The villa in Sicily was nothing short of breathtaking—terracotta stone walls basked under the golden Mediterranean sun, vines curling along the edges of the arched balconies, and olive trees dancing in the lazy breeze.
But for Ana, it was just another prison with prettier walls.
She stood by the balcony, barefoot, in a white slip dress Hayden had packed for her. Everything smelled like sea salt and roses, but she could barely breathe. Three armed guards watched the gates. Rocco roamed the halls like a silent shadow. And Hayden was hundreds of miles away, unreachable, unreadable.
She sipped from a glass of wine as the sun dipped toward the horizon. The silence was heavy. Lonely.
The only message Hayden had sent since her arrival was one sentence:
"Do not trust anyone. Not even yourself."
It had chilled her more than comforted her.
She closed her eyes, leaning against the cool stone, letting the wind wrap around her. Maybe this break was good. Maybe she needed distance. A moment to remember who she was before Hayden Moretti.
But that moment shattered the second she heard a voice behind her.
"Well, well. You've grown up, Ana Nicholas."
Her heart stopped.
She turned sharply—wine glass crashing to the floor—and stared at the man standing in the hallway.
Leo Vega.
Her cousin.
Her real cousin.
Someone she hadn't seen since she was fifteen.
"Leo?" she whispered, unsure if she was hallucinating.
He stepped forward with that same cocky smile, his leather jacket half-zipped, a worn duffel slung over his shoulder. He looked older, sharper—but those blue eyes were the same. "Didn't expect to find you in a cage guarded by wolves."
Ana blinked. "How did you even get in here?"
"I have a few friends. Moretti's men aren't as sharp as they think." He looked her up and down. "Nice dress, by the way. Expensive taste. Let me guess—your jailer picked it out?"
She crossed her arms. "Why are you here?"
"Because you're not safe," Leo said, his voice darkening. "And because your father—our family—is in more trouble than you know."
Ana froze.
"I don't care what happens to him," she said. "You know what he did."
Leo's gaze softened. "Yeah, I know. But that doesn't mean the rest of us deserve to die too. You're caught in something bigger than just revenge, Ana. Moretti's playing a game, and you're the queen he's moving across the board."
"I can handle Hayden."
Leo raised a brow. "You sure about that?"
She hesitated.
Leo walked closer. "Listen to me. You have a choice. Right now. Come with me. I can get you out. Away from his men. Away from all of this."
Ana looked toward the open balcony. The sea sparkled in the distance. Freedom was out there. Just a few steps away.
But so was the man who had claimed her heart in the darkest, most terrifying way.
"I can't," she whispered.
"Why not?" Leo asked, almost begging. "You still have a life out there. You're not like them. You don't have to become a weapon."
"I already am," she said quietly.
Leo reached for her arm. "Ana—"
A click echoed from behind him.
Rocco stood in the doorway, gun drawn. "Step away. Slowly."
Ana's breath hitched. Leo froze, hands lifted slightly.
"Rocco, don't—" Ana started, but he cut her off.
"Mr. Moretti gave orders. No unexpected visitors. No exceptions."
"Then call him," Ana snapped. "I'll handle it."
Rocco didn't lower the weapon, but he nodded once, pulling out his phone.
Ana turned to Leo. "You need to go. Now. Before this gets worse."
Leo looked at her, pain flickering in his eyes. "He'll break you, Ana."
She swallowed. "Then I'll break him back."