VIDAL

SEVEN

Camilla stood in the dimly lit foyer of the client's cabin, a far cry from the sleek glass offices where she usually spent her days.

Here, the walls seemed to press in with the scent of old wood and faint remnants of cigarette smoke, a testament to the man lying just a room away. She clutched her leather portfolio tighter as her gaze drifted toward the nearby sofa.

Giulia was already inside, settling into her role as legal counsel for a man accused of multiple assaults. Though Camilla had long since learned to separate herself from the clients they represented, she felt an unease prickling at her skin.

As they took their seats near the client's hospital bed, she tried not to stare. The man's frail figure rested under thin white sheets, but his gaze still held a sharpness that belied his age and condition.

Giulia began to review the strategy, her voice steady and calm, as if discussing mundane paperwork rather than a case laced with such dark allegations. Camilla nodded along at the right moments, but her mind kept wandering.

She replayed her kiss with Enzo, an impulsive, fleeting connection that had surprised her with its intensity. Camilla had never been one for casual attractions.

Dating was rare, attraction even rarer.

But something about Enzo lingered—his warmth, his restraint, the way he'd pulled back so soon, leaving her wondering if she'd overstepped.

Her stomach tightened with the memory, her heart doing an unfamiliar dance between hope and embarrassment. She had the means to call him, but the possibility that he might not feel the same left her fingertips hovering over her phone, always too hesitant to press dial.

Camilla stood in the dimly lit foyer of the client's cabin, far removed from the polished glass offices where she usually spent her days.

Here, the scent of old wood mingled with a lingering hint of cigarette smoke, pressing in on her from the worn walls. She clutched her leather portfolio a little tighter, her gaze drifting uneasily toward the nearby sitting room where the client waited.

Giulia was already inside, maintaining her composed and professional demeanor as she greeted the man accused of horrific acts.

Though Camilla had trained herself to create distance from the clients they represented, something about this particular case had her skin crawling. Her unease only deepened when she caught sight of the man they were here to see.

The client reclined on a worn sofa, his features lined with age and his demeanor laced with arrogance. Despite his frail appearance, a sharpness lingered in his gaze, an air of entitlement that made Camilla's stomach turn.

His clothes hinted at wealth and status, suggesting he might be a high-ranking military official or someone connected to that world. It was the same casual cruelty in his eyes, though, that unsettled her most of all.

Giulia began her line of questioning, her voice steady, her expression detached. But the man, clearly amused by the opportunity to talk about himself, launched into a story with an almost gleeful pride.

"Let me tell you something about my so-called wife," he sneered. "She's a vengeful woman, nothing like the devoted partner she pretended to be. After she caught wind of some baseless rumors, she actually went so far as to burn my crotch with a boiling pot of water. Can you believe that?" He chuckled darkly, his eyes glinting with contempt. "Ungrateful and spiteful. She's going to regret everything she did."

Camilla's jaw tightened as he continued, slandering his wife with a bitterness that only made her feel more disgusted. She couldn't help but wonder what his wife had endured to reach a breaking point so extreme.

Giulia's face remained impassive, but she shifted slightly, her gaze hardening just enough for Camilla to notice.

"Camilla," Giulia said suddenly, her voice calm. "Would you mind stepping outside for a moment? I'll finish up in here."

Relieved and curious, Camilla nodded, quickly rising and slipping out into the fresh air. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling of disgust that lingered from being in the same room as the man.

She couldn't imagine how Giulia kept her composure around clients like this, and her mind wandered back to the reason they were even taking this case. The man clearly wasn't worth defending—so why was Giulia here?

As the minutes stretched on, Camilla's curiosity grew, her mind racing with possibilities.

Just as she was about to reenter, a loud, guttural scream echoed from inside. She froze, her pulse spiking, but before she could move, the cabin door swung open, and Giulia stepped out, a calm, satisfied expression on her face.

"Let's go," Giulia said briskly, nodding toward the car waiting nearby.

Camilla fell into step beside her, questions swirling in her mind, but she held them back as they climbed into the car. They rode in silence for a few minutes, the hum of the engine filling the space between them. But finally, Camilla couldn't hold it in any longer.

"How can you stomach defending men like him?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. "He's... vile."

Giulia glanced at her, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips. "I'm not representing him, Camilla," she said, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. "I'm representing his wife."

Camilla's eyes widened. "His wife? But... I thought..."

"That man you saw? He's a high-ranking official, well-connected. When his wife brought forth evidence of his abuse, the DA brushed it off, framing her as the violent one. They're eager to pin everything on her while he walks free."

Camilla felt a surge of anger and understanding mixed with admiration. "So you're defending her... and he doesn't know?"

"Precisely," Giulia replied, her tone steely. "The court refused to allow the evidence of his abuse, saying it wasn't relevant to the case. But I know injustice when I see it. He doesn't deserve the protection of the law. Not this time."

Camilla stared at her, admiration mingling with surprise. "So... what did you do in there?"

"I got what I needed," she said vaguely, "Let's just say I didn't let professional ethics get in the way of doing the right thing. Now we have what we need to convict him—and save his wife from facing a wrongful sentence."

Camilla felt an unexpected sense of gratification as she processed what Giulia had done. The lines between right and wrong had blurred, yet there was a sense of justice in Giulia's actions that felt strangely satisfying.

~*~

Enzo couldn't get the memory out of his head—the warmth of her lips, the way she'd melted into him, the electricity that had crackled between them. It had been brief, impulsive, but it had affected him more than he cared to admit.

He'd tried everything to shake it, even going as far as calling up an old fling from his time before he'd left New York. But that had ended in frustration too—she was seeing someone now, in a committed relationship, and had rejected his advances without hesitation.

The rejection only added to his pent-up tension, leaving him simmering with frustration, both emotional and physical. He clenched his fists, trying to channel his energy into anything but her. But she lingered in his thoughts, a quiet, persistent distraction he couldn't shake.

By the time he arrived at Ivan's home, he'd managed to bury his frustration beneath a steely composure, though a hint of restlessness remained. He strode through the grand foyer, a hollow feeling in his chest as he reminded himself of his new role as Ivan's "heir," a title he had neither wanted nor sought.

In the study, Aleks was already waiting, his gaze hard and piercing as he watched Enzo enter. The tension between them was palpable, an unspoken bitterness simmering just beneath the surface.

"Didn't know you'd be here so soon," Enzo muttered, moving past Aleks toward the bar, where he poured himself a drink. He sipped it slowly, savoring the burn as he turned to face him.

Aleks scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "Why wouldn't I be? I actually want this. Unlike you."

Enzo raised an eyebrow, his frustration flaring. "You think I wanted any of this?" he said, his voice low, keeping the bite barely concealed. "You think I asked to be Ivan's heir?"

Aleks's expression twisted into something between anger and disbelief.

"You're ungrateful. Do you have any idea what I would give to be in your position? You walk in, barely lift a finger, and Ivan hands you everything." His fists clenched at his sides, his voice seething with resentment. "And you're too blind to see the opportunity staring you in the face."

Enzo didn't respond immediately, holding Aleks's gaze with a quiet defiance. But before either of them could say more, the door opened, and Ivan entered, his presence immediately commanding the room's attention. His gaze swept over both of them, lingering briefly on Enzo with a faint glint of satisfaction.

"Thank you both for coming," Ivan said, his tone courteous but laced with that ever-present hint of authority. "I have a new assignment, one that requires both of your skills. I trust you're ready?"

Enzo and Aleks exchanged a glance before they nodded in unison. Ivan took his time, settling into a chair and lighting a cigar before continuing, savoring the anticipation.

"Our rivals have something that belongs to me—a ledger that holds rather sensitive information about my business dealings. Financial transactions, payoffs, even some political favors." He took a slow puff, his eyes sharp and assessing as he looked at them. "It's in a safe house on the outskirts of the city. Heavily guarded, but I expect it to be retrieved with discretion. We don't need the police involved."

Enzo's mind immediately went to the logistics. He knew the safe house Ivan was referring to, having visited it before on a previous mission. The place was practically a fortress, guarded around the clock by well-trained men who wouldn't hesitate to shoot intruders on sight.

"This is a high-risk mission," Enzo said, choosing his words carefully. "The safe house is fortified. There's constant surveillance, and they won't hesitate to use force if they catch us. Going in without backup is—"

Ivan cut him off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Childish worries, Enzo. I don't expect you to be intimidated by a few guards. You and Aleks are more than capable of handling this, aren't you?"

Enzo felt a surge of frustration at the dismissal, but he held his tongue. He could see the expectation in Ivan's eyes, the unspoken challenge. Anything less than complete obedience would only deepen Ivan's doubt. He forced a nod, resigning himself to the plan.

Aleks, standing at the ready, gave him a hard look, clearly relishing Enzo's frustration.

"Fine," Enzo replied, his tone steady but his mind racing with the complications of the mission. "We'll get it done."

Ivan leaned back, clearly pleased. "Good. I'll leave the planning to you two. I expect nothing short of success."

The meeting concluded, and Enzo left, his mind already calculating every detail he'd need to consider for the heist. As he stepped out of Ivan's mansion, he let out a long breath, feeling the weight of both his new title and the mission that lay ahead.

~*~

As Enzo's footsteps faded down the hallway, Aleks remained behind, his gaze following the door with a calculating glint. When he was certain Enzo was out of earshot, he turned to his father.

"Father," Aleks began carefully, "I know you're set on making Enzo your heir, but you must realize—he's not someone you can easily control, especially if he's pushed solely through force. He'll resist the moment he finds an opening."

Ivan considered Aleks's words, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He exhaled a slow puff of smoke, regarding his son with new interest.

"It seems you're thinking ahead. I like that," he said, his voice laced with approval. "Perhaps you're right. Enzo is stubborn... I need something more than threats to keep him loyal."

Aleks's jaw tightened, concealing the flicker of resentment behind his careful expression. "Exactly. If there were something to hold over him, something that'd ensure he wouldn't stray..."

Ivan gave a thoughtful nod, his eyes narrowing as he considered the idea. "Good thinking. I want you to find something. Something useful, something... compromising. Look for his weaknesses. Something depraved, if possible. Every man has secrets, and I suspect Enzo is no exception."

Aleks's lips curled into a subtle smile, one that masked his intentions with a veneer of compliance. "I'll make sure of it," he promised, a dark determination glinting in his eyes. He knew his father wanted control over Enzo, but Aleks's motives ran deeper.

This was his chance to chip away at Enzo's image in Ivan's eyes, to expose him as undeserving and, perhaps, unworthy of the title of heir.

With a respectful nod to his father, Aleks left the room, his mind already racing with plans. As he stepped out of the mansion and into the cool night air, he reached for his phone, dialing a number he hadn't used in a while. When the line clicked, he didn't bother with pleasantries.

"I need your help," he said, his voice low and firm.

There was a pause on the other end, then a faint chuckle, as though the person had been expecting his call. "Tell me what you need."