BENEATH THE MASK

Cracks in the Armor

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting long shadows across the room, but the warmth I had felt with Ethan last night was gone. It was strange—how quickly things could shift, how quickly the walls I had spent so long building could come crashing down.

But I couldn’t dwell on it. Not now.

There were more important things to focus on. Lucia’s visit had been a sharp reminder of that. She was always around, always circling, waiting for a moment to strike. And now, with whispers of a takeover, I couldn’t afford to lose sight of what mattered.

The empire. My father’s legacy. My survival.

Ethan and I hadn’t spoken since he walked out last night. There was an unspoken understanding between us now, a tension that neither of us knew how to address. I had pushed him away, forced him to focus on his mission, and in doing so, I had driven a wedge between us.

But it had to be done.

At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.

I threw on my jacket and stepped out of my room, my mind already racing with everything that needed to be handled. Lucia had mentioned a rival planning a takeover, and that meant I needed to get ahead of it. I couldn’t afford to let anyone see weakness—especially not now.

The house was quiet as I made my way downstairs, the familiar sound of business humming in the background. Men moved in and out, reports were delivered, and money exchanged hands. It was the rhythm of the life I had been raised in, the only constant I knew.

But there was something else in the air today. Something darker. Heavier.

I could feel it in the way the men glanced at me, their eyes flicking away just a little too quickly. There was an unease that I couldn’t quite place, a tension that settled deep in my bones.

And then I saw her.

Lucia was standing near the entrance to my father’s study, her expression calm, but there was something sharp in her gaze. She had always been calculating, always watching, waiting for her moment. And now, with the threat of a rival closing in, I knew she was looking for any opportunity to make her move.

“Alex,” she said smoothly as I approached, her lips curling into a small, practiced smile. “I was hoping we could talk.”

I clenched my jaw, keeping my expression neutral. “What do you want, Lucia?”

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes gleaming with something that made my skin crawl. “I thought you might want an update on the situation.”

I narrowed my eyes, but I didn’t let her see the irritation building beneath the surface. “And?”

Lucia’s smile widened, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Our rival has made contact. They want a meeting.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with implications. A meeting? That could mean anything. It could be a negotiation, an attempt at peace… or it could be a trap.

“Where and when?” I asked, my voice tight.

“Tonight. At the docks.”

I nodded, my mind already racing through the possibilities. The docks were neutral territory, but they were also dangerous. There are too many blind spots and too many places for an ambush. But if I didn’t go, it would look like I was scared—like I was weak.

And weakness wasn’t an option.

“I’ll handle it,” I said, turning to walk away.

But Lucia wasn’t finished.

She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a low murmur. “Are you sure you want to go alone?”

I stiffened, my hand curling into a fist at my side. I knew what she was implying. She wanted to undermine me, to plant the seed of doubt in the minds of those around us. If I brought backup, it would look like I didn’t trust myself to handle the situation.

And if I didn’t?

Well, that was exactly what Lucia wanted.

“I’m not alone,” I said coolly. “I have the entire family behind me.”

Lucia’s smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. “Of course. I just thought you might want someone you could… trust.”

Her eyes flicked toward the back of the room, and I didn’t have to turn around to know who she was talking about.

Ethan.

My heart clenched, and for a split second, I hated her. I hated the way she saw through the cracks in my armor, the way she knew exactly how to twist the knife just enough to make it hurt.

But I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.

“I’ll take care of it,” I said firmly, turning on my heel and walking away.

---

The day passed in a blur of preparations and tense conversations. The men were restless, the undercurrent of fear and suspicion growing with every passing hour. I kept my focus on the task at hand, pushing everything else—especially Ethan—to the back of my mind.

But as the sun began to set, I knew I couldn’t avoid him forever.

I found Ethan in the garage, leaning against one of the cars, his expression unreadable as he watched the men load up the vehicles for tonight’s meeting. He hadn’t seen me yet, and for a moment, I hesitated.

He had been patient. He had given me space and respected my boundaries, even when it was clear he wanted more. And now, with everything that was happening, I knew I couldn’t afford to keep pushing him away.

But I also couldn’t let him in completely.

I took a deep breath and walked toward him, my footsteps quiet on the concrete floor. Ethan looked up as I approached, his eyes dark but steady, and for a moment, neither of us said anything.

“I’m going to the docks tonight,” I said, keeping my voice calm, even though my heart was racing. “There’s a meeting.”

Ethan didn’t respond right away. He just watched me, his expression carefully neutral, but I could see the questions in his eyes.

“And you want me to come with you,” he said after a beat, his voice low but steady.

It wasn’t a question, and we both knew it.

“I didn’t say that,” I replied, my tone clipped. “But if you’re there… I won’t stop you.”

Ethan’s lips twitched into a small smile, but there was no humor in it. “You always have a way of making things complicated, don’t you?”

I shrugged, crossing my arms over my chest. “It’s not personal.”

His smile faded, and for a moment, I saw something flicker in his eyes—something like frustration, or maybe disappointment. But it was gone just as quickly as it had appeared.

“Right,” he said, his voice tight. “It’s never personal.”

The silence stretched out between us, heavy with everything we weren’t saying. I could feel the weight of the decision I had made—to keep him at arm’s length, to focus on the mission, to push him away even though I wanted him closer.

And I could feel the strain it was putting on both of us.

“Look,” I said, my voice softer now, “I can’t afford to let this… whatever this is… get in the way. Not now.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. He just nodded, his eyes dark and unreadable.

“Okay,” he said quietly. “I’ll follow your lead.”

But there was something in his voice that told me he wasn’t happy about it. And I couldn’t blame him.

Because the truth was, I wasn’t happy about it either.

---

The docks were exactly as I expected—dark, quiet, and filled with too many shadows. The air was thick with the smell of saltwater and gasoline, the heavy mist rolling in from the bay making it hard to see more than a few feet in front of me.

I could feel the tension in the air, the weight of the impending meeting pressing down on my chest like a vice.

Ethan was there, just behind me, his presence steady but distant. He hadn’t said much since we arrived, and I could feel the strain between us growing with every step. But we were here to do a job, and that had to come first.

As we approached the meeting point, I saw them—our rivals, standing in a loose circle near one of the shipping containers, their faces half-hidden in the shadows. There were more of them than I had expected, and my pulse quickened as I took in the scene.

This wasn’t just a meeting.

This was a warning.

I squared my shoulders, keeping my expression calm as I stepped forward. Ethan was right behind me, his body tense, ready for anything.

But as we reached the center of the group, I saw him.

The man who had orchestrated this entire thing.

Marcelo—one of the most dangerous rivals we had ever faced.

And standing beside him, her eyes gleaming with triumph, was Lucia.