Page 22 of The Player

“Because this time, it’s you who’s in the crosshairs,” Seth snapped, his patience clearly fraying. “You’re not thinking straight, Hope. You’re too focused on the mission, and you’re not seeing the bigger picture.”

“The bigger picture?” Hope echoed, incredulous. “The bigger picture is that we have a chance to take down one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the world. We can’t let this slip through our fingers because you’re getting cold feet.”

“It’s not about cold feet,” Seth shot back, his voice rising slightly. “It’s about keeping you safe. We can’t afford to be reckless.”

“Reckless?” Hope repeated, her temper flaring. “You think I’m being reckless? I’m doing what needs to be done, Seth. We can’t afford to play it safe anymore.”

Seth’s eyes were stormy, his frustration and concern battling for dominance. “I don’t want to lose you, Hope,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “Not to some power-hungry cartel leader who sees you as nothing more than a conquest.”

Hope’s heart clenched at the raw emotion in his voice, but she pushed it aside, focusing on the mission. “You won’t lose me,” she said, her voice firm. “We’re in this together, and we’ll see it through. But we have to take risks if we want to succeed.”

Seth stared at her, his jaw clenched, his eyes searching hers as if he was trying to find some way to make her understand his fear. But Hope’s mind was made up. They were too close to back down now, and she wasn’t about to let anything—or anyone—stand in their way.

“Fine,” Seth finally said, his voice tight. “But if this goes wrong, if you get in over your head, I’m pulling you out. I don’t care what it costs us.”

Hope nodded, though she knew in her heart that she wouldn’t let him do that. “Agreed,” she said, knowing that the tension between them was far from resolved but unwilling to back down.

Seth sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “Just… be careful, Hope,” he said, his voice softer now, the fight leaving him. “Please.”

“I will,” she promised, her voice gentler as she reached out to touch his arm.

He looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of worry and something deeper, something that tugged at her heartstrings. But she forced herself to stay focused, to remember why they were doing this. They weren’t the only ones at risk. They were so close. And she wasn’t about to let anything slip through her fingers—not when they had a chance to finally bring down the Obsidian Cartel.

But as she looked at Seth and saw the concern etched into his features, a part of her couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, he was right to be worried. The stakes were higher than ever, and the risks… the risks were more personal than she had ever imagined.

CHAPTER 10

SETH

Seth was reviewing the intelligence they’d managed to put together on the Obsidian Cartel and Nero Valente, the owner of the Citadel, when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and pursed his lips. “Speak of the Devil.”

Seth exchanged a look with Hope, who was sitting across from him and poring over some notes. She raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. Without a word, Seth answered the call, putting it on speaker.

“Mr. Valente,” Seth greeted, his voice calm and measured.

“Mr. Conway,” Valente’s voice was smooth, cultured, with just a hint of something darker underneath. “I trust you and your lovely wife are enjoying your new home here in London.”

“We are, thank you,” Seth replied, maintaining the polite facade. He could feel Hope’s gaze on him, sharp and focused.

“Excellent,” Valente continued. “I’d like to extend an invitation to the both of you. Dinner at the Citadel, in my private dining room. I believe it’s time we got to know each other better.”

Seth’s heart skipped a beat, but he didn’t let it show in his voice. “We’d be honored.”

“Splendid. I’ll have my car pick you up at seven. Until then, Mr. Conway.”

The line went dead, and Seth slowly set the phone down, his mind already racing. Hope was watching him intently, waiting for his take on the invitation.

“That was unexpected,” she murmured.

“Very,” Seth agreed. “But this could be exactly what we’ve been waiting for. If Valente is inviting us to his private dining room, it means he’s interested. We could bypass Hargrove completely. It’s an opportunity we can’t pass up.”

Hope nodded, her mind already working through the implications. “He’s testing us, that’s clear. We need to be ready for anything.”

“We will be,” Seth assured her, though there was a lingering sense of unease in the pit of his stomach. He’d known from the beginning that this mission would be dangerous, but now that they were getting closer to the heart of the cartel, the stakes were higher than ever.

Valente didn’t just send a town car or a sedan; he sent a luxury SUV with a complete bar. This time, as they descended the long staircase, Seth took note of possible escape routes and places they might hide to avoid detection. He hoped they’d never need to use them, but it was always best to be prepared. Seth and Hope were escorted into the club by the same driver who had picked them up, a man of few words who guided them through the labyrinthine corridors with practiced ease.

When they reached Valente’s private dining room, Seth wasn’t sure what to expect. The room was elegantly appointed, the walls lined with rich, dark wood paneling and adorned with expensive artwork. A large, ornate table dominated the center of the room, set for three with gleaming silverware and crystal glasses. Candles flickered in the dim light, casting shadows that danced across the polished surfaces.

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