Chapter 33
Present
The bass vibrated through my bones, the music thrumming like my heartbeat. Francesca’s nightclub, Eclipse , was everything you’d expect from Gìovanni’s younger sister: bold, extravagant, and unapologetically glamorous. The sprawling space was bathed in deep reds and golds, the lighting shimmering like liquid as it bounced off mirrored surfaces. It was the opening night, and already event of the year. Everyone who was anyone had shown up to celebrate.
In the VIP section, high above the main dance floor, I sipped on a Cosmopolitan. Francesca was in her element, laughing loudly as she leaned against the plush velvet booth, gesturing animatedly as she recounted a story to Maria. Kali sat next to me, observing the party, her blow-out catching the light every time she moved.
“This place is stunning,” Maria said, shaking her head with a smile.
“Please, babe.” Francesca waved it off with a dramatic flick of her wrist. “You think I’d let Gìo have all the glory? I’ve been dying to put my own mark on this city.”
“And you did,” I added, raising my glass to her.
Kali did the same. “The place is flawless.”
Francesca grinned, her femme-fatale features glowing under the red lights. Frowning, she scanned the club. “Have you seen Tony yet? He’s flying in from Miami tonight.”
Maria shook her head, sipping on a lemon water. “He’s not here. I already did a sweep of the place.”
“Why?” I asked Francesca, who I could tell was concerned. “Everything alright?”
“I just want to make sure he’s… Decent .”
Maria and I both nodded slowly. We knew Tony. To say he had a reputation was an understatement.
‘K.O.’ Tony was the last person you wanted to piss off. Especially in a fight. He was known as the fighting champion of the underworld. Not a single lost fight. Ever. Amongst the numerous organized crime groups, to be undefeated was something.
“I don’t know what’s going on with him. I keep thinking he’s going to get it together, but then he’s at another party. More alcohol. More drugs. More fights…”
Kali shrugged; almost angry. “He’s fine. I had a phase too, remember?”
Francesca sighed, leaning in to hug Kali tight. I reached out, rubbing my hand on Kali’s shoulder with a sad smile. We never talked about that night.
The conversation flowed naturally to a different topic – more specifically, Francesca’s plans with the Family.
I smiled, but my attention drifted to the sea of bodies below.
But even among the crowd, I felt a familiar tension knotting at the base of my neck.
It had been a week since I’d last seen him , and though I hated to admit it, I’d caught myself thinking more than once. The elevator, the argument in the meeting room – it all played on a loop in my mind. I didn’t want him here, invading my thoughts, but Trevor Su had always had a way of getting under my skin.
“You okay, Nat?” Kali’s voice broke through my thoughts.
I blinked and turned to her, offering a small smile. “Yeah, just tired I think.”
Kali arched a brow, her features so similar to her brother’s that it sent a pang through me. She and I had grown incredibly close over the years, but every now and then, her resemblance to Trevor still caught me off guard – though, I had to confess she was much prettier.
“You deserve a night off.”
Francesca leaned over, draping an arm around my shoulders. “She’s right, Nat. No business, no boys. Just us girls tonight. Agreed?”
I nodded, laughing lightly. “Agreed.”
Maria raised her glass, her green eyes sparkling. “To Francesca’s growing empire.”
“And to all four of us,” Francesca added, as we all clinked glasses. “The true queens of this city.”
Kali leaned forward, her arms pushing up her cleavage. “I’m so loving the goddesses energy right now.”
“ Mhm . I know that’s right,” Maria agreed, diva-snapping her fingers.
All four of us cheered, laughing as the conversation went on.
Leaning back in the booth, a flicker of movement near the entrance caught my eye. I stilled, my heart skipping a beat when the figure stepped into the light.
Dressed sharply, as always, his dark suit tailored to perfection. With Zach Di’Ablo by his side, he moved through the crowd with the same quiet confidence, like the world bent to his will.
When he glanced up to the VIP section, catching my eyes, the knot in my stomach tightened. I immediately looked away.
But I wasn’t sure I could keep up the act for long. Because as much as I hated to admit it, Trevor Su was here, and somehow, I knew he wasn’t just here for the party.
As the night passed, I let myself relax. Drinks were flowing. All the girls were dancing. The music was good. The company was good. Laughter came easily between us, and for the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe.
The moment I caught Zach Di’Ablo burning the clothes off Maria with his stare, I knew something was going to happen.
“Okay, don’t look now,” I whispered, leaning closer to her, “But there’s a ridiculously hot guy staring at you like you’re his next meal.”
Maria didn’t even blink. Without a shred of hesitation, she turned her head, unapologetically obvious. She shrugged, her dark hair cascading over one shoulder as she turned back to me. “Who?”
I let out a small sigh and tilted my head toward the far corner of the VIP section. “Behind you. Black suit. Ridiculously perfect bone structure.”
Maria followed my gaze and, sure enough, Zach was there, all six-foot-five of him, leaning casually forward; elbows resting on his knees. His dark hair was slightly messy, his sharp features framed by the dim, golden and red light – making him look all the part of Diablo – the biggest narcotics traffickers in the Western Hemisphere.
He didn’t bother hiding the fact that he was looking directly at her. When their eyes met, he smirked, slow and lazy, lifting his glass for a drink before winking over the rim.
Maria turned back to our table, her face blank.
I knew she wouldn’t make this easy.
I’d known Zach since college; he was a great guy. Would be good for her.
“ And… He’s coming over.” I smirked into my glass, taking a sip.
“ And… ” – She stood, smoothing her sparkly, black top with deliberate calm – “I’m going to the bathroom.” Maria smiled, walking the opposite way.
“Oh, Dio ,” I muttered under my breath, but she was already heading down the stairs, the epitome of cool indifference, her red-bottom heels clicking against the polished floor.
Zach continued making his way to our table, his gaze lingering on Maria.
“Who is she?” He asked, his deep voice cutting through the music.
“My best friend,” I replied, arching a brow.
“Name?” He reached us just as she disappeared into the crowd. His dark eyes followed her like a hawk tracking its prey.
“Maria.”
He hummed, almost in agreement. “ Maria ,” He murmured, like he was testing it out. His lips curved into a dark smirk again, as though her name alone had sealed his interest.
“You’ll find her at the bar.” I took another sip of my champagne. “But you didn’t hear that from me.”
Zach’s gaze flicked back to me, flashing one of his killer smiles; already going to follow Maria down to the main floor, moving through the crowd with a predator’s ease. “Thanks, Nat.”
Maria had just left, and I’d barely turned back to the table when Zach started cutting through the crowd like a shark. He stopped just shy of our booth.
“Where’d she go?” He asked, his voice casual, but there was no mistaking the interest beneath it.
Francesca, lounging beside me with an air of regal indifference, tilted her glass toward her lips, her perfectly arched brow raised. Her amusement was bubbling beneath her cool exterior, just as I felt my own lips twitch.
“She headed for the back exit,” I said, leaning back in the VIP booth. “You should probably go after her.”
Zach’s eyes flicked to mine, narrowing slightly, as if he wasn’t sure whether to take the suggestion as a challenge or an opportunity. “Really?”
“Yes,” I said, my tone hiding my amusement. “Drive her home.”
“Make sure she gets there safely,”Francesca added.
He raised a brow, his eyes switching between us.
Francesca cut him off, tipping her glass toward him with a small, knowing smirk. “You owe me.”
A wide shark smile took over his features, showing off his straight, white teeth. “A’ight.”
He turned toward the exit, but Francesca’s voice stopped him cold.
“Zach,” She called, her tone suddenly devoid of any of the light teasing from before. He paused, looking over his shoulder at her. Her expression was cool, her dark eyes sharp and unyielding as she leaned forward slightly. “Hurt my girl, I’ll carve your heart out myself.”
For a moment, Zach didn’t say anything. His face betrayed nothing. Finally, he gave a small nod, and then he was gone, disappearing into the crowd with a predator’s determination.
I leaned back, letting out a small laugh as I turned to Francesca.
She smirked, swirling her drink with a careless flick of her wrist. “Better safe than sorry.”
Gìovanni appeared at our table. One glance at his sister, and Francesca was already rising to meet him, her easygoing demeanor shifting to something sharper, more serious. Cosa Nostra business.
“Don’t get into trouble,” Francesca smirked, sliding out of the booth before following her older brother into the crowd.
I swirled the straw through my Cosmopolitan, the distant bass of the music vibrating through my chest.
Kali had disappeared around midnight. Maria had gone home. And Francesca was dealing with business.
Alone in the booth, I let my eyes scan the packed club.
“You playing matchmaker now?”
I didn’t have to look up to know who it was.
That voice – low and laced with a mocking edge – was impossible to mistake. I took another slow sip before raising my gaze, meeting Trevor’s as he casually slid into the booth next to me, his arm thrown around the back of the couch, and consequently around me.
“Didn’t know you cared about my hobbies,” I said, tilting my head.
“You seem pretty invested in Maria’s love life.”
“You seem pretty invested in my love life.”
Trevor moved closer, his presence dominating mine. “From where I’m standing, you’re just meddling.”
Anger simmered beneath my skin, but I kept my tone cool, even as my heart drummed against my ribs. “It’s harmless. Not everything needs to be controlled, Trevor.”
His jaw clenched, the muscle ticking as he stared down at me. The tension crackled between us, thick and suffocating.
Getting out the other end of the booth, I rose slowly, standing toe-to-toe with him, before turning on my heel and walking away.
“Try not to ruin anyone else’s night.”
Jin’s rooftop garden sat above a forgotten temple, hidden in the maze of Chinatown’s backstreets. The kind of place that didn’t exist unless you already knew where to look. No signs. No doors. Just an unmarked stairwell behind a teahouse, leading up to something that shouldn’t belong in Downtown New York City.
I pushed open the old wooden door, stepping into a quiet world above the chaos. The air smelled like rain and incense, thick with the perfume of sakura blossoms that shouldn’t have been able to grow here. Lanterns swayed lazily in the night breeze, casting soft gold light over bonsai trees and stone benches. In the center of it all, Jin sat at a low table, pouring himself a drink.
He smiled and gestured to the cushion across from him, his expression easy, like we were old friends. “Been waiting for you.”
I raised an eyebrow, sitting down. “That so?”
He nodded, tipping his glass toward me in a silent offer. I took it. The sake was smooth, just expensive enough to remind me Jin was doing very well for himself.
“I hear things. Figured you’d come knocking eventually.”
I swirled the drink in my hand, watching the reflection of the lanterns in the liquid. “Then you already know what I’m here for.”
“Man, you really think I’d let some random hacker run shit in my backyard without me knowing? Please .” He clicked his tongue, cracking the zen persona he tried to put on, showing his real personality – a twenty-something-year-old kid who was so abnormally good at computers, he could hack NASA.
“Then what do you know?”
Jin didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached into his pocket, pulling out a sleek black tablet. A few swipes, a tap, and then he turned it toward me.
A list of IP addresses. Server logs. Traces of code. My eyes scanned the data, the pieces clicking into place even before Jin spoke the words.
“Your rat’s close, Trevor.” He tapped the screen. “All of this traces back to–”
“The Su Dynasty Building, SoHo.” A slow, creeping chill settled in my spine. “Someone inside,” I murmured. “Someone in my own family.”
Jin nodded, watching me carefully. “Looks that way.”
A rat .
Inside my house.