Claire's POV

Valeria was leaning against the desk, arms crossed, brows furrowed. Her sharp gaze flickered between me and the map Vera had left behind.

"How did Dominic escape?" she asked, voice steady but heavy with something else—something that sounded a lot like frustration.

I exhaled. "Leo. He orchestrated the whole thing."

Valeria scoffed, shaking her head. "Of course he did." She shifted, staring at the map. "And after that, he went after Vera's warehouse."

"Yeah," I muttered. "Burned it down within hours."

Valeria's jaw tightened, and I could see the gears turning in her head. "That warehouse..." She paused, her brows pulling together. "It was guarded, right?"

I hesitated. "I—I don't know."

She gave me a look, like she wasn't sure if she believed me or if she just didn't like the answer.

Before she could say anything else, the door swung open.

Vera walked in, her eyes immediately locking onto Valeria. "You look too serious," she muttered, voice laced with irritation. "What now?"

Valeria didn't waste time. "Which guards did you have on the warehouse?"

Vera stilled for half a second, then shrugged as if the question didn't bother her. "A couple of men," she answered. "Most of them were pulled to stop Dominic from escaping."

Valeria's expression darkened. "So you were stretched thin."

Vera's jaw tensed. "Yeah. I was."

Valeria exhaled, slow and deliberate. "And the crew knew that."

Something in Vera's face shifted. "What are you trying to say?"

Valeria's voice was steady, careful, but there was no doubt in her tone. "I think it's obvious."

Vera's expression hardened. "No," she said immediately, shaking her head. "Not my men. No way."

"Vera," Valeria said, voice calm but firm. "In this business, betrayal is easy. You know that."

Vera's eyes flashed, sharp and defensive. "I keep my crew tight."

Valeria studied her, unbothered by the outburst. "Do you?"

Vera's shoulders squared. "I'm a strong leader."

"I'm not questioning that," Valeria said. "I'm questioning whether or not they see you as untouchable."

Vera's hands curled into fists, her breathing steady but sharp-edged. "You think I don't know how to keep my men in line?"

I stepped forward before Vera lost her patience entirely. "Vera," I said, voice softer than usual, "she's not doubting you. But maybe she has a point."

Vera's eyes snapped to mine. "What point is that?"

Valeria sighed, her tone still level, still careful. "Now that you've gathered the crew, they're expecting you to announce a hit—two warehouses, right?"

Vera didn't respond immediately, but I could see her mind working through Valeria's words.

Valeria continued, "They don't need to know the right two."

Vera exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "So I lie to them?"

"No," Valeria said, tilting her head slightly. "You tell them half the truth. We are hitting two warehouses—but we don't tell them which ones."

I nodded in agreement. "If there are Leo's men among them, we can use that against him."

Valeria's eyes flickered toward me, her posture still tense.

I reached for her hand, squeezing gently. "Val... if there are Leo's men here, you can't be seen."

The second my fingers wrapped around Valeria's hand, the air changed.

Vera's entire body went rigid.

I barely had time to process the shift before Vera's voice cut through the space, sharp and low.

"Claire."

I froze.

Slowly, I looked at her.

Vera's eyes weren't on Valeria anymore. They were locked on my hand. The one still holding Valeria's.

"Let go," she said, voice deceptively calm.

I hesitated. "Vera—"

Her glare darkened, something flickering beneath the surface, something territorial. "I said. Let go."

I swallowed, feeling the sudden weight of the moment. I knew that look. I'd seen it before. But never directed at me.

Slowly, I pulled my hand back.

Valeria's gaze flickered between us, then she exhaled. "I think Claire is right," she muttered, shifting her attention to Vera. "I'll get out of here. Reach out to me with the location and the exact plan in private."

Vera didn't respond right away.

She was still looking at me.

Not saying anything.

Not moving.

Her jaw was locked, her fingers twitching at her sides.

For a split second, I thought she might actually say something else. That she might call me out on whatever had just pissed her off.

But instead, she exhaled sharply and turned away.

Valeria added. "Vera," she said quietly, "if we're right about this, watch your back."

Vera scoffed, a slow smirk tugging at her lips. "What is this? Are you worried about me?"

Valeria didn't answer.

She just turned and walked away.

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

Vera didn't look at me again.

But I could still feel it.

That tension.

That shift.

I wasn't sure what it meant.

But I knew one thing for sure.

Vera wasn't just pissed.

She was jealous.

Vera's POV

I watched Valeria leave, the tension between us lingering even after the door shut behind her. I turned back to Claire, but she wasn't looking at me. Her eyes were still on the door, on the space Valeria had just occupied, deep in thought.

That shouldn't have annoyed me as much as it did.

"You like holding her hand, pastelito?" I asked, my voice calm. Too calm.

Claire blinked, finally looking at me, her brows pulling together like she hadn't even realized. "What?"

I stepped closer, slow, controlled, letting the question hang between us.

"You heard me."

Claire studied me, something sharp in her gaze, like she was trying to figure out where I was going with this. Then, instead of answering, she smirked.

"You jealous, jefa?" she teased, voice light, but I could see the way her fingers curled slightly, the way her breath hitched when I took another step.

I didn't answer.

Didn't need to.

I reached for her wrist, pulling her hand up between us. She stiffened slightly, but she didn't pull away. My thumb brushed over the skin of her palm, slow, deliberate.

"I don't share," I murmured.

Claire swallowed, but her smirk didn't fade. "You don't own me."

I laughed, low and amused. "You keep telling yourself that, mi vida."

Her lips parted slightly, like she wanted to argue, but before she could, I did something I wasn't planning to do.

I leaned in.

Not enough to close the space completely, but enough for her to feel the heat of my breath against her cheek, enough for the air between us to thicken.

Claire's breath stuttered.

She didn't move back.

Didn't stop me.

Her pulse flickered beneath my fingers, and I felt it—saw it—the way her body betrayed her before she could think.

"You keep testing me," I murmured, my lips brushing just close enough to her ear to send a shiver down her spine. "You like seeing how far I'll let you go?"

Claire didn't answer right away.

Then, after a beat, her voice came quiet. Steady.

"Maybe."

That made me smirk.

She wasn't stupid.

She knew exactly what she was playing with.

I moved even closer, until there was nothing but a breath between us. My fingers tightened on her wrist, not enough to hurt, but enough for her to feel it.

"You think I won't make you regret it?" I whispered, watching her, waiting for the moment she'd finally push back.

But she didn't.

Instead, she did something worse.

She tilted her chin up, just slightly, just enough to make my control waver for half a second.

"You won't," she said, quiet, sure.

And maybe it was the way she looked at me, maybe it was the way I felt her—warm, unyielding, reckless—but something in my chest tightened.

She was getting under my skin.

I should've walked away.

I didn't.

I let the silence stretch between us, let the weight of it press in, let her feel how close she had come to something she wasn't ready for.

Then, finally, I smirked.

"I told you, pastelito," I murmured, voice dipping, low and smooth. "You're playing with fire."

And then, before she could say anything else, I let go of her wrist and stepped back, leaving just as easily as I had closed the space between us.

Letting her sit with it.

Letting her wonder just how close she had come to something real.

---

As the crew gathered in the briefing room, the tension was thick. Vera stood at the front, her expression unreadable, eyes scanning over the men before her. I stood by her side as she had asked, arms crossed, waiting.

She pulled out a map, laying it flat on the table. "We're hitting two warehouses." Her voice was sharp, leaving no room for debate. She tapped two locations, her fingers pressing into the map. "These are the targets."

The crew leaned in slightly, studying the chosen sites. Some nodded in approval. Others exchanged looks.

"Claire will lead both teams," Vera continued smoothly. "We go in, we take what's ours, and we leave no openings for retaliation. This is not a full-blown war. This is a statement."

There was a beat of silence, then one of the men spoke up. "Why these two?"

Vera's gaze snapped to him, cutting him down before he could say anything else. "Because I said so."

That shut him up real quick.

Antonio, standing at the back, remained silent, arms crossed as he studied the map.

Vera continued, "Leo expects retaliation, and he's going to be waiting for it. These locations put us in the best position to hit hard and get out fast."

One of the older men nodded. "And you're reaching out to Leo before this?"

Vera smirked. "He thinks I'm calling for peace. Let's let him believe that."

A few chuckles rippled through the room. The energy shifted, the crew starting to get on board with the plan.

"Any questions?" Vera asked, her voice final.

No one spoke.

"Good. Get moving."

The crew began to disperse, murmurs filling the room as they walked out, heading to prepare for the operation.

Antonio stayed behind.

Vera had already turned away, but when she saw Antonio still standing there, her expression tightened slightly.

"Something on your mind?" she asked.

Antonio exhaled, glancing at the map again. "These warehouses..." He tapped the two locations. "They're not the biggest threats."

Vera's jaw twitched. "They're close enough for Claire to lead both."

Antonio's eyes narrowed slightly. "That the only reason?"

Vera stared at him. "What are you trying to say?"

Antonio hesitated, but then he shook his head. "Nothing. Just making sure you're thinking this through."

Vera smirked, but there was an edge to it. "I always do."

Antonio didn't look entirely convinced. He gave a short nod before turning and walking out, leaving Vera watching after him, her fingers tapping against the table.

I studied her expression, the way her smirk had faded the moment Antonio was gone.

"Something wrong?" I asked, tilting my head.

Vera exhaled, rolling her shoulders back. "Nothing I can't handle."

I wasn't sure if that was true.

Claire's POV

Vera led the way to her room, her posture tense. She didn't speak as she pulled out her phone, tossing it onto the bed before sitting down beside it. I could tell she was thinking, her fingers tapping against her knee as if debating whether to go through with the call.

I sat at the edge of the bed, watching her. "You gonna call her, or do you want me to do it?"

Vera shot me a look, then exhaled sharply before picking up the phone and dialing. The call rang twice before Valeria answered.

"You've got the plan?"

Vera didn't waste time. "Sending you the coordinates now. The hits happen tomorrow night."

A brief silence. Then Valeria's voice came through, steady. "I'll bring my own men."

Vera leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "I don't need more men."

"You do if this goes sideways," Valeria countered. "You said it yourself—you're stretched thin. Your crew is already questioning things, and Leo has Dominic now. You need every advantage you can get."

Vera's fingers curled slightly. "You coming for the hit or just sitting back and watching?"

"I'm leading the second team," Valeria said simply. "But I need your most trusted men covering Claire. Her safety comes first."

Valeria's voice was firm. "Leo is expecting you to come in heavy. If we're right, and there's a snitch, he'll pull his forces toward the fake warehouses we leaked. But if there's even a chance he figures out the real targets, you need to be protected."

I frowned. "I can handle myself, Val."

"Not alone."

Vera scoffed, shifting in her seat. "I wasn't planning on leaving her unguarded."

"Then we're on the same page," Valeria said. Then after a short pause, "Watch your back, Vera."

Vera hesitated just for a second before muttering, "Yeah. You too."

The call ended, and Vera tossed the phone onto the bed beside her, rubbing a hand over her face.

I nudged her knee with mine. "So, how does it feel?"

She tilted her head to look at me. "What?"

"Having your big sister look out for you."

Her jaw tightened, but I caught the flicker of something in her eyes before she scoffed. "She's looking out for you, pastelito. Don't get it twisted."

I smirked, shifting closer. "Mm-hmm. Sure."

Vera sighed, running a hand through her hair. "We need rest. Tomorrow's going to be a long night."

I hummed, watching her for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. Guess we do."

But as I settled in, I couldn't shake the feeling that Vera was still thinking about that call. And for once, I didn't push her on it.

---

Vera sat at the desk, pretending to go over the map again, but I could see the tension in her shoulders. Her fingers tapped against the table in a steady rhythm, her mind clearly elsewhere.

I smirked as I leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "You keep staring at that thing like it's gonna change."

She didn't look up. "Just making sure everything is set."

I rolled my eyes, pushing off the wall and walking over. "No, you're just avoiding the fact that you're worried about me."

Her head snapped up, a sharp scoff escaping her lips. "Worried about you?" She leaned back, amused. "You're barely a soldier, pastelito."

I grinned, moving to sit on the edge of the desk, right in front of her. "And yet, you put me in charge of the hit."

She exhaled slowly, like she was already regretting that decision. "Don't make me change my mind."

I leaned in just slightly. "You won't."

She met my gaze, her eyes flickering over my face before she shook her head. "You're impossible."

I nudged her knee with mine, pushing the limits. "Come on, admit it. You're worried."

She rolled her eyes. "I trust you to handle it."

"But that's not the same as not worrying."

Vera let out a slow breath, her fingers flexing against her knee. Her posture was still casual, still controlled, but I saw the way she avoided my gaze for a second too long. That was all the confirmation I needed.

I smirked, sliding down from the desk and stepping closer. "You care about me."

She scoffed, but I saw the slight twitch in her jaw. "I care about my operation going smoothly."

I hummed, unconvinced. "You're so bad at lying."

I slid onto her lap, looping my arms lazily around her shoulders, ignoring the way her body tensed beneath mine. I was pushing it—I knew I was—but I also knew Vera. Knew that, despite all her sharp edges and ruthless control, there was a part of her that felt. A part she tried to bury, a part she didn't want anyone to see.

And I wanted to see it.

She stiffened at first, her fingers twitching against her thigh like she was debating whether to push me off. But she didn't.

I pressed my forehead against hers, my voice dropping into something softer, something just for her. "You don't have to pretend with me."

Her breath hitched, barely audible.

I took that as permission.

Tilting my head, I brushed my nose against the side of her throat, breathing her in, slow and deliberate. "You don't have to act like you don't care."

Vera's hands flexed at my sides. "Claire." My name came out low, tight, like a warning.

I hummed against her skin, tightening my grip around her neck just slightly, testing. "Just let it happen."

She sucked in a sharp breath. "You think you know me so well?"

I smiled against her, dragging my fingers lightly down her spine. "I do know you."

She let out a quiet scoff, but her grip on my waist tightened—just for a second. "You're a pain in the ass."

"And yet, you're still letting me sit here."

She exhaled slowly, her jaw tightening. "Barely."

I chuckled, pressing just a little closer, feeling the warmth radiating from her. "I don't believe you."

Vera didn't respond. Not at first.

Then, in one swift movement, she grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me closer, so close I could feel the heat of her breath against my lips. My stomach flipped at the sudden shift, my fingers instinctively curling against her shoulders.

Her dark eyes studied me, unblinking. "You think you can play with fire, pastelito?" she murmured.

My breath stuttered.

But I didn't back down.

Instead, I grinned. "Maybe I like the burn."

Something flickered in her expression—something dangerous, something charged.

Her thumb brushed the side of my throat, her voice barely above a whisper. "Careful what you ask for."

I swallowed. I knew that I was pushing a limit neither of us fully understood yet. Knew that whatever was building between us wasn't safe, wasn't simple.

But I also knew one thing for certain.

I wasn't afraid of it.

And neither was she.