Chapter 53

Later, in the guest room where Charlie would be moved after her hospital stay, Ariana adjusted the bed linens while Callum watched from the doorway.

“She’ll like it here,” he said.

“I hope so. She’s never really been out of Texas.”

“You didn’t ask for much when you came into my life,” he said. “But I can give you this.”

Ariana turned to him, eyes soft. “You gave me more than I ever thought I’d have.”

He stepped closer. “That scares me, Ariana. Because it means you matter.”

She smiled faintly. “You matter too.”

Just as they leaned in, Callum’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, jaw tightening. “Julian.”

Ariana stepped back. “Go. I’ll be here.”

He looked torn for a moment, then kissed her forehead. “Don’t stay up too late.”

She watched him leave, heart tugging in opposite directions—part of her grounded in the safety she was beginning to find, the other pulled toward the unknown.

As the door clicked shut, she whispered into the empty room, “I think I might be falling for you, Callum Guerrero.”

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The dim lights of the warehouse flickered overhead as Callum leaned over the steel table, eyes narrowed at the files Julian had just spread open before him. A dull hum of tension lingered between them, the quiet crackle of an overhead fluorescent bulb the only sound.

Julian’s voice broke the silence first. “I ran background checks on the contractors Milanna’s father used for the Gulf Coast developments. You’re not going to like this.”

Callum’s jaw tensed. “Try me.”

Julian turned the file to face him. “He’s been laundering money through shell companies—dozens of them. And here’s the kicker—two of those companies made silent bids for the Tremont Heights property last month. The same one you outbid them on.”

Callum’s eyes scanned the names. The paper trembled slightly in his grip. “So this isn’t about Milanna. Not just her, anyway. This was business.”

Julian nodded grimly. “You embarrassed them, Callum. Took the deal right from under his nose. And now Milanna’s little game? It’s cover. Distraction.”

“Or leverage,” Callum muttered. “She’s his way in.”

Julian stepped back. “I think it’s more than that. I traced a few encrypted calls made from their end—to Emilio’s number before he was exposed. This goes back further than we thought.”

Callum’s thoughts raced. “You’re telling me they planted someone in our circle?”

“Or tried to. Maybe succeeded.”

A long silence followed. The weight of betrayal, of the shadows creeping in closer than they’d expected, pressed down on them.

“Do we have proof?” Callum asked finally.

Julian hesitated, then opened a hidden compartment in the briefcase. “We’re close. I had a guy tail one of the shell company’s proxies. He met with someone we know—Luca Vega.”

Callum’s stomach turned. “He used to work for my father. Ran intel.”

“Until he disappeared two years ago,” Julian confirmed. “He’s back—and tied to the Prestleys.”

The revelation hit like a cold wave. “And he knows everything.”

“Not everything,” Julian corrected. “But enough.”

Callum stood, pacing. His thoughts turned to Ariana—her quiet determination, her closeness now after everything they’d shared. If Luca got close again, if this circle tightened…

“They’re going after her,” Callum said, the realization sharp in his voice. “If Milanna’s father can’t touch me through business, he’ll go for something more vulnerable.”

Julian exhaled. “Then we get ahead of it. We smoke Luca out. Get the full picture.”

Callum turned toward the shadows, jaw set. “We’re done playing defense.”

Julian nodded. “Let’s draw him out.”

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Ariana adjusted the collar of her trench coat as she stepped out of the penthouse, glancing once over her shoulder. Elena had insisted she take one of Callum’s drivers—and the usual black SUV idled by the curb like a silent shadow—but she hadn’t seen the need. It was just a short trip to Manhattan Heights Hospital to see Charlie. The sun was out, and the streets of Manhattan bustled with late morning activity. What could go wrong?

Still, the moment she slid into the backseat, a chill crept over her.

"Morning, Miss Ariana," the driver said with a neutral smile. He wasn’t one of the usual ones. Not Theo. Not Grant. This man was lean, wearing thick sunglasses, his jaw taut with tension.

“Morning. You’re new?” she asked lightly, studying him through the mirror.

“Mr. Guerrero assigned me today. Theo’s out on a different run.”

That made her pause. Callum was meticulous about who he allowed near her. Wouldn’t he have told her?

But the car pulled off, and Ariana pushed her doubt away. Charlie had texted her twice this morning. They were running new labs. Ariana wanted to be there—she needed to.

They drove in silence for several blocks. The driver took a turn that felt… off.

“Excuse me—this isn’t the usual route,” Ariana said, sitting forward slightly.

“There’s a construction going on up ahead.” the man muttered. “The GPS rerouted us.”

Her stomach twisted. “No it didn’t.”

Before he could answer, she reached for the door handle, but the child lock clicked in place.

Her heart started pounding. She pulled out her phone and tried to dial Callum. No signal.

No signal?

The SUV rounded into an alley—narrow, industrial, far from the hospital. Her eyes darted around. Two men waited near a second vehicle up ahead.

Panic gripped her.

“Stop the car!” she screamed.

He didn’t.

Ariana didn’t think—she launched herself forward, clawing at the wheel. The man cursed, trying to swat her off, but she elbowed him hard in the throat. The SUV veered sideways, crashing into a dumpster with a screech of metal.

She scrambled for the passenger door. The child lock had jammed. The two men were already running toward the vehicle.

Suddenly, tires squealed.

Another SUV barreled into the alley behind them—black, bulletproof, bearing Guerrero insignia. The back doors flew open and Julian stormed out with two guards.

“Step away from the vehicle!” Julian barked, gun drawn.

The man in Ariana’s SUV reached for something in his jacket, but before he could aim, Julian fired a warning shot that sparked near his foot.

“Next one hits your throat,” Julian warned.

The other two assailants froze, hands up.

The false driver cursed under his breath, then turned and ran. Julian’s men tackled him before he got ten feet.

Julian flung Ariana’s door open.

“Are you hurt?” he demanded, voice tight.

She could barely breathe. “No. I—He said Callum sent him.”

Julian’s jaw clenched. “Of course he did. Come on.”

He wrapped an arm around her and helped her into the second SUV. As soon as the doors shut and the locks engaged, Ariana collapsed into the seat, her breath finally catching up with her pounding heart.

Julian handed her a bottle of water and a damp towel. “You handled yourself well. Guerrero’s going to blow a fuse.”

She gave a humorless laugh, tears prickling her eyes. “I don’t care. I just want to see Charlie.”

Julian softened slightly. “We’ll reroute to the hospital once we confirm the streets are clean.  Just give me five minutes and we can be on our way.”