Diego pulled out his phone and began typing a message. "Then here's what's going to happen. You're going to do exactly what I say, when I say it, without question. And if you deviate from my instructions even slightly, I'll throw you to Alejandro and Lucia myself. Understood?""Yes! Yes, I understand! Thank you! Thank you so much!""Don't thank me yet," Diego said coldly. "You haven't heard what I'm going to ask you to do."Kenneth swallowed hard, his earlier relief already fading as he realized he'd just traded one master for another. And this master—the Ghost—was far more terrifying than Alejandro and Lucia could ever be.But he was alive. For now. And in Kenneth Bowl's current situation, that was the best he could hope for.Santiago's phone rang mid-morning, his lawyer's number flashing on the screen. He answered with the weary resignation of someone expecting more bad news about mounting legal fees and impossible odds."Santiago, I have news," the lawyer said, his voice carrying a

Isabella sat in her car outside Vega Industries, her hands shaking as she dialed Santiago's number again. And again. Each call went straight to voicemail, his recorded voice cheerfully informing her he was unavailable."Pick up, you bastard," she hissed. "Pick up!"On the fifth attempt, someone finally answered—but it wasn't Santiago."Mr. Vega's office," his secretary said in that professionally neutral tone that meant she already knew everything."This is Isabella Rodriguez. I need to speak with Santiago immediately. It's urgent.""I'm sorry, Ms. Rodriguez, but Mr. Vega is away from the city on business. He's unavailable for the foreseeable future.""Away? What do you mean away? Where did he go?""I'm not at liberty to discuss Mr. Vega's travel schedule," the secretary replied, and Isabella could hear the barely concealed satisfaction in her voice. "Would you like to leave a message?""Yes! Tell him to call me immediately! There's been a terrible mistake with my—""I'll pass along y

Alejandro and Lucia stood in the penthouse, Isabella's sobbing still echoing through the speakerphone, trying to piece together the wreckage of their plans."What did she mean Diego ruined everything?" Lucia demanded, pacing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. "How would Diego even know about our involvement? We've been careful. Meticulous.""The Ghost doesn't need obvious evidence," Alejandro said, his voice tight with frustration. "He pieces things together from patterns, from timing, from connections most people wouldn't see.""But what could he possibly know? Isabella working with us? Kenneth being our pawn? Those connections aren't documented anywhere!""It doesn't matter what he can prove," Alejandro countered. "What matters is he's acting on what he suspects. And he's destroying us piece by piece without us even realizing we were under attack."Lucia turned away from the window, her expression hardening. "Then we need to—"A crash from outside the penthouse cut her off. S

"The baby!" Maria grabbed Isabella's shoulders, forcing her to focus. "You're carrying Santiago's child! Or at least, that's what we tell him. Doesn't matter whose it really is. What matters is making Santiago believe it's his.""Mama, I can't—""Yes, you can!" Maria's grip tightened. "You call Santiago right now. Tell him you're pregnant with his baby. Make him feel guilty for abandoning you. For firing you. For treating the mother of his child like trash!""But what if it's not his?" Isabella whispered. "What if it's Alejandro's?""It doesn't matter!" Maria insisted. "Santiago doesn't know that. And by the time he finds out—if he ever finds out—you'll be married. Legally entitled to half his fortune. The baby gives you leverage, Isabella. Use it!"Isabella stared at her mother, seeing the desperation and greed warring in her eyes. Everything Maria was suggesting was manipulation, fraud, a trap designed to ensnare Santiago using an innocent child as bait."I need to think about this,

Alejandro crouched in the shadows across from an abandoned factory on the outskirts of Fox City, his wounded shoulder throbbing but his mind sharp with purpose. He hadn't run away. Not really. He'd made a tactical retreat, regrouped, and then followed Gerard's convoy here using skills Lucia's contact had drilled into him during those two years of training.Gerard thought he'd won. Thought he'd captured the prize and could celebrate his victory in peace.He was wrong.Through a grimy window, Alejandro watched the scene unfolding inside. Gerard stood before Lucia, who was bound to a chair, her face bruised but her eyes still blazing with defiance."It doesn't have to be like this," Gerard was saying, circling her like a predator. "You're smart, Lucia. Beautiful. Ruthless. Everything a crime lord's woman should be. Rule beside me. Help me rebuild what Vasquez left behind. Together we could control the entire city.""I'd rather die," Lucia spat, her voice dripping with contempt. "You're n