Chapter 4 - She Refused to Be His Weakness
Elena woke inside an old coastal house.
Her wrists were free.
That frightened her more than restraints would have.
A man sat across from her.
Mid-forties.
Expensive suit.
Calm eyes.
“My name is Salvatore Greco.”
“I didn’t ask.”
He smiled.
“Ronan likes you.”
Elena said nothing.
“Very much.”
“Is there a point coming?”
“You’re surprisingly rude for someone in your position.”
“I’m American. We multitask.”
Salvatore laughed.
Now Elena understood.
He wanted conversation.
That meant he wanted something from her.
“What do you want?”
“Ronan.”
“Then why am I here?”
“Because Ronan Vale has survived twenty-five years by never caring enough about anything to make mistakes.”
Elena’s stomach tightened.
“Until you.”
She kept her face neutral.
Salvatore leaned forward.
“We want him angry.”
“You kidnapped his girlfriend. Congratulations.”
“We want him reckless.”
Elena stared at him.
Then she understood.
“You’re setting a trap.”
Salvatore smiled.
“Smart girl.”
Meanwhile, Ronan stood over a map inside his warehouse.
Luca pointed toward the coast.
“Call originated here.”
“Properties?”
“Three associated with Greco.”
Ronan looked up.
“Salvatore.”
“Yes.”
Ronan knew the name.
Old rivalry.
Old blood.
Exactly the kind of enemy who understood grief could be weaponized.
Luca asked, “How many men?”
“Enough.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
Ronan looked at him.
“We do this differently.”
Luca blinked.
“Differently?”
“They expect me angry.”
“You are angry.”
“They expect me stupid.”
That distinction mattered.
Ronan began giving orders.
Quiet ones.
No public retaliation.
No assault on Greco businesses.
No chaos.
Instead, Ronan cut communication routes, isolated Salvatore’s people, and used pressure to force information out of the network surrounding him.
By sunrise, Ronan knew the house.
Inside, Elena heard shouting downstairs.
Salvatore entered her room furious.
“What did you tell him?”
“I haven’t spoken to him.”
“Vale knew.”
“Knew what?”
“Everything.”
Elena smiled faintly.
“That must be frustrating.”
Salvatore grabbed the back of a chair instead of touching her.
“You think this ends well?”
“I think you wanted an angry man charging through your front door.”
His expression changed.
“And he didn’t.”
For the first time, Elena saw uncertainty.
Outside, Ronan waited.
Luca approached.
“House is surrounded.”
“How many inside?”
“Six confirmed.”
“Elena?”
“Upstairs. East side.”
Ronan’s jaw tightened.
“Can we get her out without turning the house into a battlefield?”
“Yes.”
“Then do that.”
Luca looked surprised.
Three years earlier, Ronan would have destroyed the building.
Now he waited.
Ten unbearable minutes later, one of Luca’s men signaled.
Elena emerged through a side entrance.
Ronan saw her.
Everything inside him stopped.
“Elena.”
She ran toward him.
Ronan crossed the distance.
He almost grabbed her.
Almost crushed her against him.
Instead, he stopped inches away.
“Can I?”
Elena stared at him.
Then she nodded.
Ronan pulled her into his arms.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Finally Elena whispered, “You asked.”
Ronan closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
She held him tighter.
Behind them, Luca approached.
“Greco escaped through the lower road.”
Ronan’s expression changed.
Elena felt it.
The old Ronan was returning.
“What happens now?” she asked.
Ronan looked toward the house.
Then at her.
“You go somewhere safe.”
Her face hardened.
He continued before she could argue.
“Somewhere you choose.”
Elena stared at him.
That mattered.
More than he realized.
“I want to go home.”
“Your apartment?”
“Yes.”
Ronan hesitated.
Then nodded.
“All right.”
Luca looked shocked.
Elena noticed.
“So that’s it?”
Ronan looked at her.
“No.”
“What happens to Greco?”
“He remains dangerous.”
“And what happens to us?”
Ronan’s silence answered.
Elena stepped backward.
“You still think loving me makes me your weakness.”
“It makes you a target.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Ronan could not answer.
Elena nodded sadly.
“Then when you can answer it, come find me.”
She entered Luca’s car.
Ronan watched her leave.
He had rescued her.
May you like
And somehow, he had still lost her.
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