“Why the hell have you not been at work?” my friend Fiona snaps through the phone before I can even say hello. “First you rent a new ce, now this? What’s going on?”


    I sink into my couch, letting the cushions swallow me. Every muscle in my body aches. Konstantin had me running nonstop today, like his personal schedule was a war campaign and I was his foot soldier. I sure as hell could’ve done without the heels.


    “Emilia!” Fiona’s voice cuts through my haze. “Are you even listening to me?”


    Shit.


    I press a palm to my forehead, trying toe up with a response that doesn’t include, I’m working sort of undercover for the Bratva boss whose brother you tried to put in prison.


    That would go over so well. If I had a choice, I wouldn’t have even told her about my new ce, but that would be impossible to keep from her.


    “The boss told me I needed some time to cool off. You know how rough it’s been after what happened with Nate.” The lie tastes sour on my tongue.


    The silence on the other end says everything. She knows me too well. Knows when I’m hiding something. And Fiona’s thest person I want digging too deep.


    Before I can change the subject, a knock rattles my front door.


    “Hold on. Someone’s at the door.”


    “It’s me. Open up.”


    My stomach dips. Of course it is.


    I hang up and drag myself to the door, already bracing for the lecture I know ising. Fiona doesn’t let things go. Especially when it involves me doing something reckless. But she should be kinda used to it by now. She’s known all the shit I’m capable of since college.


    But I can’t let her try to stop me like when we were younger. I’ve already gone too far. I have to finish what I started, no matter the cost.


    The knock has barely faded when I open the door, and there she is: Fiona rk, all fire and fury and ready for war. It’s no wonder defense attorneys hate her. She has a reputation of being a hard-ass in the courtroom, and out of it too.


    Her green eyes narrow the second she sees me, arms crossed over her chest, long brown hair cascading over her shoulders like a weapon.


    “Gonna invite me in.” She doesn’t even bother making it a question.


    I step aside, and she walks in like she owns the ce, heels clicking with every step, her entire body radiating with suspicion. She heads straight for the leather couch, but doesn’t sit down. The silence stretches, heavy and expectant.


    “Tell me what’s going on,” she finally says. “And don’t lie to me, Em. If it was just time off, you would’ve said something days ago.”


    She’s right. I tell her everything. Or I used to.


    I force a dryugh. “It’s nothing, really. Gerardo just thought I needed a break. Said I was being too recklesstely. Nate’s case has been eating at me.” I sh her a small smile. “Not that we can talk about it, since you’re technically the enemy.”


    She doesn’t even crack a smirk.


    “Don’t do that.” She finally sits. “Don’t deflect. We may not be able to talk about the case, but I’m still your friend. And I know you, Em. You wouldn’t be okay with the time off. Not unless you were doing something with it. Something risky.”


    Her eyes bore into me, seeing too much. I hesitate as I lower to the loveseat opposite from her. Lying won’t work. Not with her. She’ll dig until she finds the truth.


    Fiona isn’t just a prosecutor. She’s a bloodhound when something smells wrong.


    “I’m undercover… Sort of…”


    Her eyes re. “What the hell does that mean?”


    I lift a shoulder. “It’s not officially sanctioned.”


    She leans forward. “So that means what, exactly?”


    “It means I’m doing what no one else will. I’m getting close to someone I think can clear Nate’s name. Someone who may be tied to the murder.”


    Fiona goes still, ice in her eyes. “Who?”


    I hold her gaze. “You know who. Konstantin Marinov.”


    Silence detonates between us, heavy and crushing.


    Her mouth parts, then mps shut again. “You’re joking.”


    I don’t say anything. I just hold her gaze.


    “You’re pulling one on me because of how pissed I’ve been about losing Aleksei’s trial, right?” Sheughs, but it’s hollow. “No, but seriously, what are you doing?”


    “I told you the truth. Konstantin’s most likely involved in what happened to Nate. And I’m going to prove it.”


    She shoots to her feet like she’s been pped, pacing in front of the couch, her heels snapping against the hardwood.


    “Are you insane?” She pushes her hair behind her shoulder. “Emilia, please. Don’t do this. Find another way. Anything but that!”


    “If there was another way, do you honestly think I wouldn’t have taken it by now?” I say sharply, cutting through her panic. “If you’ve got something better, Fiona, by all means, let’s hear it.”


    Her mouth opens, then shuts again. She runs a hand down her face before copsing back onto the couch like her body suddenly can’t hold her up. Because she knows. There isn’t another way.


    Getting up, I sit beside her, my fingers curling gently around hers. “I know what I’m doing.”


    “No, you don’t,” she whispers, and it hits harder than a scream. “If you did, you wouldn’t be using yourself as bait in a fucking shark tank. These aren’t just criminals, Em. They’re brutal. They don’t feel the way we do. They’ll gut you without blinking.”


    “I’m doing what needs to be done.” The words slip out quieter. “You know that better than anyone. You fight like hell to put away the guilty and protect the innocent. That’s all I’m doing. I’m trying to save my brother.”


    Her stare turns intense, a war behind her eyes. Pain. Fury. Something helpless and hollow.


    Finally, she exhales and leans back. “You’re not going to stop no matter what I say, are you?”


    A small smile tugs at my mouth. “Of course not. And FYI, I’m Tessa now.”


    She res. “God, Tessa, you’re just as stubborn as Emilia.”


    “Takes one to know one.”


    Her lips twitch, but it fades fast. “Fine. But promise me one thing.”


    “Don’t die?”


    She sighs. “Fine, two things. Promise me you won’t sleep with Konstantin or any of them.”


    “What?” I scoff. “Are you crazy? Of course I wouldn’t sleep with him. Why would you even think that?”


    Okay, maybe he went down on me. But that’s not the same thing.


    Fiona crosses her arms, ring at me with a gaze that could pierce through steel. “Because even though I hate them, I have eyes, and those Marinovs are nice to look at. But they’re the definition of toxic. And Konstantin is the worst of them. Don’t let him crawl under your skin.”


    “Don’t worry. That won’t be a problem.”


    What a liar…


    I deflect, fast. “Speaking of problems, are you still seeing Aleksei everywhere you go?”


    The shift in her body is subtle, but telling. “Unfortunately. I mean, it’s not everywhere, but it’s enough. I even had to be carefuling here, make sure he wasn’t following me.”


    I raise a brow, the realization settling in. If Aleksei makes any connection between her and me…well, that would be a serious problem.


    “I know what he’s trying to do,” she adds. “Scare me. But I don’t scare easily. It’s just annoying now. I go out with coworkers, and he’s already there. I stop for coffee, and he’s in line ahead of me. I turn my phone off every time I leave the office. I sweep for trackers. Nothing. But still, it’s like he just knows.”


    I hate the way that makes my stomach twist. If that jerkoff does anything to Fiona, not even Konstantin will be able to save him.


    “You need to be careful. Seriously. I’ll keep an eye out too.”


    “No,” she says quickly. “You handle your psychopath. I’ll handle mine.” She settles beside me and grabs my hand again, her grip tighter now. “But promise me, Em. Don’t let your guard down. Not even for a second.”


    “Don’t worry. That’ll never happen.”<hr>


    The sun filters through the tall windows of Konstantin’s office, casting golden lines across the polished floors.


    I sit behind my desk, chewing slowly through a Caesar sd I barely taste. My fingers tap lightly against the wood as I skim over a list of scheduled meetings, trying to look busy while my brain whirs with a thousand thoughts. Mostly about Konstantin. Aboutst night with Fiona and how worried she is.


    All I need is a little more time for Riley to do her magic. And if she finds nothing, I’ll have to find something else of his for her to hack.


    He has to be connected to Tim’s murder. It all makes sense.


    My phone buzzes against the desk, cutting through the silence. I nce down and find Gerardo’s number there, and my pulse kicks up. He wouldn’t be calling unless it was necessary.


    God, I hope it’s not something with Nate.


    I know he’s doing what he can for my brother. He’s always been one of the few people I can depend on, the closest thing to a father either of us ever had.


    “Hey.” I try to keep my voice low in case Konstantin has listening devices around the office.


    “Hey, kid. Can you talk?”


    I nce toward the office door. “Yep, but I only have a few minutes because I’m working.”


    “Got it. But you’re alone, right?”


    “Yep.”


    “Alright, listen. There’s something you should know. There’s been talk that the DeLuca crew’s making moves against the Marinovs. A war ising, and I need you to be careful, got it?”


    “Yeah. I’m good.”


    “In and out, you hear? I won’t be able to protect you if there’s a fallout. You understand, right?”


    “I know.” I can’t say more, and he knows that.


    He releases a sigh. “I don’t want anything to happen to you, and I already regret this.”


    “Toote for that.” Iugh.


    “Mm-hmm. Just watch your back. I know you’re loyal to your brother. But don’t get too close. These men, especially Konstantin, they have a way of pulling people in until they can’t escape.”


    “Don’t worry so much. It’s not good for your heart.”


    He snickers. “Yeah, yeah. You sound like my wife.”


    “Well, maybe try listening to her for once.”


    “I’m getting off now.” He’s silent for a beat too long. “If you need anything, anything at all…”


    “I know. Thank you.”


    “You bet. Nate is like a son to me. And you? You’ve always been my daughter.”


    I clear my throat, hating the flood of emotions rising deep within me. “Gotta go.”


    “Alright, speak soon.”


    Just as I’m about to stab another soggy piece of lettuce, Konstantin steps into his office, heading for the door separating us. Tailored ck suit, no tie, ck shirt unbuttoned. It’s just enough to distract the rational part of my brain.


    His eyes find me immediately, dragging over me like a slow caress. A smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth.


    Caught checking out the boss again. I don’t even bother pretending I wasn’t.


    “How are you today, Ms. Monroe?” His voice is a decadent drawl. “Tragic, really, how little I’ve seen of you this morning.”


    I meet his gaze evenly. “But look at you. You somehow managed to survive.”


    My lips curve at the corners, and his smile widens, unapologetic and cocky. I hate the way my body lights up in response—tightening low, burning hot.


    I need this to stop. I need him to stop being…this.


    “Do not worry.” He steps closer, his presence swallowing all the space between us. “We’ll make up for lost time tomorrow.”


    I blink. “And what makes tomorrow so special?”


    He lifts his hand, brushing a strand of hair from my cheek with maddening tenderness, and I feel it in every inch of me. Like lightning crackling beneath my skin.


    “We’ll be flying out together on my private jet. Bright and early.” His tone dips lower. “Pack light.”


    My stomach drops.


    Perfect. Just what I need: a day trapped in the sky with the man I’m supposed to be manipting, who already seems to haveplete control of my body without even trying. At least here, I have grounding. Safetys. Distance. That won’t be the case wherever he’s taking me.


    “Where are we going?”


    “Chicago. I have meetings. You’ll be assisting me. And of course…” He leans in just enough for his breath to skate across my lips. “You’ll be avable for anything else I may need at any hour of the day.”


    A single brow shoots up. “Professional things, I hope.”


    He chuckles—dark, rich, and thick with meaning. “That depends entirely on how long you n to keep pretending there’s nothing between us.”


    I’m halfway to a retort when he backs away, his eyes dragging across my face like he’s memorizing every inch.


    “Go get some rest, malyshka. You’re going to need it.”


    His stare lingers like a brand, and by the time he turns away, I’m painfully aware that this tightrope I’m walking is fraying fast.