130

Bianca’s POV

My hands trembled slightly as I dialed yet another number. The list of contacts I’d carefully curated over the years dwindled with every unanswered call, leaving me more frustrated with each passing minute. Yet, I couldn’t give up now—not with everything on the line.

“Have you heard anything?” I asked as soon as the line connected, my voice sharp, betraying the unease bubbling beneath my polished exterior.

“Nothing definitive,” came the clipped response. “But we’re still looking.”

I ended the call with a terse thank-you and leaned back in my chair, pressing my fingers against my temples. The tension pounding behind my eyes was unbearable, but I didn’t dare stop. Lex’s death had thrown everything into chaos, and the longer I remained in the dark, the more vulnerable we became.

When the chime of a new notification broke through the silence, I straightened immediately, my pulse quickening. My investigator had sent something—a video.

With a flick of my finger, I opened the file, my breath catching as the footage played. The quality was grainy, but it was unmistakable: Luca. The timestamp confirmed it. He had been in Lex’s house after his death.

A slow, triumphant smile crept across my face. “So, you’re not as clean as you pretend to be,” I whispered, leaning back and replaying the video. My mind began to spin with possibilities. This could be the leverage I needed.

But the sound of approaching footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. I scrambled to close the video and lock my phone, shoving it under a stack of papers just as the door creaked open.

Jenny stepped in, her eyes darting around the room before settling on me. “Any updates?” she asked, her tone anxious but laced with impatience.

I forced a neutral expression, shaking my head. “Nothing yet. I’ve been making calls, but no one seems to know anything.”

Jenny frowned, pacing across the room. “We need answers, Bianca. This isn’t just about Lex anymore. If anyone finds out how deeply we’re involved, it’s over for us.”

“I know,” I said, keeping my voice calm even as my fingers itched to grab my phone and rewatch the video. “But panicking won’t help. We have to tread carefully.”

Jenny stopped and turned to face me, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “I hate this. Every time I look over my shoulder, I feel like someone’s watching. First, Alina with her cryptic threats, and now this? I can’t shake the feeling that we’re being hunted.”

Her words sent a shiver down my spine, but I kept my composure. “No one knows, Jenny. And as long as we stick to the plan, they won’t. We just have to be smart.”

Jenny sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I don’t know, Bianca. I’m starting to think we should just leave. Get out before it’s too late.”

“And do what? Run for the rest of our lives?” I snapped, my frustration spilling over. “That’s not an option. We have to see this through.”

Jenny stared at me for a moment before nodding reluctantly. “Fine. But if anything goes wrong, I’m not sticking around to find out what happens next.”

As she left the room, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. The tension between us was growing, but I couldn’t let that distract me.

I reached for my phone, unlocking it to stare at the paused frame of Luca leaving Lex’s house. His expression was unreadable, but the sight of him there was damning enough. If he thought he could play the hero and pin everything on us, he was sorely mistaken.

This video was my insurance. My safety net. And when the time came, I wouldn’t hesitate to use it.

But for now, I had to keep playing the game, even if it meant pretending to be as clueless as Jenny.

No one could know what I had, not yet.


_____

Luca’s POV

I drove through the quiet streets, my grip on the steering wheel tightening with every passing moment. The image of Lex’s lifeless body in the tub haunted me, replaying in vivid detail. Whoever had killed him wanted chaos—no, they wanted to dismantle every thread connecting us to the truth.

As I pulled up to Benedicta’s house, I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. I needed her advice, her perspective. This wasn’t a battle I could fight alone.

The door swung open before I could even knock. Benedicta stood there, her eyes narrowing with concern as she looked me over.

“Come in,” she said softly, stepping aside to let me in.

I followed her into the cozy living room, the faint scent of lavender calming my nerves just a bit. She motioned for me to sit, but I remained standing, unable to keep still.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, crossing her arms and leaning against the armrest of the sofa. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. “It’s Lex. He’s dead.”

Her eyes widened, but she stayed silent, urging me to continue.

“I went to his house after piecing together his location,” I explained, pacing back and forth. “When I got there, I found him in the tub—drowned. The stench was unbearable, Benedicta. He’s been dead for days.”

Benedicta gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “Who… who could have done this?”

“That’s the thing,” I said, stopping to look at her. “I don’t think Bianca or Jenny had anything to do with it. Sure, they’re reckless and desperate, but this?” I shook my head. “This feels calculated. Someone is trying to frame them or, worse, cover their own tracks.”

Benedicta sank into the sofa, her face pale. “Does Lia know?”

“Not all of it,” I admitted. “She knows something’s wrong, but I haven’t told her the full story. She doesn’t need to carry that weight, especially not with everything else going on.”

Benedicta nodded slowly, her gaze distant. “What about tomorrow? The wedding?”

I clenched my fists, the thought of Lia marrying Finn twisting my stomach into knots. “It’s the only way to keep her safe. Whoever is behind this… they’re dangerous. If they think Lia knows anything or is a threat to their plan, they won’t hesitate to come after her. Marrying Finn might give her a layer of protection.”

“But it’ll crush you,” Benedicta said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I looked away, unable to meet her eyes. “It’s not about me. It’s about Lia. As long as she’s alive and unharmed, I’ll deal with whatever I have to.”

Benedicta stood and walked over to me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You’re making a tough choice, Luca. But I know you’re doing it for the right reasons.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Thank you.”

She gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze before stepping back. “Stay strong. Lia’s going to need you, even if she doesn’t realize it right now.”

I turned to leave, the weight of the conversation pressing heavily on my chest. As I stepped outside and got into my car, the dam I’d been holding back finally began to crack.

My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as a wave of emotions crashed over me. I wanted to scream, to punch something, to cry—but I couldn’t. Not now. Not when so much was at stake.

I leaned my head against the steering wheel, my eyes stinging. “Lia,” I whispered, her name slipping from my lips like a prayer.

I missed her. I missed her laughter, her stubbornness, the way she looked at me like I was the only one who mattered. But tomorrow, I’d have to let her go.

The thought tore me apart, but I couldn’t let my feelings cloud my judgment. Lia’s safety came first, no matter how much it hurt.

I took a shaky breath, wiping my face with the back of my hand before starting the engine. The night stretched endlessly ahead of me, filled with uncertainty and danger.

But one thing was clear: I’d protect Lia, even if it cost me everything.