Chapter 68
BELLA
Our Apartment
Knox shows up less than fifteen minutes later, looking like he just rolled out of a spy thriller.
A black duffel slung over one shoulder full of wires, USB drives, tiny sensors, metal rods, a tablet, two burner phones, and what might be a pair of night-vision goggles.
He doesn’t say a word, just walks in, drops the bag on the kitchen counter, and starts working. Fast. Efficient. Focused.
I sit on the couch between Lex and Cade, their bodies shielding mine like twin anchors. My hands are pressed down on my legs, trying to still the tremble in my knees.
Lex notices first. His hand slides onto my thigh, warm and solid.
“Baby, it’s okay. Knox’ll get it all figure it out.”
“He wants me away from you,” I whisper.
My voice cracks on the last word as I clench my hands together, digging my nails into my palm, trying to breathe. But the panic’s already crawling up my spine, coiling behind my ribs.
Knox walks back in like clockwork, calm as hell, and drops a small silver pin onto the coffee table with a clink.
“I found this facing the shower.”
In the sudden stillness of the room, that small piece of metal feels heavier than any gun. Lex has started pacing, his hands balled into tight fists. Cade remains frozen in place, his gaze locked on the pin. I feel like a phantom in my own body, observing a nightmare that belongs to someone else.
“I thought he was just a creep,” I whisper. “Just some sadistic loser who got off on writing poems and watching from the dark. But this?” I run my hands through my hair. “This means he was here. He was inside our house.”
Cade stands, quiet and slow, like every muscle is stiff with dread.
“We baited him,” his voice is raw. “All those messages… we thought we were outsmarting him. But we gave him what he wanted.”
Lex punches the wall, fist going straight through the drywall with a deafening crack. Plaster dust rains down, clinging to his skin, mixing with the blood already welling from his knuckles.
Knox looks up from the tangle of gear on the floor, his eyes sharp and haunted.
“Alright,” he says quietly. “This is what we’re gonna do.”
He stands and wipes his hands on his jeans. “I’m going to sweep every inch of this place,” he says, already scanning the room like he’s mapping exits. “Then Rosethorne. Then The Pit and every other building tied to your names.”
He looks up, jaw tight. “But I want the three of you out of here. Now.”
His voice softens, but only barely. “Somewhere safe. Somewhere you choose. No routines. No patterns. No one else knowing.” He pauses, meeting each of our eyes in turn. “Not even me.”
Lex shakes his head. “We can’t just run.”
“Yes, you can,” Knox snaps, louder than before. “You’re not thinking straight.”
Knox rubs the back of his neck. “This isn’t some Instagram creep in a basement anymore, Lex.”
He points toward the bathroom. “He watched you. In the shower. He got close enough to plant a camera in your goddamn bathroom and none of us knew.”
Knox’s eyes narrow, voice dropping to a low, grim edge. “That means he’s either a ghost…” he looks straight at me, “…or someone you’ve already let in.”
My mouth goes dry. “Knox, you said you’re checking Rosethorne?”
“Yeah, there, The Pit, anywhere I can fucking think of at this point.”
“The Masquerade. Maybe… maybe we should cancel.” I say softly.
“No fucking way.” Lex’s voice snaps through the room like a strike of lightning. “We’re not canceling. You girls have been working your asses off for this. You’ve been prepping since summer for it. I’m not letting that fucker take it from you, not a chance.”
Knox drags a hand down his face, exhaling hard. “Lex is right, the Masquerade’s weeks away. We’ve got time to figure this out, lock the systems, and trace every feed. But right now,” he gestures toward me. “Right now, we keep her breathing and we keep her hidden until I know how deep this goes.”
“Between all of our connections, we can keep you safe, baby,” Lex’s jaw flexes. “I’ll call Jack. I’ll call in the Bratva if I have to. Hell, I’ll even call Tattooed Dragon-Dick to come stand watch at the goddamn door.”
Cade lets out a soft breath, somewhere between a chuckle and a wince.
I nod. “Let me make a call, I think I have a place we can go.”
???
NOX
We walk into the presidential suite at NOX, and I swear my jaw hits the floor.
It’s massive. Bigger than our apartment.
Hell, bigger than most houses. Dark wood floors stretch beneath soaring ceilings.
Floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the city, glittering like a spilled bottle of diamonds.
There’s a sleek fireplace, a marble bar with crystal decanters, velvet seating, and a king-size bed so grand it looks like royalty should sleep in it.
And the bathroom? I catch a glimpse through a cracked door. Black stone, gold fixtures, and a tub big enough to swim laps in.
Roman steps in behind us, motioning around with a casual wave of his hand.
“Make yourselves comfortable. This suite is yours for as long as you need it.”
I turn toward him, softening my voice. “We really appreciate you letting us stay here.”
He gives a small nod, eyes scanning the room like he’s assessing a chessboard. “Anything for you, Isabella. NOX is yours anyway, same as The Obsidian.”
Lex huffs under his breath behind me, muttering something like fucking great as he sets down his bag.
Cade slides up next to me, voice gentle. “Here, sweetheart. Let me take this.”
He takes my suitcase from my hand and carries it toward the bedroom. I catch the curve of a smile on his lips as he looks around. “Damn. This place is insane.”
Roman’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “I’ll let you get settled. But Isabella…” he waits until I look at him. “…I’d like for you to join me for breakfast in the morning. If that’s all right.”
Before I can even respond, Lex steps forward like a wall. “If she goes, we all go.”
Roman lifts a brow, amused but unfazed. “Very well. The offer still stands.”
“We’ll see you downstairs in the morning.” I reach out and place my hand on his arm. Light, but intentional. “Thank you again. I mean it, Roman.”
His eyes glance to where my hand touches him and then up to my face. There’s something there, flickering just behind the surface. Not anger. Not even disappointment. Just a quiet ache. A silent wish for the words I didn’t say.
Dad.
Father.
But I can’t. Not yet. Maybe not ever. I drop my hand. Roman gives a single nod, then steps out of the suite, the door clicking softly shut behind him.
???
The restaurant inside NOX is exactly what you’d expect from Roman Russo—sleek, shadowed, and decadent.
Glass chandeliers hang like icicles over velvet booths.
Even at nine a.m., candlelight flickers against silver flatware.
A wall of windows lets in just enough gray Manhattan light to remind you this isn’t a dream. It’s a kingdom. And he’s the king.
Roman’s already seated when we arrive in the corner booth. I slide in. Cade sits beside me, Lex across, already looking annoyed.
“Thank you for coming, Isabella,” Roman says smoothly, lifting his coffee. “I know things have been… tense.”
Lex scoffs. Cade lays a hand on my thigh under the table.
“We appreciate the suite,” I say. “And the sweep of the floor. I know you didn’t have to.”
“You’re my daughter. What’s mine is yours.”
Lex huffs, loud and unbothered. “You keep saying that. Feels more like what’s yours is yours, and we’re just lucky to be breathing in your orbit.”
“Lex,” I warn, gentle but sharp.
“You’re fiercely protective. I respect that. But all I want is to get to know my daughter. All of her. And if that means tolerating your brooding scowls and bone-deep distrust, so be it.”
Lex leans forward. “You want to know her? Start by telling her the truth about why she was raised in hell. Why it took twenty years and a damn body count for you to show the fuck up.”
Roman exhales through his nose, like he’s holding back a thousand answers. “I told Isabella when she and Cade’s twin came to see me, I did try. I put my best men on it. The trail went cold.”
His voice roughens, quieter now, like the words scrape coming out. “It was like she vanished into thin air. One day there were whispers, the next… nothing. No leads. No hope. Just silence.”
My stomach turns. I push my coffee away. “So, what do you want from me, Roman? Just to make up for lost time? Or is there more?”
His expression softens just slightly. “I want to know you. Your favorite color. What you’re afraid of. What makes you laugh.”
“There isn’t much to tell,” I say, voice low. “Favorite color is blue. I grew up in the system. I got out with help from my bro—”
I stop myself. Zeke. The Black Books. Not yet.
Roman notices. “You can talk to me, Isabella. You can trust me.”
Lex mumbles something under his breath.
Roman turns to him, voice like silk pulled tight. “I see Irina has filled your head with fury toward me. But don’t be so quick to judge what you don’t understand, Aleksandr.”
Lex’s shoulders go rigid. I reach for his hand instinctively. He softens. Roman sees it. The way Lex breathes easier at my touch. The way Cade leans in. The way we exist in an orbit around each other, gravity and chaos bound by love.
“It’s just Bella. And just call him Lex.”
Roman inclines his head. “Understood. My apologies.”
I let out a shaky breath. “I’m just… not ready to unload my whole therapy file at breakfast.”
He smiles, just slightly. “That’s fair. But when you are ready, I’ll be here.”
“Thanks.”
“Your performance at Regionals was inspiring, Bella. I have never been so proud of anything in my life.”
Something tight in my chest tugs loose. “Thank you. Would you like to come to a practice sometime? It might be fun. You could see a bunch of different routines.”
Lex grins, wicked. “You sure you want him watching you do a chair routine on me, baby?”
Cade groans. “Lex.”
“What?” Lex shrugs. “He wants to know our lives. That’s a big fucking part of it, babe.”
Roman chuckles, low and amused. “I do own a nightclub, Lex,” he says, the corners of his mouth curving. “Trust me, I’m well acquainted with chair routines.”
A faint smile tugs at his lips—part pride, part mischief. “And after watching your birthday performances at The Obsidian, I think I’ve already seen a few things I can’t unsee.”
He pauses, taking a sip of coffee before adding, “Still, I would be delighted to come to a practice. I’m headed to Rome soon for business. I’ll be gone for awhile, but when I return…” he meets my eyes. “…I’d love to attend.”
“I’d like that,” I say softly.
“So, Lex, Cade. How do you plan on keeping my daughter safe now that this man has been inside of your home? Is there something I can do?”
Lex stiffens. “It’s being handled. We don’t need your help”
Roman raises an eyebrow. “It never hurts to have more protection. Bella, I can get you a bodyguard. I can get all of you a bodyguard, round the clock protection.”
“Not necessary,” Lex snaps. “I will keep her safe.”
“Of course,” Roman says, tone unreadable. “But sometimes the best security is layered. If you change your mind let me know.”
I squeeze Lex’s hand across the table. Cade rubs his hand on my thigh under the table. I feel like I’m splintering in three directions.
Roman rises, “Well, thank you for meeting with me, Bella. I really should be going. I’ve got a plane to catch. If you need anything at all, you call me.”
I nod.
The second he’s gone, I sag against the booth, head tilted back, eyes fluttering shut for just a second.
My phone buzzes. I grab it out of my bag, expecting to see a message from Knox or Ellie, maybe even Coach Javi. But instead, it’s from him.
@LucaWasHere
While Daddy flies and Wolves all bite,
I’ll slip beneath the ballroom light.
But masks won’t hide what’s mine by thread,
You’ll feel me, love, before I’m dead.
So, look for me at your Winter Ball,
I’ll blend right in, for I’ve watched you all.
A dance, a drink… a little gift.
Just one more crack before the shift.
My blood turns to ice. My stomach drops.
I don’t realize I’ve gone pale until Cade says, “Bella?” and Lex snatches the phone out of my hand.
“He’s coming to the Masquerade,” I say again, barely recognizing my own voice. “Luca. He’s going to be there.”
Lex stares at the screen like he’s ready to snap it in half.
Cade’s jaw tightens. “How the hell can we stop him if we don’t even know who he is?”
Lex finally speaks, and when he does, it’s all steel and storm. “We do know something. We know he’s coming. That means we’ve finally got the upper hand.”
“How is that the upper hand?” I ask.
“Because now we bait him, baby. We draw him out from behind his damn screen.”
Lex looks at me, deadly calm. “We use the Masquerade. Every camera, every angle, every blade we can pull from the shadows. He thinks he’s crashing our night?”
A dark smile tugs at his lips. “Let’s make it his fucking funeral.”
I exhale shakily, but it doesn’t settle the dread coiling in my stomach.
Lex leans forward, eyes meeting mine. “As much as I hate saying this, baby. Call them all.”
I frown. “All?”
“All of them. Every ally, every name from every book. Nate, Jack, Tex—hell, even fucking Laing.”
My eyebrows shoot up.
“I don’t like him. I don’t trust him,” Lex growls. “But I’d rather deal with that smug asshole breathing down my neck before I let Luca lay a hand on yours.”
“Okay, I’ll call them.”
His tone softens just barely. “This is the moment we stop reacting, baby. From here on out, we hunt.”