The Fault Line

When something breaks, it doesn't shatter all at once—it cracks, piece by piece.

Adrian....

The whiskey burned as it slid down my throat, but it wasn't enough to drown out the war raging inside me.

She left. Again.

Not out of fear. Not out of weakness. But because she knew exactly what she was doing to me, and she wanted me to feel it. To stew in it. To realize just how deep she's gotten under my skin.

I hated her for it.

And yet, here I was—drinking alone, replaying every second of that kiss in my mind like a fool who didn't know better.

Lorenzo walked in, his expression unreadable as he leaned against the bar. "So? Are you finally going to admit you have a problem?"

I scoffed, setting my glass down with a little more force than necessary. "I don't have a problem."

Lorenzo raised a brow. "Really? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like a certain someone has you wrapped around her little finger."

"Careful, Lorenzo," I warned, my voice low.

He smirked but didn't push further. Smart choice.

Instead, he exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. "We need to talk. About the leak. We were too focused on the attack, but we missed something."

I tensed. "Go on."

Lorenzo pulled out his phone and tossed it onto the counter in front of me. A message flashed across the screen.

You're running out of time, Russo. Tick tock.

My blood turned to ice.

"Where did you get this?" I asked, my voice deadly calm.

"It was sent to our private line. No traceable origin. Whoever's playing this game with you, they're not just after you. They know exactly where to hit."

I clenched my jaw, my grip tightening around the edge of the counter. This wasn't just about business anymore. It was personal.

Lorenzo hesitated before continuing. "And there's more. Celeste's name came up in an encrypted file. Something about an operation, but the details were wiped before we could extract anything."

A slow, dangerous smirk pulled at my lips. "Looks like someone is finally showing their hand."

"What do you want to do?" Lorenzo asked.

I exhaled slowly, the decision already made in my mind.

"We pull her in. Completely. No more games, no more lines. If she's in this, then she's all in."

Lorenzo gave me a skeptical look. "And if she refuses?"

I met his gaze, my voice cold, resolute. "Then we'll find out exactly where her loyalties lie."

For the first time in years, I wasn't just fighting to win.

I was fighting for something I couldn't name.

And that terrified me more than anything.