The first bullet cracked through the front sign of Maison du Louis, shattering the elegant cursive script like sugar glass. The hum of electrified silence that followed didn’t last long—shadows moved, boots thundered across cobblestones, and Scarlett found herself ducking behind the espresso bar with her heart hammering in her ears.Louis had already moved. Like a ghost in an apron.He was no longer just a man who cooked risotto like poetry—he was a strategist, a warrior, a predator.The three women—code-named Trinity, Spice, and Echo—burst into motion as if they'd never left the field. Spice flipped the espresso counter, revealing a tactical wall lined with smoke bombs, tear gas, EMP pucks, and a few decidedly illegal blades shaped like oyster forks."Extraction in eight!" Trinity shouted, tossing Scarlett a small earbud. "Stay low, stay quiet, and for God’s sake—don’t move unless Louis tells you to!"“I used to be a lawyer,” Scarlett muttered, inserting the earpiece. “Now I’m in a s

The yacht’s kitchen was alive with the scent of seared garlic and butter. Louis moved with practiced precision, flipping a salmon fillet in the pan while glancing at the oven timer. Outside the large window, the turquoise ocean stretched endlessly, the afternoon sun glinting off the waves.Scarlett sat at the marble counter, chin propped on her hand, quietly watching him. There was something strangely comforting about seeing Louis in this domestic setting—apron tied around his waist, sleeves rolled up, a faint smudge of flour on his wrist.“You’ve been hiding this skill from me,” she teased, her voice light.Louis smirked without looking up. “I told you I can cook. You just never believed me.”Before Scarlett could respond, his phone buzzed on the counter. The screen lit up with a video call request—Maia.Louis hesitated for a moment before wiping his hands and picking it up. “Hey, Maia,” he greeted, his tone warmer than Scarlett expected.On the screen, Maia’s face appeared, framed b

The yacht’s engines hummed beneath their feet, a steady counterpoint to the tension that suddenly thickened the air.Scarlett leaned back in her chair, her gaze never leaving Louis. “Put her on screen.”Louis tapped the console beside him, and Maia’s face filled the holographic display—a flicker of static, then sharp resolution. She was in a dimly lit safehouse, shadows shifting behind her.“Where are you?” Louis asked.“Doesn’t matter,” Maia said briskly. “What matters is this—Marcus Velentho isn’t gone. He’s moving shipments through the southern ports under an alias. And, Louis… he’s not alone. Someone with Assembly clearance is covering for him.”Scarlett’s hand stilled on her wine glass. “You’re saying the trial didn’t kill him politically.”Maia’s eyes darted to Scarlett, then back to Louis. “I’m saying he’s stronger now. And he knows you’re in open waters without an escort.”Louis stayed silent for a long moment, h

For a split second, the masked man hesitated—then his gaze shifted to the open window.Louis realized what he was about to do.He was going to jump.The masked man bolted toward the window and hurled himself through it, glass shattering in a spray of jagged shards.“Damn it!” Louis cursed, lunging forward. He snatched up the black bag and shoved it at Scarlett. “Stay here. Don’t let anyone take this!”Before Scarlett could protest, Louis was already out the window, boots slamming against the cabin’s slanted roof. The night air cut sharp against his face as he sprinted after the intruder, who was leaping across to the adjacent shed roof like some feral shadow.The distance was dangerous—one wrong step and Louis would plunge straight into the muddy ground below. But adrenaline drowned out fear. He leapt, landed hard, and kept moving.The masked man glanced back once, eyes glowing faintly through the slits of his mask, before disappearing over the ridge of the roof.Louis followed, vault

Louis leaned against the counter, scrolling through possible ingredients on the system’s inventory list.“Okay, so… five courses. I’m thinking something elegant but not overcomplicated.”Maia tilted her head, grinning. “Translation: you want to impress Scarlett without looking like you tried too hard.”Louis narrowed his eyes. “I’m not trying to impress her. This is about reputation.”Maia raised a brow, her smile teasing. “Mhm. Sure. That’s why you’re fussing over wine pairings instead of just grilling a steak.”Louis rubbed the back of his neck, caught. “...She deserves more than a steak.”Maia chuckled, her voice softer. “See? That’s the Louis I know. Always pretending it’s just business, when your heart’s already three steps ahead.”Louis quickly changed the subject, tapping the list. “Appetizer: seared scallops with lemon butter. Main: maybe roasted duck with cherry glaze.”Maia clapped dramatically. “Gourmet vibes! Don’t forget dessert. She strikes me as a chocolate soufflé kind