The tires rolled over smoother ground.
We had arrived.
The car stopped.
A soft electronic click echoed as the locks released.
I reached for the door handle immediately, my fingers finding it quickly now out of habit more than confidence.
I pushed the door open and stepped out into the night air.
It was cooler than the club.
The sudden absence of noise made everything I had just heard feel louder inside my head.
My legs felt slightly unsteady as I straightened, the ground firm beneath my shoes.
I kept one hand lightly on the car for orientation, breathing slowly as I tried to settle the storm inside my chest.
“Boss...”
Ramiro’s voice came from the driver’s side of the car. He had stepped out as well.
I turned my face toward the sound instinctively, though my eyes found nothing but darkness.
The house remained a map I could only reconstruct through memory and touch, never sight.
Still, I knew where I was standing.
And I knewhimwas here.
Rafael’s presence always announced itself before anything else.
“A Spanish guy found out at the club that Loretta is married to you.”
My fingers tightened faintly against my side.
Ramiro continued quickly, as if trying to smooth the edges of what he was saying.
“Loretta didn’t spill it. He stole her phone and went through it while she was distracted.”
“Is he dead?” Rafael asked, his voice deadly calm.
My stomach tightened immediately.
Ramiro answered carefully.
“Not yet,” Ramiro replied. “I held off waiting for your orders. Do you want me to proceed?”
“You don’t wait for orders on matters like this,” Rafael said, voice low and dangerous. “If he could steal from Loretta so easily, he will not stay silent. You understand what exposure likethat means. And why was she allowed out of the house without me being informed?”
My breath caught in my throat.
Ramiro’s voice stayed steady. “She insisted on going out alone. I didn’t think it would escalate into anything like this. I was still watching her.”
Ramiro added quickly, “My apologies, boss. As for the Spanish guy... I’ll handle him before the night is over.”
“If the Spanish guy has already leaked the secret, there will be consequences.”
