Claire's POV

Vera was sitting at her desk, fingers tapping against the surface, her face unreadable, but I knew her well enough to see the impatience simmering beneath.

"She's late," Vera muttered, her voice clipped.

I smirked, shifting my weight as I leaned against the desk, arms crossed. "She'll be here."

Vera exhaled sharply, but before she could argue, the door swung open with force-dramatic as always.

Valeria Castillo stepped inside, her presence sharp and commanding, her coat billowing slightly as she entered. She was armed, of course, and she made a show of tucking her gun back into her holster, her smirk playing at the edges of her lips.

I let out a laugh, shaking my head. "Was that necessary?"

Valeria lifted a brow. "You said you needed me. I assumed there was trouble."

I grinned and ran to her, throwing my arms around her neck in an exaggerated hug.

Valeria barely had time to react, her entire body tensing beneath me, but I didn't care. I squeezed her tighter, letting out a dramatic sigh. "God, I missed you," I muttered, loud enough for Vera to hear.

Valeria's hand hovered before she finally gave me a light, awkward pat on the back. "You just saw me a few weeks ago, idiota."

I pulled back just enough to smirk up at her. "Yeah, but I didn't get to annoy you then."

Valeria rolled her eyes, but I caught the faintest twitch of amusement before she shifted her gaze-straight to Vera.

Vera was still sitting at her desk. Tense. Jaw tight, shoulders squared, her expression blank but her eyes-her eyes weren't.

The air shifted.

Valeria studied Vera, unreadable, her gaze sharp.

Vera stared back, unmoving, but I could see it. The way she was holding something back.

Neither of them spoke.

Neither of them moved.

I felt the weight of it.

Something unspoken, something heavy.

I exhaled, looking between them. "Sooo, are you two gonna fight, or should we sit down for tea?"

Valeria entered like she owned the place-calm, deliberate, but there was a weight to her movements, like she was already piecing things together before anyone spoke. She barely spared a glance around the room before her eyes landed on Vera, sharp and assessing.

"Traffic was hell," she said dryly.

I snorted, stepping toward her. "Oh, sure. The great Alacrán, delayed by traffic. That's believable."

Valeria shot me a flat look, but the corners of her lips twitched. "Shut up and let me pretend I'm normal for five minutes."

I grinned, but she wasn't really focused on me. Her attention flicked back to Vera, lingering. Something unreadable crossed her face, but she didn't speak on it. Instead, she let out a breath, tilting her head slightly.

"You said you needed me," she said, quieter now. "So... what's going on?"

Vera hadn't moved. She was still seated at her desk, fingers curled loosely on the wood, her expression unreadable. For a second, I thought she wasn't going to answer.

Valeria took a slow step forward. "Vera."

Still nothing.

Valeria sighed, shifting her weight slightly. "I don't mind coming here, but you don't just call for me. So tell me-" Her voice softened just enough to be noticeable. "What's wrong?"

Vera exhaled through her nose, finally standing, brushing past me without acknowledging my presence. "I'll explain," she said, her voice cool, measured. "But if you're going to be dramatic about it, leave now."

Valeria huffed a quiet laugh. "I don't do dramatic, hermana."

Her gaze softened for just a second-just enough to be real-before her expression sharpened again. "Talk to me."

Vera's POV

I hadn't realized I was gripping the edge of the desk until my knuckles turned white.

She came.

Valeria was standing right there, watching me, waiting. She hadn't hesitated. She hadn't ignored the call. She showed up.

For me.

Not for Claire. Not for Emilia. Not for some obligation to right past wrongs.

For me.

I hated how much that did to me.

I forced my expression to stay blank, but my throat felt tight. My grip on the desk loosened as I straightened, rolling my shoulders like none of this mattered. Like her being here wasn't undoing something inside me.

Valeria tilted her head slightly, studying me in that way she always did-sharp, calculating, seeing too much. I refused to let her see anything.

"I'll explain," I said, keeping my voice cool. "But if you're going to be dramatic about it, leave now."

A huff of amusement left her. "I don't do dramatic, hermana."

That word.

That damn word.

My jaw tightened, my nails digging into my palm, but I didn't react. Not outwardly.

She was waiting for me to speak. Waiting for me.

I exhaled sharply, shaking my head like I was annoyed, like this wasn't making me feel things I didn't want to feel. "Talk to me," she said, and there was something almost soft in her voice. Not pity. Not condescension. Just... her.

I couldn't remember the last time someone asked me to talk. Not gave me orders. Not demanded things from me. Just-asked.

I swallowed, shifting my weight. "Leo burned down one of my warehouses," I said finally, forcing the words out like they weren't catching in my throat.

Valeria barely reacted, her expression unreadable. "And?"

I scoffed. "And now, I'm going to burn him down."

She sighed, rubbing a hand down her face. "Of course you are."

I crossed my arms. "That a problem?"

She studied me for a moment, and then, to my surprise, she shook her head. "No. I just expected nothing less from you."

That made something tight in my chest loosen.

I hadn't realized how much I was bracing for her disapproval, for her to tell me I was reckless, that I was being a hotheaded idiot. But she didn't.

She just stood there, watching me, waiting.

I didn't know how to feel about that.

I turned slightly, my fingers dragging along the edge of the desk. "Claire thinks it's a trap."

Valeria's brows lifted slightly. "She's not wrong."

I shot her a look. "You agreeing with Claire now?"

Valeria smirked, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm agreeing with logic."

Of course she was.

I exhaled, shaking my head. "So, what, you came all this way to tell me I'm an idiot?"

Valeria's expression finally shifted, something flickering across her face. "I came because you needed me."

That did something to me.

I clenched my jaw, swallowing thickly. I didn't know how to respond to that.

She noticed. Of course she noticed.

I had spent years convincing myself I didn't need her, that whatever connection we had as sisters was nothing but a technicality-an accident of blood. But now, she was standing here, waiting for me to speak, and for the first time, I wasn't sure what to say.

I hated that.

"I need you to lead my men in and out," I said finally, keeping my voice steady. "I don't need you to get your hands dirty, don't need you to do much. Just make sure my idiots don't get themselves killed. They need someone to act as their brain, and right now, I don't have anyone else."

I expected hesitation. A fight. Maybe even outright refusal. Valeria had spent years building a life away from this world, away from me. Why the hell would she come back now?

But she just looked at me, then at Claire, then back at me.

Then, to my absolute fucking shock, she nodded. "Okay."

I stared at her, waiting for her to smirk, to say something sarcastic, to tell me she was messing with me. But she didn't.

I scoffed, shaking my head. "I knew you'd say n-what?"

Valeria smirked, but it wasn't mocking. It wasn't condescending. It was just... knowing. "I said okay."

I blinked. "Why? How?"

Valeria tilted her head, watching me like I was missing something obvious. "If you thought I would turn you down, why did you call?"

I exhaled sharply, already irritated. "I didn't. Claire called. She said you would show up for me."

Valeria hummed, shifting her stance slightly. "She was not wrong."

I clenched my jaw. I didn't like the way that settled in my chest.

Then she moved closer.

I didn't back up, but I felt the instinct to.

She reached out, resting a hand on my shoulder, and it wasn't possessive, wasn't condescending, wasn't anything but there. Steady. Familiar in a way I didn't know how to process.

"I am not your enemy, Vera," Valeria said, her voice calm, measured. "We just have different paths in life. You need to accept mine, but that never meant I'd walk away."

I inhaled sharply, but the breath stuck in my throat.

The words knocked something loose inside me, something I wasn't ready to face. I didn't know what was worse-that she said it or that I wanted to believe her.

I let out a quiet scoff, shaking my head. "I don't need your pity."

Valeria smirked slightly, giving my shoulder a light squeeze before dropping her hand. "Good. Because that wasn't pity."

I forced myself to hold her gaze, forced myself to ignore the unfamiliar tightness in my chest.

I wanted to call her a liar. I wanted to push her away. I wanted to tell her she had no right to say those words after everything.

But I didn't.

I just swallowed hard, turning away before she could see too much.

This was going to be a long fucking night.

Claire's POV

I grinned, looping an arm around both of them, pulling them closer with a dramatic sigh. "Ah, look at us. One big happy family."

The moment their shoulders touched, both of them recoiled at the same time, stiffening like I had just thrown them into a pit of fire.

I blinked, watching them. Then, a slow grin spread across my face. "Wow. You really are sisters."

Valeria shot me a deadpan look. Vera just scowled.

Then Valeria hummed, tilting her head slightly, her gaze flickering between me and Vera before raising an eyebrow. "So... what is this?" she asked, pointing between us. "Are you two a thing?"

"No," Vera snapped immediately.

"Yes," I said at the exact same time.

Silence.

Valeria's lips curled slightly, her amusement clear.

I smirked, looking at Vera, who was already shooting daggers at me, jaw tightening like she was seconds away from strangling me.

Valeria let out a quiet chuckle. "I thought you were the one keeping Claire hostage, but now I see she's the one keeping you hostage."

Vera groaned, rolling her eyes. "She is so fucking annoying."

Valeria hummed in agreement, giving me a knowing smirk. "I know. She really is."

I gasped dramatically, smacking both of them on the arm. "Excuse me?"

They turned to glare at me in perfect unison.

I stared at them, then burst out laughing. "Holy shit. That was terrifying."

They didn't even deny it.

But I could feel it-the unspoken shift, the way the tension between them had eased just slightly.

For a moment, it felt whole.

Calm.

The kind of calm before the storm.

I watched as Valeria exhaled, something easing in her shoulders. She turned to Vera, this time more serious, studying her. "So... you really called me for help?"

Vera stiffened. "Claire called you."

Valeria tilted her head slightly. "But you let her."

Vera clenched her jaw, looking away.

Valeria sighed. "Vera, whether you admit it or not, I would've come. If you had called me yourself, I still would've come."

Vera scoffed, shaking her head. "You say that, but you don't mean it. You left."

Valeria didn't flinch, didn't snap back. She just looked at her, steady. "I never left you, Vera."

Vera didn't say anything, but something flickered in her eyes, something she tried to bury too fast for me to catch.

I softened, glancing between them. "Hey, at least now we can prove I was right," I joked, nudging Vera lightly. "Your sister does give a shit about you."

Vera shot me a glare but didn't deny it.

Valeria smirked. "That's a first."

I grinned. "I'll take my victories where I can."

Vera sighed, dragging a hand down her face. "I don't have time for this."

Valeria rolled her eyes. "You never do." But her voice wasn't sharp, just knowing.

For the first time, the silence between them didn't feel like a battleground.

I watched as Valeria took a slow breath, then reached out, clamping a hand down on Vera's shoulder.

"I'm here. Let's get to work."

Vera swallowed, jaw tightening, but she gave a small nod.

I smiled to myself.

Maybe, just maybe, there was hope for them yet.

Vera's POV

I exhaled slowly, rolling my shoulders as I studied the map spread across the table. "First, we need to tell the crew about this plan, set everything into motion. We need to decide on the exact date and map out every possible contingency." I glanced at Valeria. "You'll lead the second team. Claire will lead the first."

The second those words left my mouth, Valeria snapped her head toward me, her jaw tightening. "What?" Her tone was sharp, immediate. "Claire? Leading? No. Absolutely not."

Claire, standing across from us with her arms crossed, let out a dramatic sigh. "Oh, come on."

Valeria ignored her, turning her full attention to me, voice lowering. "Vera, are you out of your mind? I agreed to help you, but that doesn't mean I'm going to let Claire throw herself into the middle of this."

Claire scoffed. "Uh, hello? Standing right here."

Valeria barely spared her a glance before looking back at me, waiting for me to take her side.

I didn't.

I crossed my arms, my voice even. "It was her decision."

Valeria let out a sharp breath, shaking her head. "She doesn't know what she's getting into."

Claire stepped forward, throwing her hands up. "Seriously, what is it with you two talking about me like I'm not in the damn room?"

Valeria's stare didn't waver. "This is not happening."

Claire groaned, running a hand through her hair. Then, as if something clicked, she straightened, rolling her shoulders back. "Val," she said, voice softer now, more serious. "You know me. Have I ever done anything I didn't want to do?"

Valeria hesitated, eyes narrowing.

Claire took a step closer. "You were the one who told me I had to figure out where I belonged. And I chose this. I made this decision myself. Vera didn't force me." She glanced at me briefly before looking back at Valeria. "You don't have to like it, but you do have to respect it."

Valeria's expression tightened. "Respecting it doesn't mean I have to be okay with it."

Claire shrugged. "No, but it means you have to trust me."

Valeria clenched her jaw, her gaze flickering toward me, like she was still waiting for me to step in and say no.

Instead, I exhaled, my voice low but firm. "I won't let anything happen to her."

Valeria's hands curled into fists. "You can't guarantee that."

I tilted my head slightly, watching her. "And neither could you, back when it was Emilia you were fighting for."

Valeria went still.

Claire swallowed hard, her gaze flicking between us.

For a long, tense moment, none of us spoke.

Then Valeria dragged a hand down her face, exhaling sharply. "You're both impossible."

Claire grinned. "You love us."

Valeria shot her a glare but said nothing.

I smirked, shaking my head. "So? Are you in?"

Valeria's eyes flickered to Claire, studying her for a moment longer before she let out a slow breath. "Fine," she muttered. "But if anything happens to her, I will kill you both."

Claire clapped her hands together. "Great! Now that we're all feeling warm and fuzzy, let's go plan a war."

I rolled my eyes, but as I glanced at Valeria, something in me settled.

She was in.

And for the first time, I wasn't fighting alone.

Claire's POV

I watched Vera walk out, her presence commanding as she went to gather her crew. The second she disappeared down the hall, I felt the weight of another stare settle on me.

Valeria.

She had that look-half exasperation, half something deeper, something unreadable.

She exhaled slowly, shaking her head. "You really stayed."

I scoffed. "Oh, did you think I was joking this whole time?"

She didn't smirk. Didn't roll her eyes. Just studied me, arms crossed, brows furrowed. "No. I just thought you'd come to your senses by now."

There was no sarcasm in her voice. No bite. Just... concern. Genuine concern.

Something in my chest twisted, but I masked it with a grin. "I am in my senses. I like it here. It's cozy."

Valeria gave me a flat look. "You've been shot."

I shrugged. "Details."

Her jaw tightened. "Claire."

I sighed, dropping onto the couch and leaning back, staring at the ceiling. "What do you want me to say, Val? That I miss the house? That I miss you? That I miss mornings with Emilia, drinking overpriced coffee and pretending life is normal?" My throat felt tight. "I do. I miss all of it. But I can't just go back and pretend I don't feel a pull toward this."

Valeria sat down across from me, leaning forward, her elbows on her knees. "Then explain it to me. Because I don't get it."

I hesitated. "I... I don't think I do either."

She sighed, dragging a hand down her face. "Claire, the house is different without you." Her voice was softer now, lower. "Emilia's worried. Dani keeps looking at your empty room like she expects you to walk back in. And me? I keep telling myself you'll wake up one day and realize this isn't where you belong."

I swallowed hard. "What if I already did, and this is where I belong?"

Valeria's eyes flickered with something. "And Vera?"

I blinked. "What about her?"

Valeria tilted her head slightly. "Is that why you're really here?"

I scoffed. "Oh, so now it's about a girl? You were the one telling me to find my place, Val. To figure out what I want."

"Yes," she said, voice sharper now. "And I didn't think it would be this. I thought you'd... I don't know. Travel. Start something new. But instead, you threw yourself into a life that will get you killed."

I exhaled, shaking my head. "You really think so little of me?"

Valeria's brows furrowed. "What?"

"You think I'm just some idiot chasing danger? That I'm doing this blindly?" My voice wavered slightly. "I know what I'm doing, Val. And I know the risks."

Valeria sighed again, rubbing her temple. "You think Vera will protect you. But she's not like me, Claire. She won't shield you from the worst parts of this life. She is the worst parts of this life."

I looked at her, really looked at her. And I saw it-the same concern, the same stubborn protectiveness that had always been there.

But she didn't know Vera like I did.

"I don't want to be shielded," I said quietly. "I just want to stand beside her."

Valeria's lips pressed into a thin line. "And if she falls?"

"Then I'll fall with her."

She stared at me for a long moment. Then she sighed, reaching out, squeezing my hand. "You better not. Because if you do, I'll be right behind you."

Something warm settled in my chest, a small smile tugging at my lips. "So dramatic."

Valeria rolled her eyes. "Says the woman about to start a war."

I laughed softly. "Fair point."

She gave my hand one last squeeze before letting go, her expression softening just slightly. "Just... promise me something."

I tilted my head. "What?"

"If you ever realize this isn't what you want anymore, you come home."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, nodding. "Yeah. Okay."

Valeria studied me for a second longer, then sighed, standing up. "Alright. Let's go see what mess Vera is about to drag us into."

I smirked. "Now that sounds like my kind of fun."