Chapter 28
The Geometry of Suspicion
For the entire day, Lucius keeps his phone completely switched off, severing every connection to the outside world.
It is only late at night that he finally flips the power switch back on.
Almost immediately, an encrypted notification flashes across the dark screen.
The man he clears single-handedly in court just days ago is dead, killed in a sudden car accident on the interstate.
The grim text contains one more detail that makes his jaw lock—the driver of the other vehicle works directly for Alessio Gambino.
A cold, silent fury settles over him. He does not waste a single second and fires a message straight back to his hacker.
Who the fuck is he, and when does he die, and where does he die?
The response is fast. Within twenty to thirty minutes, the hacker bypasses the local police encryption and sends over everything, including raw highway CCTV footage and detailed pictures of the crushed metal wreckage.
Alex walks into the study, his sharp eyes locking onto the violent images reflecting on the monitor.
He leans over the desk, his voice dropping into a tight, serious murmur.
"Not only pictures, Lucius. We need the full forensic reports. It is far too easy to stage an accidental collision in this city. We need to know if they drug him or slip poison into his glass before he ever touches the steering wheel."
Right then, the phone vibrates again with an incoming secure call. The hacker’s voice comes through the speaker, heavy and low. "Stay alert, Lucius. The Italians have a lot of dark things in their bloodline and genetics, like you know. They do not leave loose ends, and they never forget a slight."
Two days pass in a tense, quiet countdown inside the mansion, bringing them to the eve of the massive corporate gala. Tomorrow is the big businessman's party—Ralph’s party.
Lucius stands by the grand windows, his thoughts completely heavy as he contemplates how to protect Tessa and the other women, Emily and Olivia.
Ralph’s security protocols for the night are notoriously rigid, and no heavy personal security details or excessive bodyguards are allowed inside the main venue.
The restriction means they will be exposed, and a protective, slow-burning rage tightens within his chest at the thought of any predator looking at Tessa.
When the evening finally arrives, the entire atmosphere inside the fortress shifts. Before heading out to the event, all the men stand downstairs in the grand foyer, fully dressed and waiting.
Alex stands near the marble columns, looking immaculate in a tailored grey suit.
Lucius stands beside him, wrapped in a striking black metal suit that amplifies his lethal presence.
Victor adjusts his cuffs with a dangerous smirk, wearing a rich maroon suit, while Teajun stands near the edge of the room in a deep blue suit.
Teajun remains completely single, never talking to any girl or showing the slightest bit of interest in romance; his mind is entirely built on logic and numbers.
On the upper floor of the mansion, the bedroom doors finally open. The girls are still finishing their final touches of makeup, and after completing everything, they take their handbags and begin their descent.
The men standing downstairs hear the soft click of heels and lift their eyes toward the grand staircase.
Tessa is the first to emerge, and the sight of her instantly halts the air in Lucius’s lungs.
She wears a breath-taking backless satin gown—a vibrant red, spaghetti-strap evening dress that clings perfectly to her slender frame and contrasts sharply against her pale skin.
Beside her, Emily walks with a confident grace, wearing a maroon open-chest bodycon dress that complements her curves and matches Victor's attire perfectly.
Olivia steps down next, looking completely transformed; she uses clear contact lenses tonight instead of her signature glasses, her striking grey satin backless, open-chest gown adorned with delicate stones that catch the glow of the chandelier.
As the women walk down the stairs, every man standing downstairs feels a sudden, profound realization wash over his chest—that his woman is the most beautiful woman in the entire world.
Leaving the mansion, the heavy security convoy is already idling in the private driveway. Four black Rolls-Royce Phantoms stand waiting for the inner circle, flanked by two massive BMW XMs filled to the brim with heavy auxiliary security.
Lucius and Tessa climb into the first vehicle. The second car seats Victor and Emily, followed by Alex and his wife Olivia in the third, while Teajun sits completely alone in the final car.
The engines roar to life, and the convoy moves out toward the party's exclusive location—The Skyline Penthouse, an elite, glass-walled venue floating high above the city clouds.
To maintain their business relationship with Ralph, they bring an exceptionally rare vintage wine, the bottle itself fully designed with twenty-four-carat gold and intricate diamond work.
As the car cruises through the dark streets, Lucius reaches across the leather seat and holds Tessa’s hand tightly. His eyes scan her features before he speaks softly. "This dress perfectly suits you. You should just wear this type of dress from now on."
Tessa smiles faintly, leaning over to place her head against his chest while resting her hand comfortably on his thigh.
Lucius wraps his arm securely around her waist, pulling her closer against his side.
"Stay with me tonight," he whispers, his voice dropping into a serious warning.
"And when I am absent or pulled into a meeting, please try to stay with Emily and Olivia."
She nods against his chest, smiling up at him.
Lucius leans down and places a gentle, lingering kiss on her lips.
When he breaks the kiss, his thumb carefully brushes the corners of her mouth, checking if there is any sign of her lipstick smeared on his skin, quietly cleaning it away when he finds a trace.
The peace inside the vehicle does not last. Tessa’s phone chimes with a sudden notification, and she looks down to find an unexpected message from her estranged aunt.
Lucius’s sharp eyes immediately track the movement, his brow furrowing as he catches sight of the sender's name. "Why is she messaging you tonight?"
"I don't know," Tessa murmurs, her breathing catching as a second notification pops up on the glass screen.
Sweetie, I am coming there. How are you?
Before Tessa can even process the words, a final message delivers a chilling instruction.
Meet me at the Skyline penthouse's ground floor.
Tessa stares blankly at the screen, her heart beginning to slam violently against her ribs. She looks up at Lucius, her face turning pale under the passing streetlights. "We are going to the exact same place... how is this coincidence?"
Lucius's dark gaze hardens into ice as he stares at the glowing text, realizing that the trap for the night has been set long before they ever leave the mansion. ~