But Marcus didn't give him time to ask. Another punch came in fast, then an elbow, then a knee aimed straight for Ethan's ribs.Ethan stepped back and blocked.He raised his forearm. The impact thudded into bone. Marcus followed instantly, pressing hard, fast, aggressive. He fought well. Better than Rocco by far. Cleaner, sharper, more trained.Still, Ethan only defended.He caught Marcus's wrist, pushed the strike away, turned his shoulder, and let the next blow skim past him."I said there is a misunderstanding," Ethan said coldly.Marcus just sneered and came harder. "Save it." On the floor near the back wall, Rocco's eyelids fluttered.The world came back in fragments—pain first, then sound, then the blurred shapes of his men crouching over him."Boss. Boss, you're awake—"Rocco's hand found someone's collar and gripped it. He pulled himself upright. His skull throbbed. His vision doubled, then slowly merged.His phone buzzed in his pocket.He fumbled it out. The screen was crack

"Family hitting family," Aurora said, and the amusement was back. "You can't make this up."Bianca stood perfectly still for three full seconds. Then the tension drained out of her body like water from a cracked glass. She pressed her palm to her forehead and let out a long, shaky breath."I had no idea," she said. "Nobody told me it was him. Rocco just said some man was causing trouble and had his eye on me—which, by the way, is completely ridiculous—""Sounds like someone fed Rocco bad information.""Obviously." Bianca's jaw tightened. Then she exhaled again, and this time something close to relief colored her voice. "Well. If it's Ethan, then this is simple. This whole mess is just a misunderstanding.""A very expensive misunderstanding," Aurora said. "How's your bar looking?""I haven't seen it yet. But from what my guy described, I'm guessing I'll need new furniture." Bianca paused. "And possibly a new Rocco.""Get down there before Marcus does something else stupid.""Already mo

Marcus's face flushed dark red."You've gone too far!" He stepped forward, fists clenched. "That's my man you just—""Your man?" Ethan turned slowly. "Your man just lied to you, manipulated you into a fight that could've destroyed a multimillion-dollar partnership, and you're angry at me?""You don't get to decide—""I just heard him on the phone with Nathan," Ethan said. "Nathan. The same Nathan who has a personal vendetta against me. You want to tell me that's a coincidence?"Marcus's jaw worked. His nostrils flared. He could see it in the way his eyes flickered, the way his certainty cracked for just a fraction of a second.It wasn't enough. "Everyone!" Marcus barked at his men. "On me. Now."The thugs exchanged glances. Nobody moved eagerly, but nobody disobeyed either. They fanned out, forming a loose semicircle around Ethan.The scarred man—the one who'd called Bianca—stepped forward reluctantly. "Boss, maybe we should wait. I already called your sister. She's on her way—"Mar

Rocco's Adam's apple bobbed. "Boss, I told you—I was just trying to protect—""You're still lying." Marcus grabbed Rocco's collar and hauled him up until their faces were inches apart. "I'll ask you one more time. If the next words out of your mouth are another lie, I will break you. Right here. Right now."Rocco's bravado cracked. His eyes darted to Ethan, to Bianca, to the ring of kneeling men who wouldn't even look at him.Nobody was coming to save him."It was Nathan!" Rocco blurted. "Nathan put me up to it! He has a personal grudge against Carter. He wanted me to use you—to use our people—to take Carter down. He fed me the story about Carter being some random thug going after Bianca."Bianca's lip curled. "So you sold out my brother—sold out the entire Donovan family—for your buddy's personal vendetta?"Rocco flinched. "You're pathetic," Bianca said. "Marcus trusted you. Treated you like blood. And you threw all of that away for Nathan's grudge." She turned to Marcus. "And you.

Aurora's breath caught. "What?"Bianca stopped pacing. "Marcus saw the belt. He recognized it immediately. That wasn't some rumor. It was real." She dragged a hand through her hair, still feeling heat in her face when she remembered last night. "Aurora, why the hell didn't you tell me sooner?"Aurora sounded honestly stunned. "I didn't know he could fight like that either.""That's not the point." Bianca bit out each word. "Do you know what I did to him at Hot Springs Manor? I touched him. I teased him. I practically threw myself at him." She shut her eyes. "God. I really acted like an idiot."Aurora went silent again.Bianca didn't stop. She needed to get it out. She told Aurora everything from the bar. Marcus kneeling. The men kneeling after him. Rocco confessing. Ethan standing there like the whole room belonged to him. Calm. Cold. Untouchable.When she finished, she let out a long breath. "I still can't believe it."Aurora clicked her tongue softly. "And here I thought I was prote