BOOK 1: A BILLIONAIRE MASK

CHAPTER 5

Caspian's Warning

Caspian met Brielle at a quiet café the next morning. Charmaine sat beside him, already scrolling through her phone like it was a weapon.

Brielle slid into the booth. "Why are you both here?"

Caspian answered: "Because I need to tell you something."

Charmaine pushed a coffee toward her. "And because I wanted to make sure you ate."

Brielle smiled, tired. "Thank you."

Caspian leaned forward, elbows on the table. "Siege is dangerous."

"I know."

"No. You don't."

"I know he's mafia."

Caspian froze. Charmaine nearly choked on her iced latte.

"You know?"

Brielle nodded. "He told me."

"And you're still working for him?" Caspian’s voice was sharp.

"He hired me as a doctor."

Caspian sighed and dragged a hand down his face. "Brielle, I investigated him."

"And?"

"He has enemies everywhere. Cartels, rival families, corrupt officials. Anyone with power wants him dead."

"That's obvious."

"There's more."

He placed a folder on the table. Inside were grainy photographs. Siege in a black suit at a gala. Siege’s father, older, harder, standing next to armed men. Several figures wearing masks.

And one photograph of a woman.

Brielle stared. She had long dark hair, a black dress, and a golden half mask covering the top half of her face.

"Who is she?"

"We don't know."

Charmaine leaned in. "She's wearing the same golden half-mask as the guy from the gala."

Caspian nodded. "She's been seen around Valentino operations for years. Photos from Monaco, Singapore, Manila. Always in the background. Always watching."

Brielle frowned. "Why does she matter?"

"Because every time she appears, someone close to Siege dies."

Brielle went quiet. The coffee turned cold in her hands.

Later that evening, she returned to the mansion.

Siege was waiting in the living room, no jacket, sleeves rolled up, staring at security feeds.

"You met Caspian."

"Yes."

"What did he say?"

"That you're dangerous."

"He's correct."

Brielle looked at him. "He also said you don't trust anyone."

"Also correct."

"Do you trust me?"

Siege didn’t answer right away. The screens flickered behind him.

"Yes."

Her heart did something stupid.

"Why?"

"Because you haven't asked me for anything."

"I asked for coffee."

"That doesn't count."

She laughed despite herself. Siege’s mouth curved, just barely.

Then a phone rang. His entire body changed. He answered.

"Hello?"

A voice spoke too fast to understand.

Siege’s face went pale. "Where?"

He hung up.

"What happened?" Brielle asked.

"My warehouse was attacked."

"Anyone hurt?"

"Three men."

He grabbed his jacket. "I need to go."

She followed. "No."

"You're staying here."

"No."

"This isn't a hospital."

"I know."

"You could die."

"So could you."

He stared at her. "You really don't know when to stop."

"No."

Twenty minutes later they were at the warehouse on the edge of the city. Smoke poured from broken windows. Sirens in the distance.

Siege entered first, g*n drawn. Brielle followed, ducking behind crates.

Then a gunshot cracked.

Siege shoved her down behind him.

A man stepped from the shadows. Masked. Armed. His voice was muffled but familiar.

"You should have listened to your father."

Siege froze. "My father?"

The man laughed. "He knew the truth."

"What truth?"

The masked man turned his head. His eyes landed on Brielle.

"She is not who you think she is."

Then he fired once at the ceiling and vanished through a side door.

The warehouse went silent except for the ringing in Brielle’s ears.

She stared at Siege. "What does that mean?"

Siege looked at her. His jaw was tight.

"I don't know."

But he was lying.

Because in that second, a name cut through his memory like a blade.

Arias.

His father had said it once, years ago, during the last fight before he was murdered.

"Be careful of the Arias girl. She was never supposed to survive."

Siege looked at Brielle, really looked at her, and for the first time in years he had no idea what was true.