A few minutes after the punch, the tension had settled into a restless truce. Elara and Caitlyn arrived nearly at the same time. Elara was breathtaking in a deep purple designer set paired with black slides—the effortless "it-girl" combo. She had the soul of a fashionista, but given the blood-soaked nature of her family's business, she rarely dared to let her talent shine.
She spotted Caitlyn, but before she could wave, Caitlyn had already slipped away to join her best friend, Amira.
"What took you so long?" Amira asked, leaning back. "I was five minutes away from calling it a night."
"I got held up," Caitlyn said, dropping onto the plush sofa. "But honestly... the craziest thing happened today."
"Are you going to wait for John Wick to crash the party before you share this 'crazy experience'?" Amira joked, though her eyes were sharp with curiosity.
"I met a guy at the library," Caitlyn announced, her voice soft. "His name is Luka."
Amira smirked, looking triumphant. "Oh, so you got the book? I believe I deserve a little gratitude for my matchmaking skills."
"Funny you say that," Caitlyn laughed, her voice dropping into a playful, husky imitation of Luka. "He said, 'Please thank your friend for me... because I met the most beautiful person on the planet.'"
As they laughed, the room's energy shifted. Kieran walked out of the back room, having traded his biker jacket and combat boots for nothing but a pair of dark swim shorts. Amira didn't say a word, but she didn't look away either.
The room went silent as the front doors opened. Katya entered, her blue eyes scanning the penthouse like a general inspecting a battlefield.
Kieran smirked, his eyes tracking her every move. "Some things never change."
Across the room, Damien's grin widened. "Now... let the party begin."
"Alright, everyone!" Damien's voice boomed over the bass. He climbed onto a glass table, commanding the room. "We're going to play something a little... different. A test of trust. Let's see who can keep a secret—and who can't."
Kieran stepped forward with casual arrogance. "Secrets, Damien? Sounds boring."
"Oh, it'll be thrilling," Damien countered, his eyes glinting. "The rules are simple. Some of you are Mafia. Some of you are innocent citizens. The Mafia will try to eliminate you one by one. Your goal is to survive—or find them before they find you."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Katya's lips curved—not into a smile, but a faint acknowledgment of the irony. In this room, everyone was already a monster; playing at it seemed redundant. She sat back, her strategy already forming: observation first, manipulation second.
As the "night" phase of the game began, players leaned in, whispering in hushed tones as the lights dimmed. Katya watched every twitch of a lip, every nervous glance. Kieran sat with his circle, laughing softly, seemingly aware that a single nod from across the table could decide an alliance—or a betrayal.
Finally, Damien called for silence. "The night is over. The Mafia has chosen their first victim." He paused, letting the silence thicken like smoke. "And it's... Poe."
Poe froze behind a marble pillar, her drink halfway to her lips. Her eyes darted from Damien to Lyra, then to Amira. "Wait—what? Why me?"
[Washington D.C]
"What are the results from the autopsy?"
A tall, sharp-featured woman emerged from her office. Natalie had dedicated her life to dismantling the underground, but the endless war between the Ivanovs and the Romanos made her look incompetent in the eyes of her superiors. Her daughter was the only light left in her world.
"The official report says a heart attack," a young officer replied, handing her a folder. "But Steward thinks otherwise. There are signs of internal trauma. It looks like he was tortured before he died."
Natalie's jaw tightened. "I want the crime scene photos and the full forensic breakdown on my desk before you clock out."
She turned back to her office, the weight of the city's shadows pressing down on her shoulders.
[New York]
Back at the penthouse, the room erupted.
"Obviously, it's him!" a girl shouted, pointing at the Deputy President's son.
"Don't be ridiculous," another countered. "I saw him trying to warn Poe earlier. He's a medic!"
Katya watched the bickering for a moment before slipping out onto the balcony, seeking the cool night air.
"Sneaky, huh?"
Kieran's voice came from behind her. He followed her out, a low chuckle vibrating in his chest. Katya didn't answer. She ignored him, shed her outer layers by the edge of the infinity pool, and dove into the water.
Kieran stood at the edge for four minutes, watching the moonlight ripple over the surface. When she didn't come up, he finally dove in, his hand catching her arm and pulling her to the surface.
"Let go of me, you jerk!" Katya spat, shaking him off as they reached the shallow end.
"You were under too long," Kieran said, his voice unusually grounded. "I thought maybe..."
"Maybe what? You stay away from me, Romano," Katya warned, her voice vibrating with a cold, firm fury. "Or you really won't like what I do to you next."
She snatched a towel from a lounge chair and walked away, her back straight and eyes forward.
In the shadows of the neighboring balcony, a figure lowered a long-lens camera. The shutter clicked, capturing the moment Kieran had reached for her in the water. The person dialed a number.
"They were together just now," the scout whispered into the phone. "The boy looked... worried about her."
"Good," the voice on the other end commanded. "Keep trailing her. Don't lose them."