Vera's POV

Claire was still in my lap, her breath against my lips, her hands resting on my shoulders like she was daring me to move her. Daring me to do something about this unbearable tension that had been burning between us for weeks.

I should have shoved her off.

I should have put an end to this before it started.

But I didn't.

Because Claire had always been a problem I didn't know how to solve.

Her fingers moved slowly, tracing along the collar of my shirt, her touch light but deliberate. I could feel her breath when she spoke, her voice just above a whisper.

"You're not stopping me."

It wasn't a question. It was a statement, a knowing one.

I exhaled sharply, my grip tightening on her waist, enough to remind her who she was dealing with. "You think I should?"

She smirked. "No."

Of course she didn't. She was pushing, testing, knowing I was on the edge but not sure if I'd finally let myself fall.

I was sure I wouldn't.

Until she leaned in, so close that our noses brushed, her lips barely apart from mine.

"I know what you're doing," I murmured, my voice low, controlled, even as my pulse betrayed me.

Her smile didn't waver. "And?"

And I was letting her do it.

I should have pushed her away. But I didn't. Because the warmth of her body pressed against mine, the way she was looking at me like I was something worth chasing—God, it was intoxicating.

She was intoxicating.

I hated that.

I hated that I wanted this.

I hated her.

I hated her for making me want this.

Claire ran her fingers along my jaw, dragging them down slowly, teasing, knowing exactly what she was doing to me. My breath hitched before I could stop it, my body betraying me in ways it never had before.

And then she whispered, "I know you want to."

She was right.

And I was done pretending.

I grabbed the back of her neck and kissed her.

It wasn't slow. It wasn't careful. It was fire—hot, all-consuming, months of tension crashing into one single moment of recklessness. She gasped softly against my lips, and I took the opportunity to deepen it, my fingers digging into her waist, pulling her even closer.

She tasted like coffee and defiance. Like trouble. Like something I should have never let myself touch.

And yet, here I was, devouring her like she was the only thing keeping me grounded.

Claire clung to me, her hands sliding into my hair, her body pressing into mine like she belonged there, like she had always belonged there.

And maybe she did.

Maybe that was the worst part.

Because this wasn't just some fleeting moment of weakness. This wasn't just a kiss.

This was surrender.

And I didn't surrender.

I never had.

But here I was, letting Claire fucking Callahan undo me.

I pulled back slightly, breathing heavily against her lips. Her eyes were half-lidded, her cheeks flushed, her lips swollen from my kiss.

Fuck.

She looked beautiful.

And I was in deep shit.

"This doesn't change anything," I muttered, even though we both knew it did.

Claire hummed, looking far too smug for my liking. "Sure, boss."

I narrowed my eyes, my fingers still tangled in her hair. "You should learn to keep that mouth shut, pastelito."

She smirked, her lips brushing mine again, teasing. "Make me."

I kissed her again.

This time, I didn't stop myself.

I didn't know how long I let myself get lost in her.

All I knew was that my hands were still gripping her waist, her fingers were still tangled in my hair, and neither of us had pulled away. Not really. Not in the way that mattered.

I could taste the smirk on her lips when I deepened the kiss, could feel the way she was holding back a breathy sound, refusing to let me have it. I almost laughed at that. Even now, she didn't want to give me the satisfaction.

I pulled back just enough to look at her, to see the way her lips were swollen from me, the way her eyes burned with something that made my stomach tighten. My thumb traced along her jaw, slow, deliberate, watching the way her breath caught when I did.

"I should make you regret that," I murmured, my voice lower than I intended.

Claire smirked, recovering too quickly. "You won't."

My grip tightened. "You sure about that?"

She leaned in, her lips brushing against mine—not kissing me, just there, enough to drive me insane. "You didn't stop me last time," she whispered. "You won't stop me next time."

Next time.

The words settled between us, heavy, certain. She knew it as well as I did. This wasn't going to be the last time I had her this close. The last time I let her push me to the edge and make me forget why she was dangerous.

But I needed to remind her of one thing.

My hand left her waist and slid up, fingers wrapping around her throat—not squeezing, just holding, making sure she felt me there, making sure she knew exactly what she was playing with.

"I don't lose control," I whispered against her lips, the words slow, measured. "Not for you. Not for anyone."

She tilted her head slightly, exposing her throat further, her lips curling into something wicked. "Liar."

I growled low in my throat, shoving her off my lap in one quick motion. She barely caught herself, landing on the mattress beside me, laughing, breathless.

"See?" She taunted. "I knew you'd ruin the moment."

I stood up, straightening my clothes, trying to gather whatever was left of my self-control. I couldn't let this become a pattern. I couldn't let her think she had any kind of hold over me.

Even if, deep down, I was starting to wonder if she already did.

I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply. "You should get some rest."

Claire raised an eyebrow, smirking. "That's rich, coming from you."

I ignored her, heading for the door. I needed to put space between us before I did something even stupider. Before I let her see more of me than I already had.

But just as I reached for the handle, her voice stopped me.

"Vera."

I hesitated.

She didn't push this time, didn't tease. Her voice was different—softer, raw in a way that made me hate how much I wanted to turn around.

I did anyway.

Claire was still sitting on the bed, watching me, her expression unreadable. She didn't say anything for a long moment. And then—

"Be careful tomorrow."

I stared at her.

She wasn't just saying it. She meant it.

I hated that it made something shift inside me.

I gave her a slow, unreadable smirk. "Worried about me, pastelito?"

Claire rolled her eyes but didn't deny it.

I didn't give her the satisfaction of seeing my reaction. I just opened the door, stepping out into the hallway before I let her get to me any more than she already had.

But as I walked away, the ghost of her lips still on mine, her words still in my head—

I knew it was already too late.

Claire's POV

I sat there, still breathless, watching the door click shut behind her.

Vera had left like she always did—without looking back, without giving me a single inch more than she thought I deserved. But this time, I had taken something before she could pull away.

I had kissed her.

And she had let me.

I touched my lips, feeling the lingering warmth of her. I could still taste her, could still feel the roughness of her hands on my waist, the way her grip tightened when I pushed just a little too far.

I had chased her for so long.

I had been drawn to her from the first moment we met, but this—this was something else. This wasn't me just throwing out flirty remarks and testing my limits. This was real. And Vera had let it happen. She had kissed me back. She had let me press her against the bed, let me pull her closer, let me make her lose just a fraction of that impossible control she always carried.

And then she had shoved me away.

Like she always did.

I exhaled slowly, leaning back on my hands, my heart still hammering in my chest.

I should have seen it coming. Vera never let herself have anything that made her weak. And I— I made her weak.

At least, that's what she wanted to believe.

But I saw her hesitate.

I saw the way her hands lingered even after she shoved me off her lap. I saw the way she avoided my eyes when I told her to be careful. I saw the flicker of something she wasn't ready to admit yet.

I had kissed her, and she had kissed me back.

That had to mean something.

Didn't it?

My fingers curled into the bedsheets, my pulse still uneven.

Tomorrow, we went into battle. And I didn't know if I'd have the chance to do that again.

I didn't know if she'd let me.

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to steady my breath.

I had waited this long. I could wait a little longer.

But Vera Castillo wasn't getting away from me.

Not this time.

Vera's POV

I sat at my desk, staring at the phone like it was my enemy. It might as well have been. Every part of me hated this—this weakness, this act I had to play. But there was no other way.

Leo wasn't stupid. He was waiting for me to retaliate. He had already ambushed me once, already proven he was ahead of me. If I rushed in, he'd be ready. If I sat back, I'd lose everything.

So, I had to make him believe I had no fight left in me.

I exhaled slowly, feeling Claire's presence beside me. She wasn't touching me—she knew better than that in front of the crew—but she was close enough that I could sense her, steady and silent. She hadn't stopped looking at me since I picked up the phone.

I dialed.

It rang.

Once.

Twice.

Then—

"Well, well." Leo's voice came through, smooth and entertained. "Calling me already? What's wrong, Castillo? That bullet in your shoulder slowing you down?"

I clenched my jaw. Play the part, Vera.

"I'm not here to fight you, Leo." My voice was even, but carefully measured—low, tired, laced with something he could mistake for uncertainty.

He laughed. "No? Then why the call? I can't imagine you just missed my voice."

"I want to talk."

Leo hummed, amused. "Talk? Now, that's interesting. See, last time we talked, you tried to put a bullet in my head."

Claire shifted beside me, barely noticeable. A reminder to stay in control.

"I know," I said, inhaling sharply, letting my voice drop lower. "And I lost, didn't I?"

The line went silent for a second. Then—another chuckle.

"Oh, this is rich," Leo muttered, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Are you telling me you're conceding?"

I exhaled slowly, forcing the words out like they pained me. "I'm telling you I don't have the numbers to fight you and Dominic."

He hummed again, thoughtful. "Smart girl. Took you long enough to figure that out."

I ignored the jab. "I'm calling because I want a deal."

Leo scoffed. "A deal? Now why the hell would I give you that?"

I let the silence stretch, let him think I was weighing my next words. Then—

"I can be useful to you, Leo."

The shift in his breathing told me I had his attention.

"I've got reach," I continued, voice steady. "I know the people in this business. I know the deals, the suppliers, the buyers. I can make money for you, more than Dominic ever could."

Claire inhaled sharply beside me.

Leo let out a quiet laugh. "You're telling me you'd work for me?"

"I'm telling you I want to stay alive."

Another pause.

Then, finally—

"Meet me tomorrow. Midnight. Same place as before."

I clenched my fist. "Fine."

The line went dead.

I lowered the phone, jaw tight.

The room was silent. The weight of my crew's stares pressed into me, but I ignored them.

Then, Claire's voice, quiet but edged with something unreadable.

"Vera."

I exhaled, turning toward her. "What?"

Her brows furrowed, something in her expression torn between disbelief and frustration. "Are you actually considering—"

"Of course not," I cut her off, my voice sharper than I intended.

She studied me, searching my face. "Then what the hell was that?"

"A way in." I met her stare, unblinking. "He doesn't trust me. But he's arrogant. He'll want to hear me out just to feel like he won."

Claire's lips pressed together, like she wanted to argue. But she didn't.

Instead, she inhaled through her nose, running a hand through her hair before muttering, "You're insane."

I smirked, the tension in my chest loosening slightly. "You just figuring that out now, pastelito?"

She rolled her eyes, but her shoulders relaxed just the slightest bit.

I turned to the rest of my crew. "Meeting's over. Get ready for tomorrow."

They filed out, murmuring amongst themselves.

Claire stayed.

She watched me, expression unreadable, then exhaled. "You're sure about this?"

I wasn't.

But I nodded anyway.

Vera's POV

I sat at my desk, staring at the phone like it was my enemy. It might as well have been. Every part of me hated this—this weakness, this act I had to play. But there was no other way.

Leo wasn't stupid. He was waiting for me to retaliate. He had already ambushed me once, already proven he was ahead of me. If I rushed in, he'd be ready. If I sat back, I'd lose everything.

So, I had to make him believe I had no fight left in me.

I exhaled slowly, feeling Claire's presence beside me. She wasn't touching me—she knew better than that in front of the crew—but she was close enough that I could sense her, steady and silent. She hadn't stopped looking at me since I picked up the phone.

I dialed.

It rang.

Once.

Twice.

Then—

"Well, well." Leo's voice came through, smooth and entertained. "Calling me already? What's wrong, Castillo? That bullet in your shoulder slowing you down?"

I clenched my jaw. Play the part, Vera.

"I'm not here to fight you, Leo." My voice was even, but carefully measured—low, tired, laced with something he could mistake for uncertainty.

He laughed. "No? Then why the call? I can't imagine you just missed my voice."

"I want to talk."

Leo hummed, amused. "Talk? Now, that's interesting. See, last time we talked, you tried to put a bullet in my head."

Claire shifted beside me, barely noticeable. A reminder to stay in control.

"I know," I said, inhaling sharply, letting my voice drop lower. "And I lost, didn't I?"

The line went silent for a second. Then—another chuckle.

"Oh, this is rich," Leo muttered, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Are you telling me you're conceding?"

I exhaled slowly, forcing the words out like they pained me. "I'm telling you I don't have the numbers to fight you and Dominic."

He hummed again, thoughtful. "Smart girl. Took you long enough to figure that out."

I ignored the jab. "I'm calling because I want a deal."

Leo scoffed. "A deal? Now why the hell would I give you that?"

I let the silence stretch, let him think I was weighing my next words. Then—

"I can be useful to you, Leo."

The shift in his breathing told me I had his attention.

"I've got reach," I continued, voice steady. "I know the people in this business. I know the deals, the suppliers, the buyers. I can make money for you, more than Dominic ever could."

Claire inhaled sharply beside me.

Leo let out a quiet laugh. "You're telling me you'd work for me?"

"I'm telling you I want to stay alive."

Another pause.

Then, finally—

"Meet me. Two hours. Same place as before."

I clenched my fist. "Fine."

The line went dead.

I lowered the phone, jaw tight.

The room was silent. The weight of my crew's stares pressed into me, but I ignored them.

Then, Claire's voice, quiet but edged with something unreadable.

"Vera."

I exhaled, turning toward her. "What?"

Her brows furrowed, something in her expression torn between disbelief and frustration. "Are you actually considering—"

"Of course not," I cut her off, my voice sharper than I intended.

She studied me, searching my face. "Then what the hell was that?"

"A way in." I met her stare, unblinking. "He doesn't trust me. But he's arrogant. He'll want to hear me out just to feel like he won."

Claire's lips pressed together, like she wanted to argue. But she didn't.

Instead, she inhaled through her nose, running a hand through her hair before muttering, "You're insane."

I smirked, the tension in my chest loosening slightly. "You just figuring that out now, pastelito?"

She rolled her eyes, but her shoulders relaxed just the slightest bit.

I turned to the rest of my crew. "Get ready. We move in two hours."

They filed out, murmuring amongst themselves.

Claire stayed.

She watched me, expression unreadable, then exhaled. "You're sure about this?"

I wasn't.

But I nodded anyway.

Claire's POV

I pulled my phone out, fingers flying over the screen as I sent a quick message to Valeria. Two hours. Move now. Stay hidden until the hit starts.

No response, but I knew she got it. She would be moving already.

The door creaked open.

Vera stepped inside, two of her men trailing behind her. She looked at them, then at me, then crossed her arms. "She knows the location," she told them, tilting her head in my direction. "She'll drive you there. You follow her instructions to the last letter."

The men nodded, their expressions unreadable.

Vera's jaw clenched. "And your top priority is?"

The two exchanged a glance before answering in unison. "Get the job done."

Vera's eyes went cold. In a blink, she pulled out her gun, clicking off the safety.

"No." Her voice was sharp, deadly. "She gets out alive."

Their backs straightened, eyes widening just slightly.

"Her safety, then the mission," Vera continued, her finger resting near the trigger. "Are we clear?"

The hesitation lasted only a second, but it was enough.

Vera raised the gun a fraction higher, her expression darkening.

"Clear!" they barked at the same time.

I swallowed, something tightening in my chest.

Vera clicked the safety back on and holstered the gun, waving them off. "Go. Be ready."

The second they were out the door, she exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders, but I was already moving.

I crossed the space between us and wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her in.

Vera tensed—only for a moment—but then, slowly, she relaxed, her hands resting against my back, not quite holding me, but not pulling away either.

"You didn't have to do that," I murmured, voice quiet against her shoulder.

She scoffed, her usual way of brushing things off. "Don't get emotional, pastelito."

I pulled back just enough to meet her eyes. "Too late."

She was trying to act like it didn't affect her, like she wasn't shaken by any of this, but I could see it. In the way she exhaled too slowly, in the way her jaw was set a little too tight.

I tilted my head, studying her. "You really don't want me to die, huh?"

Vera rolled her eyes. "Stop being annoying."

I smiled. Then, before I could overthink it, I leaned in.

Pressed my lips to hers.

Vera stiffened, like she hadn't expected it, like the thought hadn't crossed her mind despite everything between us. But I didn't move away.

And neither did she.

A beat.

Then another.

Then, slowly, she kissed me back.

It wasn't slow. It wasn't careful. It was instinct, heat, an unspoken finally.

I felt the way her fingers twitched against my waist, the way she tried to mask her reaction, but I felt it anyway.

When she pulled back, her breath was uneven, but her smirk was there, teasing and sharp.

"Now you're really not allowed to die," she murmured, voice lower than before.

I grinned, my chest tightening in a way that scared me. "I wasn't planning on it."

She let out a small huff of amusement, then pulled away completely.

And without another word, she walked out.