ACE
I drove alone for the first time in a while.
No convoy. No Bob. No guards.
Just me and the humming engine of my black McLaren as I tore through the winding mountain road carved in stone and silence. This car wasn’t from the Enterprise garage. It was mine—untouched, unbothered, and hidden from the eyes of anyone who thought they knew me.
No one followed me here.
No one could.
The drive gave me time to think about the gala, the heat with the Giordanos, Salvatore’s smug face after my punch, Hope's kiss, Hope’s mouth, Hope’s…
I slammed the brakes harder on the next turn, shaking the thoughts off like water from my skin. Now wasn’t the time. I needed clarity. Discipline. Ice in my veins.
The villa came into view at the top of the mountain. Remote, quiet, heavily guarded but from the
