Page 71 of His Stolen Bride

I keep my tone controlled. “What did he ask?”

“He asked me to leave my badge near the laundry room,” she whispers. “For one hour. He said it was only cameras, only to check if you were back.”

Yuri’s voice stays flat. “You did it.”

She nods, tears spilling. “I did it. I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was— I didn’t know it was the boy.”

I don’t flinch. “Where’s your brother?”

She shakes her head, sobbing. “I don’t know. He said he’d bring him back. He said if I told, then⁠—”

I cut her off. “You don’t get to keep secrets in my house.”

She collapses onto the chair like her legs gave out.

I look at Yuri. “Get her brother. Now.”

Yuri nods once, then turns to Enzo. “Give me the market contact list. Give me the camera angles.”

Enzo is already moving, tapping his phone.

I look at Luca. “Double the east wing. Quietly. Rotate the men. Don’t use anyone who’s been here longer than six months.”

Luca nods. “Done.”

Alexei’s tablet buzzes. He reads, then looks up. “Two more crews stopped paying. They’re claiming ‘uncertainty’ over leadership focus.”

I let my mouth curve into something cold. “Then I’ll remove uncertainty.”

Enzo’s eyes narrow. “What do you want me to do?”

I point at the door. “Call the men who owe. Bring them in tonight. Not a council. Not a conversation. A reminder.”

Luca’s tone is sharp. “You want public.”

“I want clear,” I answer. “Rumors die faster when people see consequences.”

I look at the desk, at the message, then at my laptop again.

Vladimir wants instability.

So I’ll give him stability with teeth.

I leave my office and head toward the dining room, not for food, for visibility. Staff move when they see me, shoulders tightening, eyes dropping, bodies shifting out of my path. Good. Let them remember what house this is.

Alina is at the end of the table with Oisin, helping him with a small puzzle book, her hair loose, her sleeve pushed up, her face intent. She looks up when I enter, and her eyes flick to mine, then away, then back like she’s checking my state.

Oisin sees me and smiles. “My train is finished,” he announces.

“I heard,” I say, and I pull out the chair beside him. “Show me.”

He shoves the book toward me, proud. “Do it.”

Alina’s mouth twitches. “He means solve it.”

“I know what he means,” I reply, and I glance at her. “Did you eat?”

“I ate,” she says, and her tone dares me to argue.