Five dayster, and I’m happy to report that I’m still very much alive.


    Not only am I alive, but Konstantin has been his normal self.


    We actually had a nice time, walking the streets of Nice, eating ice cream at ten in the morning,ughing about silly things. And at night, when his body was tangled with mine, was the most alive I’ve ever felt. But that’s how it always is when we’re together.


    In these past days, I’ve forgotten about my job, the mission that brought me here, and the tangled mess of secrets I’m still keeping from him. It felt real, like we were an actual couple, not just two people forced together by circumstances beyond our control.


    But now, as we walk back into his home hand in hand, the reality of everything ps me right in the face. It’s then I feel my phone vibrate inside my handbag, and I immediately wonder if it’s Riley.


    “I’m gonna go up and take a shower,” I tell Konstantin, throwing my arms around him and kissing him slow.


    “Mm.” He grabs a fistful of my behind and tugs me flush to him. “If I didn’t have business to catch up on, I’d join you.”


    His lips trail hot, teasing kisses down my jaw, a low growl escaping him as a soft sound of pleasure slips from me. When he pulls back, his eyes are flooded with desire.


    “Go. I’ll meet you in the bedroom as soon as I’m done.”


    My teeth tug at my bottom lip as I take a step back toward the stairs, hurrying up, feeling the heat of his gaze burning into me the entire way.


    As soon as I make it to the bedroom, I remove my phone, finding a text from Riley.


    Riley


    Hey! I miss you! Call me so we can catch up!


    A knot tightens in my stomach. Of course she doesn’t want to catch up. It’s all code for call me ASAP because I have news.


    Heading for the bathroom, I start the water, hoping it blocks out the conversation as I dial Riley’s number.


    She answers on the second ring. “Tessa?”


    The instant urgency in her voice is all I need to know that something’s not right.


    “What is it?” I whisper.


    “We need to meet. Can you get away?” Riley’s words are quick, almost frantic.


    It’s worse than I thought. She’d never ask to meet unless it was an emergency. I hesitate for a moment, like I don’t want to know. What if this thing with Konstantin, this strange little bubble we’ve built, is about to pop?


    “I can’t today. We just got back from a surprise trip. What about tomorrow?”


    It’ll be much easier to pretend I need to go shopping tomorrow instead of today. Konstantin won’t think much of it.


    “Yeah, fine.” A rush of an exhale leaves her, and my anxiety only increases.


    “I’ll text you when and where.”


    “Okay,” Riley replies, softer now, like she’s trying to mask the tension. “Talk then.”


    As I hang up, the sinking feeling in my stomach grows, and I can’t shake the thought that whatever Riley’s going to tell me will bring everything crashing down.<hr>


    The bell above the door jingles softly as I step into the boutique where I told Riley we’d meet. When I step inside, Maksim and Dmitri behind me, theirrge frames cast shadows across the polished floors.


    But I don’t need them on my tail right now.


    I turn to them. “Stay by the door and don’t follow me around.”


    They exchange murmurs in Russian, but they know better than to argue. With a muttered response, they settle onto the velvet sofa, their eyes still trained on me.


    I give them a smile, one that doesn’t reach my eyes, before turning my attention to the racks of clothes in front of me. Pretending to shop is easy, though my thoughts are elsewhere. The adrenaline running through my veins is cold and the uncertainty in my chest won’t fade.


    I spot Riley moving to the back, her head down, focused on what she’s grabbing from the shelves. She’s doing the same as I am: blending in, pretending to be here for something else.


    A saleswomanes over, asking if I need any help. I shake my head politely, then gather a few more things, making my way toward the back.


    I find an open door and slip inside, locking it behind me, and find her already waiting for me.


    Time stretches on before she finally sits on the bench, pulling out a small notepad and pen, scribbling furiously. I stare at her, trying to keep myposure, but my body betrays me with its growing stiffness.


    Finally, she peers up, her face pale and shows me what she wrote.


    And her words? They’re like a kick to the gut.


    One so hard, it blows the air from my lungs.


    No.


    It can’t be.


    There’s no way it’s true.


    Staring at what she wrote again, I read it over and over, turning it in my head to try to make sense of it somehow.


    I think Gerardo’s involved in what happened to Nate.


    My head spins as I try to process. No. She has to be wrong. Gerardo has always been like a father to us. There’s no way he’d do anything to hurt us. The more I think about it, the more I can’t reconcile the image of the man who looked after me and my brother—the one who was a mentor, a protector—with the idea that he set Nate up.


    Why? Is he the murderer? Is he covering up for one?


    Grabbing the pad, I write back.


    No way. What proof do you have?


    Her gaze darkens as she grabs it back and writes something in return.


    I found things. His financials link to the DeLucas. He’s been involved for years, and it’s a lot of money. He’s dirty. No doubt in my mind.


    No. Nonono. This can’t be happening.


    My heart sinks into my stomach, the world around me suddenly spinning. If this is true, if Gerardo is really behind all of this, everything I’ve believed is a lie.


    I clutch the notepad, barely able to breathe as I scribble another question.


    Why would he set Nate up?


    Maybe it has something to do with Nate’s dead partner. He was involved with DeLuca too. Maybe Gerardo thought he was a threat.


    The room seems to shrink as I stare at the paper. Her reply makes so much sense.


    But there’s just no way!


    I swallow, my throat dry.


    I need you to be sure, because there’s noing back from this.


    I am sure.


    Her eyes lock with mine.


    But I’ll find more if that’s what you need.


    My hands curl, needing to be back in the gym, to punch something. It’s been so damn long since I’ve done that. I take a moment before writing.


    Keep me posted.


    She takes the notepad, tucking it into her bag as she stands, leaving quietly, while I’m left alone with the storm of thoughts swirling in my head.


    I can’t believe it. Gerardo, the man who shaped so much of my life, the one who’s been like family to me, could be the very one who betrayed Nate. Betrayed us all.


    The panic begins to rise inside me, sharp and suffocating, and I sit there for a few minutes, trying to steady my breath, trying to hold myself together.


    But it’s hard. It’s so hard.


    The truth is a heavy thing, and right now, it’s about to crush me.