Chapter 5 - The Betrayal Inside the House
They returned to New York.
The evidence changed everything.
Nicholas's organization had been infiltrated.
Someone had been leaking information for months.
Every move they made was known before they made it.
Then Enzo disappeared.
His phone was found in an abandoned warehouse.
Inside was a single message.
BRING ME THE ROSSI HEIRESS.
Nicholas became colder than Khloe had ever seen him.
He blamed himself.
Khloe tried to stop him from going after Enzo alone.
“I'll come.”
“No.”
“You need me.”
“I need you alive.”
She grabbed his arm.
“Then stop treating me like something fragile.”
He looked at her.
“You think I'm afraid of your strength?”
“No.”
“I'm afraid of losing you.”
The confession stunned them both.
Before Khloe could answer, gunfire erupted outside.
The mansion came under attack.
Nicholas pushed her behind him.
Security returned fire.
Windows shattered.
Khloe reached for a weapon.
Nicholas stopped her.
“Stay with me.”
They moved through the corridor.
A bullet struck the wall.
Then another.
Khloe noticed something.
The attackers weren't shooting at Nicholas.
They were shooting at her.
She stepped into the open.
Nicholas shouted her name.
A sniper fired.
Khloe dropped.
Nicholas caught her.
Blood appeared on her shoulder.
“Khloe!”
She opened her eyes.
“I'm okay.”
He held her tightly.
For the first time, his control broke.
“Don't ever do that again.”
She smiled weakly.
“You sound worried.”
“I am.”
She touched his face.
“Then stop pretending you're not.”
He stared at her.
Then kissed her.
It wasn't gentle at first.
It was desperate.
A kiss filled with fear, anger, and everything they had refused to say.
When they separated, Khloe whispered:
“This is a bad idea.”
Nicholas rested his forehead against hers.
“Probably.”
“People are trying to kill me.”
“I know.”
“You're dangerous.”
“I know.”
She almost smiled.
“And I'm not easy.”
“I've noticed.”
For the first time in years, Khloe felt safe.
Then her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A man's voice spoke.
“You should have stayed a servant.”
Her blood turned cold.
“Who are you?”
“You'll find out soon.”
The line went dead.
Nicholas took the phone.
His expression changed.
“What?”
Khloe stared at the screen.
The caller had sent a photograph.
It showed Enzo.
Alive.
Bound to a chair.
Behind him stood a man Khloe recognized.
Her father's former adviser.
The man everyone believed had died five years ago.
Khloe whispered his name.
“Adrian Vale.”
Nicholas's eyes hardened.
“Then he's the traitor.”
Khloe shook her head.
“No.”
She zoomed in.
There was another figure behind Adrian.
May you like
Someone whose face remained hidden.
“He isn't the boss.”
