The Weight of Deception

Loyalty is the most dangerous lie of all

Celeste...

The night had been restless. Even after Adrian left, his words replayed in my head, over and over. Tomorrow, we start finding the traitor. Together.

Together.

The weight of that word sat uneasily in my chest. This was never supposed to be together. I was supposed to bring him down, not stand by his side. And yet, every step forward blurred the line between my mission and something else. Something I refused to name.

I dragged a hand through my hair and forced myself to focus. Adrian needed answers. I needed them more.

By the time morning broke, I was already moving.

The estate was eerily quiet, the usual buzz of movement dulled. Tension hung in the air like a storm waiting to break. The deeper I went, the more I felt it—something was wrong.

As I reached the main hall, I found Dante standing with Lorenzo. Their conversation cut off the moment they saw me.

Lorenzo smirked. "Morning, Celeste. Sleep well?"

I ignored him. "Where's Adrian?"

Dante gave me a measured look. "In his office. He's waiting for you."

Of course he was.

I didn't hesitate. Walking through the halls felt different now—like I was stepping deeper into something I couldn't control. I reached the heavy oak doors of his office and pushed inside without knocking.

Adrian was at his desk, leaning over a set of documents, but the second I walked in, his eyes lifted to me. Sharp. Assessing. Like he already knew what I was thinking.

"You're late," he said smoothly.

I crossed my arms. "I wasn't aware we had an appointment."

He smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "We do now. Sit."

I didn't sit. "What's going on? Something's off."

Adrian exhaled slowly, tapping his fingers against the desk. "We're moving ahead of schedule. A deal was compromised last night. A shipment of ours—gone. No signs of a break-in, no forced entry. Someone walked in and took it."

My stomach tightened. This wasn't just about a traitor anymore. This was sabotage.

"Who was in charge of the shipment?" I asked.

Adrian's gaze didn't waver. "Marco."

A chill crawled up my spine. Marco. The man who had already betrayed Adrian once.

"You think it was him?" I asked carefully.

Adrian's jaw clenched. "I don't like coincidences. Someone let him back in after we shut him out. And now, my shipment is missing."

I inhaled sharply. This was bigger than I thought. Whoever was pulling the strings had someone on the inside, someone smart enough to cover their tracks. And Adrian was running out of patience.

"So what's the plan?" I asked.

His eyes darkened. "We find Marco before someone else does. And we make him talk."

I knew what that meant. Interrogation. Violence. Adrian didn't do negotiations when he felt cornered.

"I want in," I said.

His brows lifted slightly. "Do you?"

I held my ground. "I can get information out of him. Maybe in a way that doesn't involve breaking bones."

He leaned back in his chair, studying me. "And why should I let you handle it?"

I met his gaze without hesitation. "Because you need someone who isn't blinded by rage. If you go in like this, you'll kill him before you get anything useful."

His lips twitched like he wanted to argue, but after a long pause, he exhaled. "Fine. You get one chance. If he doesn't talk—"

"Then you can do whatever you want with him."

Adrian smirked. "I intend to."

There was a challenge in his eyes, something unspoken between us. I was testing him just as much as he was testing me.

I turned to leave, but before I could step out, his voice stopped me. "Celeste."

I glanced back. "What?"

His expression was unreadable, but his next words weren't. "Don't make me regret trusting you."

I swallowed hard. Because if he ever did—if Adrian Russo ever found out who I really was—there would be no coming back.