Clara’s POVI sat behind my desk with one hand resting on my stomach, the other flipping through a stack of reports I had no real interest in reading. Outside my office the company floor buzzed with the usual noise of phones ringing, heels clicking, people pretending to be busy. I made sure the door stayed open just enough for anyone walking past to catch a glimpse of me.When my assistant knocked and stepped in with a file, I let out a soft, exaggerated sigh and rubbed my lower back.“Are you alright, Mrs. Sinclair?” she asked, eyes immediately dropping to my hand.I gave her a weak smile. “Just a little discomfort. The doctor said it’s normal this early, but some days it hits harder than others.”She nodded with the exact amount of sympathy I needed. “Should I bring you some water? Or tea?”“Tea would be lovely. Thank you.”The second she left I dropped the act and rolled my eyes. Playing the fragile pregnant wife was exhausting, but it worked. People talked. Word would reach the

Karl’s POVThe underground bunker never slept. Murmurs and chatter of armed men who knew better than to meet my eyes for too long filled the air. I stood at the edge of the main loading bay, cigar smoke curling from the corner of my mouth, watching the last of the white packages get sealed and counted.One of the supervisors approached, head slightly bowed. “Master Karl. Five hundred packages ready for movement. Routes are clear.”I didn’t look at him. “Five hundred is still short. Make sure the next batch doesn’t disappoint me again.”He nodded quickly and stepped back. I took another slow drag, letting the smoke sit in my lungs before releasing it. Control was everything down here. One weak link and the whole structure started to crack.A different man, one of the ones I had sent after Ace, came walking toward me with a limp and a swollen jaw. The moment I saw his face the anger that had been simmering since the report arrived flared hot.I turned fully toward him. “You. Inside.”

Clara’s POVThe company event was already in full swing when I walked in with my hand resting lightly on my stomach. Soft music, champagne trays, and the low murmur of investors and board members filled the large hall. I had chosen a dress that was elegant but carefully cut to show the smallest hint of a curve. Every detail mattered and I was very intentional about playing the part.Ace was already there, standing near the far windows with a drink in his hand, looking like he would rather be anywhere else. The moment I saw him I adjusted my expression to a soft, a little tired, the perfect picture of a woman carrying both a child and the weight of a strained marriage.I made my way through the crowd slowly, accepting greetings and concerned looks. When I reached Ace I slipped my arm through his and leaned in just enough for people nearby to notice.“You could at least pretend you’re happy to see me,” I said under my breath, still smiling for the room.He didn’t look at me. “I’m here

Jonathan’s POVThe air in the underground village always felt heavier than it should. Damp concrete, the faint chemical bite of product being packed, and the low constant hum of generators pressed in from every side. I walked beside Karl through the main corridor, my suit and polished shoes looking almost ridiculous against the rough floors and yellow hanging lights. I hated coming down here. Every visit reminded me that the clean boardrooms and polite handshakes up on the surface were only half of what we really were.Karl stopped near one of the larger loading bays and watched a group of men seal the last set of crates. I stood a few feet away, hands in my pockets, waiting for him to speak first. He always liked to set the pace.“Expansion is moving slower than I want,” he said without looking at me. “We need more routes. More product moving. The surface has gotten too comfortable.”I exhaled through my nose. “The surface is the only reason this whole operation doesn’t collapse, K

Ace’s POVThe sidewalk outside the office was half-empty when I left that evening. Streetlights had already flickered on, throwing long yellow pools across the pavement. My shoulder still carried a dull, familiar ache from the morning’s training, but the rest of my body felt sharper than it had in months. For once the soreness felt useful instead of just punishing.I was halfway to the parking garage when I heard the sharp, frightened cry.An old woman stood near the corner, both hands clenched around the strap of her purse. A skinny guy in a dark hoodie had one hand on the bag and the other raised like he was ready to shove her off balance. She looked terrified.Something in me moved before my brain fully caught up.“Hey,” I called, voice hard. “Back the fuck off.”The guy turned his head. He had that jittery, desperate look of someone who had already decided the world owed him. “Mind your business, man.”I stepped closer, hands loose at my sides the way Ryu had drilled into me a h