Chapter 44

I leaned back in my chair, the rich leather creaking under my weight as I stared at the sprawling view of New York City through the floor-to-ceiling windows of our penthouse. The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the skyline, contrasting sharply with the unforgiving world I inhabited. Christian, sat across the room, his expression tense, a stark contrast to the ambiance around us. Between us, Xan sprawled lazily on the couch, his gaze trained on the blueprints strewn across the coffee table, a half-eaten pizza abandoned beside him.

"Another scheme from Cousin Marco?" he asked, eyebrows raised.

Christian nodded, the corners of his mouth twitching into something that resembled a smirk. "He thinks he can muscle in on our territory. He's clueless."

"No one's ever called Marco clueless before," I replied, a hint of amusement brightening my own dark thoughts. "You know he plays dirty."

"Exactly why we should play back," Christian said, rubbing his temples. "We can't just—"

Before he could finish, the sharp trill of Christian's phone broke the tension.

"It's Hailey," he muttered, his body rigid with sudden tension.

I watched him swipe open the call, his dark demeanor shifting like the winds outside. Hailey was a light in our otherwise shadowy world, and I knew that Christian would do almost anything to shield her from its darkness.

"Hey, babe," he greeted, forcing a casualness into his tone, as if none of the chaos we'd been wrapped up in was looming just out of sight.

"Where did you both go?" Hailey's voice, sweet yet laced with concern, came through the line. "You just disappeared this morning... I was worried!"

I saw Christian's jaw harden as he struggled to find the right words. "Just… on a business trip," he finally managed, the words feeling heavy and distant.

"Oh. Okay," Hailey replied, a hint of disappointment threading through her words. "You could have told me. I miss you."

"I miss you too," Christian said, his voice softer now, but I knew he was still not revealing the whole picture. "We'll be back soon. Just some things to sort out."

The call ended, and an uneasy silence hung in the air. I could see the way Christian's shoulders slumped, how the weight of secrets dragged at him. "You should have told her the truth," Xan said, breaking the silence.

"And tell her what? That I'm a mafia boss planning a war?" Christian snapped back, frustration evident in the tightening of his fists.

 Xan raised his hands in mock surrender. "Just an idea, Sport. I don't know…maybe you could at least let her know it's not as simple as you're making it."

"I can't, Xan. That's the problem," he seethed. "I want to protect her. From all of…this." He gestured at the blueprints that sprawled across our table, the world that Hailey knew nothing about.

I leaned forward, a smile creeping onto my face. "What if I take a little trip down to the bakery on the corner? Whip up some of that blueberry pie she loves so much. A little peace offering?"

Christian chuckled hollowly. "Like pie will fix everything."

"Hey, it might help," I insisted, leaning back in my chair. "Trust me; I'm a great baker. Now, you…you need to clear your head, man. It'll help."

"Stop." Christian shook his head, but I could see the corner of his mouth twitch upward. "I just don't want her caught in this web. It's too dangerous."

"Then let's finish our planning and get back before it gets worse," I said, gesturing toward the blueprints scattered around.

Hours passed as we dove back into our plans, the city's bustle fading with nighttime. Surrounded by maps and strategies, it was all-consuming, yet a part of me felt detached, longing for a simpler life—a life that didn't involve this constant dance with darkness.

Finally, my exhaustion morphed into a decision. "Let's call it a night."

But just as I reached for the light, Christian's phone rang again.

"Is it Hailey again?" I asked, only half-joking.

He looked down at the screen. "No, it's just a text from her. 'Hope you're okay. Love you.'"

"See? She cares, man."

Christian sighed but didn't respond. Instead, he stood up suddenly and stretched his arms, the tension still etched on his face. "I'll be right back."

As he walked away, I heard him mumbling something about getting bottled water. My gaze drifted back toward the city's twinkling lights, my thoughts shifting toward Hailey and the fragile thread that bound our worlds.

The truth was, Hailey was the anchor, and we were the storm.

More than anyone realized, shadows lurked just beyond the bright lights of our lives, and it felt like every decision could tip the balance. If only we could confront our deeds without breaking her heart while keeping her safe.

But in this game, there were no guarantees, only moves and counter-moves—and we were already deep in play.