The mansion felt different the next morning.
Not defensive.
Not tense.
Focused.
Sophia noticed it immediately.
Men moved with purpose.
Orders were given without hesitation.
Everything felt… sharper.
Like a blade finally being drawn.
She stood near the large table in Luciano's study, watching as maps, files, and photographs were laid out in front of him.
This wasn't chaos.
This was strategy.
"You're going after her," Sophia said.
Luciano didn't look up.
"Yes."
Her pulse quickened.
"Not reacting anymore."
"No."
He finally glanced at her.
"We end this."
Sophia stepped closer to the table, her eyes scanning the information laid out before him.
Names.
Locations.
Connections.
Patterns.
It was overwhelming.
But also—
Clear.
"You've been tracking her," she said.
Luciano nodded once.
"She doesn't stay in one place."
Sophia frowned slightly.
"Then how do you find someone like that?"
A pause.
Then—
"You don't look for her."
Her brows furrowed.
"Then what?"
"You look for what she needs."
Sophia's mind clicked.
"Resources," she said.
"Yes."
"A network."
"Yes."
"A weakness."
Luciano's gaze flicked to her again.
Sharp.
Approving.
"She hit your finances," Sophia continued.
"That means she's using something of yours… or someone who knows your system."
A pause.
"Someone close."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Luciano straightened slightly.
His expression unreadable.
But something shifted.
Something darker.
"You think there's a traitor," he said.
It wasn't a question.
Sophia met his gaze.
"I think she's too precise not to have help."
A long pause followed.
Then—
Luciano turned to one of his men.
"Call everyone in."
The command was immediate.
Unforgiving.
Sophia's chest tightened.
Because she knew what that meant.
This wasn't just a hunt anymore.
This was internal.
Dangerous in a different way.
Minutes later—
The room filled.
Men lined up.
Silent.
Tense.
Watching.
Waiting.
Sophia stood slightly behind Luciano, her pulse steady but her thoughts racing.
She wasn't supposed to be here.
Not in this moment.
Not in this part of his world.
But she stayed.
Because she chose to.
Luciano stepped forward.
Slow.
Controlled.
Deadly.
"You've all been loyal," he said.
His voice calm.
Measured.
"But loyalty can change."
No one spoke.
No one moved.
"And someone," he continued, "has made a mistake."
The room tightened instantly.
Fear.
Suspicion.
Silence.
Sophia felt it.
That shift.
That invisible crack forming between them.
"I don't ask twice," Luciano said.
"So I'll ask once."
A pause.
Then—
"Who is it?"
Silence.
Thick.
Unmoving.
Sophia's heart pounded.
Because this—
This was worse than any attack.
This was trust breaking.
No one stepped forward.
No one spoke.
Luciano nodded slowly.
"Then we do this differently."
His gaze shifted slightly.
A signal.
Two of his men moved instantly.
Grabbing someone from the line.
Pulling him forward.
Sophia's breath caught.
The man struggled slightly.
Confused.
Panicked.
"I didn't do anything!" he said quickly.
Luciano didn't react.
Didn't question.
Didn't hesitate.
"Everyone says that," he replied calmly.
Sophia's chest tightened.
Because she realized—
This wasn't about certainty.
This was about pressure.
"You have one chance," Luciano said.
"To tell me the truth."
The man shook his head quickly.
"I swear—"
Luciano didn't let him finish.
He stepped closer.
Close enough to make the threat real.
Visible.
Unavoidable.
"Think carefully," he said quietly.
"Because the truth is the only thing that keeps you standing."
Silence.
The man's breathing grew heavier.
Faster.
More panicked.
Sophia watched closely.
Her instincts sharp now.
Focused.
Something was off.
It wasn't just fear.
It was something else.
"Wait," she said suddenly.
Every head turned.
Luciano's gaze snapped to her.
"Don't," he warned quietly.
But Sophia stepped forward anyway.
Her heart pounding.
Her mind racing.
"It's not him," she said.
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Luciano's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And how do you know?"
Sophia hesitated for half a second.
Then—
"Because he's too obvious."
A pause.
Then—
"Isabella doesn't make obvious moves."
The words settled into the room.
"She's careful," Sophia continued.
"Precise."
"She wouldn't use someone who cracks under pressure."
The man's breathing was uneven.
Panicked.
Uncontrolled.
Sophia shook her head slightly.
"This isn't her style."
Silence.
Luciano studied her.
Long.
Carefully.
Then—
He looked at the man.
And slowly—
He stepped back.
"Let him go."
The guards hesitated.
Then obeyed.
The man stumbled back into the line.
Shaken.
Alive.
Sophia exhaled slowly.
Her heart still racing.
Luciano turned back to the group.
"She's right," he said.
The words surprised everyone.
Including her.
"This isn't random," he continued.
"It's calculated."
A pause.
Then—
"And that means the person helping her…"
His gaze moved slowly across the room.
"…is smart."
Silence.
Fear deepened.
Not just of him.
But of each other.
Because now—
Anyone could be the traitor.
"Find them," Luciano said.
The command was quiet.
But absolute.
The room emptied quickly.
Tension following them out.
Leaving just the two of them.
Sophia let out a slow breath.
"That was risky," Luciano said.
She looked at him.
"I know."
"You could've been wrong."
"I wasn't."
A pause.
Then—
Luciano stepped closer.
"You're getting involved," he said.
Sophia met his gaze.
"I already am."
Silence.
Then—
A faint shift.
Something new.
Something different.
Respect.
"Then stay close," he said.
Her heart skipped.
"I always do."
Outside—
The hunt had begun.
Not just for Isabella.
But for the one hiding in plain sight.
And this time—
The danger wasn't just out there.
It was inside.