Everyone Mocked the Blind Girl After She Fell at the Billionaire Gala—Until Her Hands Found a Bomb Inside the $25 Million Statue, and the Mafia Boss Realized She Had Entered the Room to Expose the Traitor Standing Beside Him...

The celebration was in full swing when Marcus quietly approached Adrian, leaning in close to speak beneath the din of the string quartet.

“Adrian,” Marcus said quietly. “We have a situation outside.”

Adrian’s expression shifted instantly from warmth to sharp vigilance. “What is it?”

“A messenger just dropped an envelope at the front desk,” Marcus reported, handing Adrian a thick black paper envelope sealed with red wax. “It’s stamped with the crest of the Moretti Syndicate—New York.”

Adrian’s fingers tightened on the heavy envelope. The Moretti family was the largest criminal syndicate on the East Coast—the former senior partners of the DeLuca network.

Elena, sensing the sudden shift in Adrian’s pulse and the faint scent of red wax, turned toward him.

“What is it, Adrian?” she asked softly.

Adrian broke the red wax seal and pulled out a single sheet of heavy parchment. He read the crisp, copperplate calligraphy inside:

Mr. Vale, You destroyed our Midwestern partners and took the Romanov Scepter. We do not care about the DeLucas—they were foolish and weak. But the scepter contained financial codes that belong to the Moretti family. Return the drive within forty-eight hours, or we will demonstrate that New York is not as easily defused as a Chicago charity gala. P.S. Give our regards to your brilliant blind authenticator. She has a very unique gift. It would be a tragedy if she lost her hearing as well.

A cold, vicious rage surged through Adrian’s veins. His hands shook with the impulse to tear the parchment into shreds. Threatening him was one thing. Threatening Elena was a death sentence.

“Marcus,” Adrian said, his voice dropping into a lethal, terrifying whisper. “Prepare the jet. We aren't waiting forty-eight hours. We are going to New York tonight.”

Elena placed her hand gently over his fist, stopping him. Her touch was remarkably warm, cutting through the icy anger consuming him.

“No, Adrian,” Elena said quietly, her voice firm and unshakable. “We aren't going to New York to fight them on their ground.”

Adrian looked at her, surprised. “Elena, they threatened you—”

“They threatened me because they are afraid,” Elena corrected him gently, her thumb tracing the back of his hand. “They don't understand how we found the cipher. They think we got lucky. They want the drive because it holds the key to their entire syndicate.”

She tilted her head up toward him, her hazel eyes brilliant and fearless.

“We don't run, Adrian. And we don't fight in the dark like they do. We bring them into the light. We set a trap—and this time, I’m going to design it myself.”

Adrian stared at her, the dark rage in his chest melting into overwhelming admiration. He cupped her cheek gently, marveling at the incredible strength wrapped in such grace.