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Alejandro didn’t flinch, though the sting shot sharp up his arm. His re, however, could have yed skin. “
When he had drawn enough blood, Martins handed Alejandro a folded handkerchief.
“You came prepared,” Alejandro muttered, pressing the cloth against his arm.
“I’m always prepared,” Martins replied easily, sealing the sample in a ziplock bag and slipping it into his <b>case</b>. Then he held out his hand. “Now, let me have a look at her phone.”
Alejandro immediately retrieved it from the nightstand and handed it over.
Martins wasted no time, connecting wires, fingers flying over his keyboard as he hacked into the device. The room was silent save for the faint clicks and the asional low hum from him.
Minutes stretched in silence. Alejandro’s gaze kept darting between Martins‘ work and Nivera’s steady breathing.
Finally, Martins exhaled, leaning back. “It seems her phone has been hacked into. But I can’t be too sure. Whoever did it–they’re good. Too good.”
Alejandro’s jaw clenched, his teeth grinding audibly. “How is that possible when I made sure you took every step against it when I bought that phone for her?”
Martins‘ expression hardened. “The only way this could’ve happened is if someone had physical ess to the device.”
Alejandro’s teeth gnashed together, fury darkening his face. “Physical ess?”
“Yes.” Martins nodded. “It wasn’t hacked remotely. Whoever’s behind this touched it and must have done the work from there.”
Alejandro’s jaw flexed. He turned away sharply, his shoulders stiff with fury. “Get me a new phone.”
“No,” Martins stopped him quickly, raising a hand. “This is good. I can connect her phone to my system. That way, anything that happens–we’ll see it. And if I’m right, the bastard will try to contact her again. When he does, we’ll be ready.”
Alejandro hummed low in his throat, considering. It went against his instincts to leave her with apromised device, but the thought of baiting the enemy… It appealed to him.
“Fine,” he agreed in the end. He would, however, have to let Nivera know so she would be calm and clear- headed when the time came.
“Now about what happened in the mansion,” Martins continued, tapping the edge of the phone.
“No one can break into this house. Not with your security. You’ve made sure of that. I’ve tested it myself. So how could she have been attacked?<b>” </b>
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Alejandro’s eyes narrowed. Then something clicked in his head, and he straightened abruptly. “Close your eyes<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Martins blinked. “What?”
Alejandro’s re sharpened. “Do it.”
Though clearly confused, Martins obeyed, leaning back and squeezing his eyes shut.
Alejandro rose silently and crossed to the bed. His hands were careful, almost reverent, as he lifted the hem of Nivera’s nightgown. His jaw went stone still when he saw it–angry red marks marring her soft skin. Exactly where she had said she’d been struck.
Rage coiled low in his chest, dark and lethal. He let the fabric fall back into ce, his hand lingering an extra second before he turned.
“You can open your eyes.”
Martins cracked them open, staring. “Why the hell-”
“She wasn’t lying,” Alejandro interrupted, his voice low and dangerous. “Her skin is red. Exactly where she said she felt the blows<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Martins‘ mouth pressed into a thin line. “Then she was attacked. Inside the mansion.”
Alejandro’s gaze darkened.
“But no one could have broken in. That’s impossible.”
“No,” Alejandro agreed, his tone clipped. “Then the only possibility is that the attack came from inside the house.”
A deadly silence stretched before Martins broke it.
“The only people who have ess to this mansion,” Martins continued carefully, “are you, her… and the helpers.”
Alejandro’s jaw locked. The word tasted like poison. He thought of their silent faces, their lowered gazes, and the loyalty he paid for. And yet–how easy would it have been? How easy for one of them to betray him?
“Dig deep into the helpers. I want them all investigated. Where they’ve been, who they’ve been with, everything.”
“Consider it done.”
Alejandro nodded. If indeed the betrayal hade from one of his helpers, then he would give them a very slow and painful death.
Martins exhaled, standing and gathering his things. <b>“</b>I’ll run the blood. I’ll track the phone. You keep her safe.”
Alejandro said nothing, only nodded once<b>, </b>curt and lethal.
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“Don’t forget,” Martins added softly, almost as an afterthought as he stepped toward the door. “Fear is the most effective weapon. If someone wants to break her, they’re doing a damn good job.”
Alejandro’s gaze slid to the bed, where Nivera curled under the nket, trembling faintly even in sleep. His throat tightened, his chest burning.
“And as far as I know, she doesn’t have too many enemies except…”
“Ss,” Alejandropleted and Martins nodded.
“You can go,” he muttered, voice low.
Martins gave a brief nod once more and slipped from the room, the door shutting quietly behind him.
Alejandro stood in silence for a long moment, fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. Then he exhaled sharply.
He slid off his shirt, left the bloodied handkerchief on the table, and climbed back into bed. As soon as his body touched the mattress, she shifted instinctively, her hand reaching for him in her sleep.
Carefully, he pulled the nket over both of them and drew Nivera against him.
She sighed softly, her face pressing into the crook of his neck.
Alejandro’s hand stroked slowly down her back, his lips brushing her hairline.
“Jusr give me time, Cabezota. I’ll get to the bottom of this and you won’t have any more troubled sleep,” he muttered as he kissed her forehead.
“Alejandro…” She stirred faintly, mumbling something incoherent against his chest. He tightened his hold.
“Sleep, Cabezota,” he murmured, softer now, almost tender. “I’m here. I’m not leaving you. Not now, not <b>ever</b><b>.” </b>
Her breathing evened again, deeper this time, steadier.
Alejandro’s eyes burned in the dark, wide awake. He’d keep that promise. No matter what it cost.
AD
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<b>10:19 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>15 </b>
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<b>Chapter </b>174