Vanessa barely slept.
Not because the bed was uncomfortable.
Quite the opposite.
The mattress was probably worth more than her entire apartment.
But comfort wasn't the problem.
The problem was the man sleeping somewhere down the hallway.
Gale De Luca.
Her husband.
The word still felt ridiculous.
Vanessa lay on her back staring at the ceiling as the faint glow of sunrise crept through the massive windows.
Her detective instincts refused to relax.
A mansion full of armed guards.
Criminals walking freely through the halls.
And she had willingly walked into the center of it.
Perfect, she thought dryly.
Her phone buzzed softly on the nightstand.
Daniel.
She answered immediately.
"You better have good news."
"I wish I did."
Vanessa sighed and sat up.
"You watched the wedding broadcast?"
"Hard to miss. Every news channel in the city is talking about it."
Vanessa walked toward the window.
From the second floor she could see the massive gardens surrounding the estate.
And the guards.
At least ten of them.
Visible.
Which meant there were probably twice as many hidden.
"What are they saying?" she asked.
"That you've betrayed the police department."
Vanessa closed her eyes briefly.
"Of course they are."
"Some people think you're undercover."
"Good."
"Others think you've been bought."
"Better."
Daniel paused.
"You're taking this pretty calmly."
Vanessa leaned against the glass.
"Because none of it matters."
"What does matter?"
"Getting evidence."
Daniel's voice lowered.
"Vanessa… you're living inside his house now."
"I noticed."
"That man controls half the city's crime."
"I noticed that too."
"And you're alone."
Vanessa looked toward the hallway.
"No," she said quietly.
"I'm surrounded."
Daniel didn't argue with that.
"Just be careful."
"I always am."
They ended the call.
Vanessa dressed quickly.
Black pants.
Simple blouse.
Her detective habits hadn't changed.
She wasn't going to start wearing silk dresses just because she lived in a mansion now.
She opened the bedroom door.
The hallway was quiet.
Sunlight spilled across the marble floor.
But the moment she stepped out—
Two guards immediately straightened.
One of them spoke respectfully.
"Good morning, Mrs. De Luca."
Vanessa rubbed her forehead.
"Please stop calling me that."
The guard looked confused.
"Yes… ma'am."
"Vanessa is fine."
They nodded awkwardly.
Vanessa walked toward the staircase.
Halfway down she smelled something unexpected.
Coffee.
Strong coffee.
Her stomach reminded her she hadn't eaten since yesterday afternoon.
She followed the smell into the dining room.
The table was massive.
Long enough to seat twenty people.
But only one person sat there.
Gale.
He was reading something on a tablet while drinking coffee.
Completely relaxed.
Vanessa stepped inside.
"You look very comfortable for someone who married a detective yesterday."
Gale looked up.
"You look very comfortable for someone who married a criminal yesterday."
Vanessa pulled out a chair and sat across from him.
"I slept terribly."
"I slept well."
"Of course you did."
A woman entered the room quietly carrying a tray.
Breakfast.
Eggs.
Fruit.
Toast.
Vanessa stared at it.
"Is this for both of us?"
The woman nodded.
"Yes, ma'am."
Vanessa sighed.
"Vanessa."
"Yes… Vanessa."
She placed the plates on the table and quickly left the room.
Vanessa looked back at Gale.
"Your staff is terrified of me."
"They're cautious."
"Why?"
"You're unpredictable."
Vanessa picked up a fork.
"That seems to be a common opinion around here."
Gale watched her for a moment.
Then he said calmly—
"You should learn the rules."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
"Rules?"
"Yes."
"Let me guess."
She began counting on her fingers.
"Don't touch your criminal business."
"Correct."
"Don't ask questions."
"Incorrect."
Vanessa paused.
"Really?"
"You can ask anything."
"And you'll answer?"
"Maybe."
Vanessa leaned back slightly.
"Interesting."
Gale set his coffee down.
"Rule one."
She rolled her eyes.
"There's actually a list."
"Yes."
"Fine."
"Never walk outside the estate without security."
Vanessa frowned.
"I can take care of myself."
"I know."
"Then why?"
"Because you're now a target."
Vanessa stopped eating.
"From who?"
"Anyone who wants leverage against me."
"That sounds like a long list."
"It is."
Vanessa nodded slowly.
"What's rule two?"
"Never lie to me."
She laughed.
"You're a mafia boss asking for honesty?"
"Yes."
"That's adorable."
Gale's gaze didn't change.
"Lies create problems."
Vanessa leaned forward.
"You know what's funny?"
"What?"
"I was about to say the same thing."
Gale studied her carefully.
"Rule three."
Vanessa sighed.
"There's more?"
"Yes."
"Go on."
"Don't investigate my men."
Vanessa smirked.
"That's not going to happen."
Gale expected that answer.
"I know."
"So why say it?"
"Because if you dig into the wrong person…"
He paused.
"…I might not be able to protect you."
Vanessa noticed the wording.
Not won't.
Might not.
Interesting.
She finished her coffee.
"Anything else?"
Gale nodded slightly.
"One more rule."
Vanessa waited.
"Don't underestimate the people in this house."
She raised an eyebrow.
"I don't underestimate criminals."
"Good."
"But I don't fear them either."
Gale leaned back in his chair.
"That could be a problem."
Vanessa stood up.
"Well, if you're done explaining your house rules…"
She walked toward the door.
"…I'm going to explore my new prison."
Gale didn't stop her.
But as she reached the doorway, he spoke again.
"Vanessa."
She turned.
"Yes?"
His expression had shifted slightly.
More serious.
"Romano won't wait long."
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"You think he'll attack."
"I know he will."
"Good."
Gale raised an eyebrow.
"Good?"
Vanessa smiled slightly.
"I've been bored since the wedding ended."
For the first time that morning—
Gale actually laughed.
A low, quiet sound.
"Careful, detective."
"Why?"
Gale's dark eyes locked onto hers.
"War inside the underworld…"
He paused.
"…isn't something you can arrest."
Vanessa tilted her head slightly.
"Maybe not."
Then she walked out of the dining room.
But Gale's gaze followed her long after she disappeared into the hallway.
Because something about Vanessa Rivera was becoming very clear.
She wasn't scared.
She wasn't intimidated.
And most dangerous of all—
She seemed almost excited.
Which meant the next few weeks inside his house were going to be far more interesting than Gale originally expected.