LIAM BLACKWOOD – POV
Liam stood by the tinted window of his office, watching the quiet city lights blink like lazy fireflies in the night. He wasn't sure when he last got a full night's rest, but sleep was the last thing on his mind tonight.
Marcus.
The name tasted bitter on his tongue.
Four years ago, Marcus tore through his trust and used Valkyrie like a dagger. A beautiful, silver-eyed dagger that sliced him clean open when he wasn't looking. But Liam wasn't the man he used to be. This time, he was holding the blade. And he intended to aim with precision.
"Are you sure this is the only way?" Alina's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
He turned. The twenty-one-year-old stood with her arms folded, honey-blonde hair cascading over her black leather jacket. Her silver hoops glinted beneath the overhead lights. Her beauty wasn't delicate—it was fierce, confident, and deliberate. And more importantly, she was bold enough to pull this off.
"I'm not asking you to kill him, Alina," Liam said, his tone calm but firm. "Just to get close. Make him trust you."
"And then?" she asked, arching a brow.
"Then you'll feed me everything. His habits, his routines, his weaknesses. The moment he slips, we strike."
Aiden had already made his opinion clear. He didn't like the plan. He didn't like Liam putting his twin sister in Marcus' crosshairs. But he also didn't know the depth of Marcus' cruelty. Liam did. And if they were going to stop him, it had to be from the inside.
"I told you," Liam said, walking toward the table and sliding over a folder. "This club is one of Marcus' biggest sources of income. It's flashy, attracts wealthy men and desperate women—and he's always there on Fridays."
Alina picked up the folder and flipped it open. A glossy photo of a luxurious bar with dark lighting and velvet couches stared back at her. "La Flame," she read aloud. "Charming."
"He owns the whole building. Uses the VIP lounge for his meetings. No cameras in that section. No records. Just his most trusted men and whatever woman he wants for the night."
"And you want me to be the woman?" she asked, her voice dry.
"I want you to be the distraction," Liam said. "But not just one night. You have to make him fall for you."
Alina closed the folder and stared at Liam. "You're trusting me with this because I'm bold enough to go through with it. Not because I'm the best."
"No," Liam said. "I'm trusting you because the last girl I picked flinched at the first sign of danger. You didn't."
She smirked. "She wore red lipstick and heels. I wear steel-toe boots and pepper spray."
"And Marcus won't see you coming."
He leaned over and pulled out a sleek black envelope. "Inside are the credentials. A new ID, background story, and the contact you'll use to apply as one of the bar's VIP hostesses. You'll get close to Marcus in a matter of days if you play it right."
Alina tucked the envelope under her arm and narrowed her eyes. "What about Valkyrie?"
Liam's jaw clenched. The name was like poison.
"She's none of your concern," he said coolly. "She made her choice."
Alina hesitated. "You still care about her?"
Liam's silence answered her.
"I don't need to know everything," she added softly. "But if I'm doing this, I need full clearance. You'll need to trust me."
"I already do," Liam said. "Otherwise I'd never let you near Marcus."
She nodded, glancing back at the window. "Aiden's not going to like this."
"He doesn't have to. Just make sure he doesn't follow you."
Alina let out a breath and started for the door. But then she paused. "One last thing. If Marcus finds out I'm playing him—"
"He won't," Liam interrupted. "Because you're going to make him believe you're exactly his type. And when he starts to fall for you, you'll use it."
"And what if I start to like him back?" she asked, teasing.
Liam's eyes darkened. "Then you better remember who sent you."
There was a chill in his voice that made her smirk. "Message received."
She turned and left, her boots clicking against the marble floor as the door closed behind her. Liam exhaled slowly and walked over to his desk, opening a hidden drawer. Inside lay a folder marked Valkyrie—clipped photos, timestamps, and printed messages from years ago.
He shut the drawer again.
Alina was right to ask. Valkyrie had once been the closest thing to comfort in Liam's life. But now, all she reminded him of was betrayal. And he would not let Marcus do that to him again. Not through another woman. Not ever.
This time, Liam was prepared.
This time, Marcus would fall.
And the woman leading him straight to the fall… had just left with a folder in her hand and fire in her eyes.