Valeria's POV

The words sank like a stone in the pit of my stomach. My mind raced with possibilities, none of them good. My fingers hovered over my phone, trembling slightly-not from fear, but something colder, sharper. Dread.

Claire's voice snapped me back. "Valeria? You look like you just saw a ghost."

I shoved the phone into my pocket. My pulse thudded in my ears, drowning out everything else.

"I have to go," I muttered, my voice low and tight.

Claire stepped in front of me, blocking the doorway. "Hey, hold on. What's wrong?"

I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my face blank. I couldn't drag her into this. Couldn't let her see the storm brewing behind my eyes.

"It's nothing," I lied, brushing past her.

She grabbed my arm-not roughly, but firm enough to make me pause. "Valeria."

I didn't meet her eyes. I couldn't. "Just tell Emilia I had somewhere to go."

I pulled free, but Claire wasn't done.

"Hey," she called after me, her tone softer now, less playful-almost concerned. I paused, my hand on the doorknob.

"Whatever it is... don't do anything reckless," she added, her voice steady but her eyes sharp, like she was trying to see through the walls I'd built.

I didn't turn around, didn't respond. But her words lingered like an echo as I stepped outside, the cold air hitting me like a slap.

I pulled out my phone again, texting Claudia.

"On my way"

Her reply came almost instantly.

"Be careful and don't let anyone see you leaving her house."

I didn't hesitate.

Whatever it was, it couldn't be good.

Emilia's POV

I came downstairs, expecting to find Valeria somewhere-maybe sprawled on the couch, flipping through one of my books with that bored look she wore like armor, or hovering near the kitchen pretending she wasn't hungry. Instead, it was just Claire and Dani at the kitchen island, their mugs of coffee between them, Dani mid-laugh at something only she found amusing.

I scanned the room, my chest tightening. "Where's Valeria?"

Dani barely glanced up, smirking. "Probably sharpening her knives somewhere."

Her words dug under my skin, but I kept my face neutral. "Claire?"

Claire stood up quickly, setting her mug down with more force than necessary. "Hey, Dani, why don't you... I don't know, go check on the Wi-Fi upstairs or something?"

Dani raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying the excuse, but shrugged and left the room, muttering something under her breath.

The moment she was out of earshot, Claire's casual demeanor dropped. She crossed her arms, leaning against the counter. "Look... she told me to tell you she had to go somewhere. That she'd be back."

I frowned. "Left? Where?"

"She didn't say."

Something cold settled in my chest. I pulled out my phone, dialing Valeria's number. It went straight to voicemail.

I called again. Same thing.

My heart pounded harder, unease creeping in like a shadow. "What's the meaning of this?"

I stared at her. "Claire. Did something happen?"

Claire sighed, running a hand through her hair, clearly debating how much to say. "She was already in a mood when she came downstairs. Dani being Dani didn't help, but after that, she and I talked a little."

I crossed my arms. "Spill."

She shifted, clearly debating how much to say. "I asked if breakfast didn't go as planned. You know, since she looked like she wanted to punch a wall. She kind of snapped at me, asked why I cared."

"And you said?"

"That I care because you care about her. That's reason enough." Claire exhaled, glancing toward the doorway as if expecting Dani to reappear. "She didn't like that answer much. But then she said something."

I crossed my arms, my heart racing. "What did she say?"

"She thinks you're getting impatient with her."

I blinked, caught off guard. "Impatient?"

Claire shrugged. "About the whole intimacy thing. She thinks you're growing tired of waiting."

I stared at her, disbelief mixing with something else-frustration. That wasn't it. Yes, I wanted her-wanted more-but that wasn't the weight I saw in her eyes this morning. There was something else. Something darker.

"That's not it," I muttered. "That's not why I got upset."

Claire studied me, her expression softening. "I didn't think so either. She's scared. Of something. And it's not just about you."

I clenched my jaw, my fingers tightening around my phone. "She's hiding something."

Claire finally spoke, her voice softer. "I thought that too. But... she looked scared, Emilia. Like whatever it is, it's eating at her."

I stared at the door, my chest tightening with each passing second.



Valeria's POV

The drive to Claudia's felt like it stretched across an entire lifetime. My fingers gripped the steering wheel tighter than necessary, knuckles bone-white against the leather. The air felt heavy, pressing down on me, and no matter how wide I rolled the windows down, I couldn't breathe.

The last thing I saw before I left was Emilia's face-the softness in her half-asleep smile, the warmth of her touch, her scent still clinging to my skin. And now, it felt like I'd left all my oxygen behind with her.

I parked outside Claudia's place, engine humming for a beat before I finally killed it. My heart was racing like I'd run here instead of driven. I sat there, staring at the chipped paint on the door, willing myself to find some sort of clarity. But it didn't come.

I pushed the door open, slamming it shut behind me with more force than intended. Maybe I needed the sound, something louder than the storm in my head.

Claudia opened the door before I even knocked, her face shadowed, unreadable. She leaned against the frame, arms crossed, one brow arched like she'd been expecting me to fall apart before I even arrived.

"You took your time," she muttered, stepping aside to let me in.

The apartment smelled like old cigarettes and strong coffee, thick with the kind of tension that didn't need an introduction. Juan was already there, sprawled out on the couch like he belonged. His eyes met mine, sharp and dark, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Valeria," he greeted lazily, like we were old friends catching up.

I didn't respond. No room for pleasantries.

"What's the job?" My voice was low, flat, because if I let any emotion bleed through, I might shatter right there.

Claudia closed the door quietly, locking it with a soft click that sounded too final. She moved to the counter, picked up a glass of water, and leaned back against the edge like this was just another Tuesday.

Juan's smirk grew wider. "Dominic wants to see if you're as loyal as you claim."

I didn't flinch. I'd expected that much.

"To who?" I asked, though a part of me already knew. I could feel it creeping up my spine, cold and merciless.

Claudia exchanged a glance with Juan, her jaw tightening. She looked like she hated what she was about to say.

"It's a hit," Juan answered, his voice casual, too casual.

I swallowed the knot in my throat. "Who?"

Juan leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, studying me like I was some puzzle he couldn't wait to solve. The bastard was enjoying this.

Claudia's voice was quieter this time, but it hit like a bullet. "Emilia's father."

My world tilted.

Everything froze-my breath, my heartbeat, the ground beneath me. Just... nothing. Like the words had sucked all the air out of the room.

I didn't blink. Didn't speak. Just stared at her, waiting for her to take it back, to laugh and tell me it was a sick joke. But Claudia wasn't laughing.

"That's the job," Juan added, like it was nothing more than a grocery list.

I clenched my jaw so hard it hurt, trying to keep the scream buried deep in my chest.

"And if I don't?" My voice came out hoarse, barely recognizable.

Juan's grin widened, leaning back like he was already savoring the outcome. "You know what happens."

Yeah. I knew exactly what happens.

I turned to Claudia, hoping-praying-she'd say something, anything, that would make this less impossible. But her face was carved from stone.

"Val," she said quietly, stepping closer, her voice softer but sharp enough to cut. "It's Emilia's father... or it's you and Emilia. Dead."

The words hit harder than any punch I'd ever taken.

My stomach twisted, bile rising in my throat. I wanted to argue, to scream, to tell her to go to hell. But I couldn't. Because she was right.

I didn't answer. What was there to say?

Juan stood up, smoothing out the creases in his jacket, his smug grin fading into something colder. He walked past me, pausing just long enough to let his words dig in.

"I risked my life to help you both," he said, his voice low, sharp like the edge of a blade. "If you don't finish the job, I will."

That was it.

No threats, no theatrics. Just a promise.

Then he was gone, the door clicking shut behind him like a gun cocking.

The room felt too small, the walls pressing in on me. My chest burned with something I couldn't name-rage, fear, guilt, all twisted together. I grabbed the nearest glass and hurled it against the wall. It shattered, pieces scattering across the floor like tiny echoes of everything I couldn't say.

I wasn't done.

The lamp went next, crashing to the floor in a burst of broken light.

Claudia didn't flinch. She never did. She just watched, arms crossed, her expression unreadable, waiting for the storm to pass.

"Feel better?" she asked when the silence settled, thick and suffocating.

I spun around to face her, chest heaving, fists clenched so tight my nails dug into my palms.

"Don't tell me to calm down," I snapped. My voice was rough, scraping against the raw edges of my throat.

Claudia took a step closer, her gaze sharp. "I'm not. I'm telling you to think. You knew this wouldn't be easy."

Easy. The word tasted like ash.

She didn't understand. She couldn't.

This wasn't just a job.

This was Emilia.

"What are you planning?" she asked quietly, her voice softer now, like she was afraid to break whatever fragile thread was holding me together.

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. Plans, possibilities, all tangled in the chaos of what needed to be done.

"When it comes to Emilia," I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me, "no sacrifice is too big."

Claudia's eyes darkened, but she didn't argue. She knew me too well for that.

"I'll do what Dominic asked," I added, the words tasting like poison.

"When?" I added, her voice barely a whisper. " When should the job be done?"

"Tonight." She whispered.

The weight of it settled between us, heavy and undeniable.

I took a deep breath, forcing the rage down, locking it away where it couldn't cloud my thoughts.

"Listen closely," I said, stepping closer, my voice low, razor-sharp. "This is the plan."

I laid it out, every detail, every move. There was no room for error. No room for hesitation.

Because failure wasn't an option. Not when Emilia's life was on the line.

Emilia's POV

I stared at my phone, my thumb hovering over Valeria's name, my heart pounding like a drum against my ribs.

Where are you?

Are you okay?

Please answer me.

Three messages. No reply.

The minutes bled into hours, the sky outside shifting from the warm gold of afternoon to the dusky pink of early evening. Shadows stretched long across the floor, creeping in like fingers wrapping around my throat, making it hard to breathe.

I paced the room, every step echoing louder than the last, my mind spiraling with possibilities-none of them good. Something was wrong. I could feel it deep in my bones, like a warning siren blaring inside me.

Then-my phone buzzed.

I nearly dropped it, scrambling to unlock the screen, my pulse roaring in my ears.

Valeria: Remember that I would protect you at all costs. And remember that I would never betray your trust.

I read it once.

Twice.

The words didn't make sense.

No-they made too much sense.

This wasn't a check-in. This wasn't reassurance. It was a goodbye wrapped in promises I didn't ask for.

My hands trembled as I typed back, What does this mean? Valeria, answer me.

Nothing.

I felt the air leave my lungs, my fingers gripping the phone so tightly my knuckles turned white. My chest ached, like my heart was trying to claw its way out.

"Claire!" I shouted, my voice ragged, raw.

She appeared in the doorway, her easy grin fading the second she saw my face. "What's wrong?"

I shoved the phone at her, my breath uneven, my body vibrating with fear. "Read it."

Her eyes flicked over the screen, her brow furrowing. "Maybe she's just-"

"Don't," I snapped, cutting her off, my voice sharper than I intended. "Don't tell me she's fine. This isn't fine. This isn't her being dramatic. This is-"

My words broke, swallowed by the lump rising in my throat.

Claire moved closer, her face unusually serious. "Emilia, she's tough. Whatever's going on, she can handle it."

"That's what I'm afraid of!" My voice cracked, hot tears stinging my eyes, but I blinked them away. "She's always handling it. She never lets anyone in. She thinks she has to carry it all on her own, like she's-"

I couldn't finish.

Because deep down, I knew what Valeria was about to do.

She was about to break herself trying to protect me.

And I didn't know how to stop her.

The phone was still in my hand when I heard it-the metallic groan of the front gate creaking open.

My heart leaped.

Valeria.

I didn't think. I didn't even grab my shoes. I just ran.

Claire's voice echoed behind me, "Emilia, wait!"

But I was already outside, the cool evening air slapping against my face. My chest heaved as I sprinted down the steps, my eyes searching desperately for her.

Instead, I saw my father.

He was stepping out of his car, adjusting his suit like he hadn't just disappeared from my life without a word. Relief mixed with confusion surged through me, but before I could process it-

Two shadows emerged from nowhere.

Fast.

Too fast.

One attacker blindsided the guard, knocking him out cold with a sickening crunch. The other-a figure in black-lunged straight for my father.

A flash of silver.

No.

The blade sank into him, deep and merciless.

I couldn't move. Couldn't scream. My father collapsed, crimson staining his pristine white shirt.

The attacker straightened, and for a brief, agonizing second, the hood slipped.

Our eyes met.

Valeria.

The ground disappeared beneath me. My knees buckled, but I forced myself forward, a raw scream tearing from my throat.

"DAD!"

Valeria's face remained impassive-blank, like a stranger's.

She turned and ran.

Another figure followed-blurred, faceless-melting into the shadows beside her.

A black SUV screeched around the corner. Valeria's car tailed it like a predator, disappearing as fast as they'd come.

I dropped to my knees beside my father, my hands instantly soaked in blood.

"No, no, no-stay with me!" I pressed down hard. "Claire! Call an ambulance! NOW!"

She was already there, her phone pressed to her ear, rattling off our address to emergency services.

I couldn't hear her. All I could hear was my father's labored breathing.

And the echo of Valeria's eyes staring back at me.