somewhere quiet. Somewhere we can talk."

"About what?"

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"About what happens to people who try to outsmart me."

Ten minutes later, I was shoved into a black SUV.

Nico sat beside me. Silent. Hands on his thighs. Not touching me. Not even looking.

But I could feel it-his eyes. Like I was the bomb in his lap.

The car pulled up to a compound outside the city.

Iron gates. Cameras. Men with rifles.

"Where are we?" I asked.

He didn't answer.

The car stopped. A guard opened my door.

Nico got out first. Held it open.

"Move."

"I'm not scared of you."

He looked down at me.

"You should be."

I stepped out.

He led me inside. Down a hall that smelled like old wood and power.

At the last door, he stopped. Opened it.

I froze.

Luca sat in the corner-tied to a chair.

"Luca!"

I ran to him.

His head lifted slowly. Bruised. Bloodshot.

"Jules," he rasped. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Trying to keep you alive."

"You shouldn't have come."

"I couldn't leave you."

He shook his head weakly.

"This was never your fight."

"Too late."

Behind me, Nico said,

"You gave the files to someone. I want a name."

Luca's eyes flicked to mine.

"What files?"

"She took something from my safe," Nico said. "Now half the city wants her dead."

"She's not giving you anything," Luca snapped. "Not until I walk out of here free."

"You're in no position to negotiate."

"Then kill me."

"I'd rather not," Nico said. "But don't push me."

I stood and turned.

"He's not the one pushing."

Nico exhaled through his nose. "You're bluffing."

"You want to test that?"

He studied me.

"Fine," he said. "Let's raise the stakes."

He pulled out his phone.

"If I press one button, the man watching your mother gets the green light."

I stepped forward.

"You're bluffing now."

"You want to see?"

I grabbed the phone.

"You think I won't break this?"

"You think breaking my phone stops anything?"

"I think it buys me time."

"You're out of moves."

"Then you should've buried me instead of marrying me."

He grabbed my arm again-but I twisted free.

"I'm not yours, Nico. You never owned me."

He stared at me.

Then his voice dropped.

"You want your brother free?"

"Yes."

"You want him safe?"

"Yes."

"Then trade."

I blinked. "What?"

"You come with me. You give me the name. And I'll let him go."

"Luca won't agree."

"He doesn't have to."

I turned to my brother.

"I can handle him."

"No," Luca said. "This isn't how it ends."

"I'm not ending anything," I said. "I'm buying us both another move."

I faced Nico.

"You let him walk. Tonight."

"And you give me what I need."

"I go with you," I said. "Alone. No more guards. No more threats."

He looked at me like he couldn't decide if I was brave-or stupid.

"Deal," he said.

He turned and gave a quiet order to the guard at the door.

Two minutes later, Luca was untied and walking out-limping, but alive.

I let out one breath.

Just one.

Then Nico leaned in and whispered,

"Hope you said goodbye the right way."

I froze.

"What do you mean?"

He nodded at the guard.

"Bring her downstairs."

"Where are we going?"

His voice was soft. Final.

"To see what happens when you rob a monster... and live to talk about it."

The door slammed shut behind us.

The elevator started moving.

But it wasn't going up.

It was going down.

Fast.