Page 54 of Seeking Shadows

Then that damn smile again. The kind of smile that made people disappear.

“You’re ambitious. I admire that. But careful, Reign. Some things are... irreplaceable. Daughters. Leaders. Empires.”

I said nothing. If I opened my mouth again, I wasn’t sure Reign would speak. It’d be me. Zane. And Zane didn’t bluff.

Nico let the silence hang. He studied me—searching for a crack he’d never find. Then, with a self-satisfied breath, he added, “I’ve been thinking about your request. The lab. I’m granting it. Let’s see if you can actually implement the compounds you were talking about. If this works, we expand. Quietly.”

Of course he spun it like he was the one offering a gift. Like I hadn’t already built half the formula myself.

“I hope your ideas about the new drug pipeline prove as promising as you suggested.” He smirked. “We both know the market’s hungry.”

I nodded once. Reign’s nod. Cold, composed.

But underneath, Zane was seething.

Because Mia wasn’t a pawn. She wasn’t leverage. She was the only thing in this poisoned world worth protecting. And this man—this monster in a tailored coat—talked about her like she was something to be used.

He turned his back and walked away like the conversation hadn’t just written his name on a grave.

And I stood there. Frozen. But screaming inside.

One day, I thought. One day I’ll end you. I’ll make sure Mia never has to hear your name again.

And you’ll die never knowing that the man you handed her to was the one who buried you.

I was Reign Mitchell.

But beneath the mask, Zane Hill was waiting.

And my vengeance had a heartbeat.

Nico paused before stepping out into the light pooling near the warehouse exit. “I have other business to attend to,” he said over his shoulder. “But we’ll speak again tonight. Arturo De Santis is hosting a gathering—his youngest son’s engagement. High table names will be there. There are people I want you to meet.”

His tone was final. Like an invitation from a king. Or a command.

I waited five minutes after he was gone. Long enough for the sound of his car to vanish into the smoggy dark. Long enough to be sure I wouldn’t run after him and ruin everything Charlie and I had built.

Then I walked.

Every step away from that warehouse was a battle not to turn back and end him right there.

But this wasn’t about impulse. It was about the long game.

At a safe distance, I reached my car—black, clean, forgettable. I slid behind the wheel, gripped it with both hands.

His voice echoed in my skull.

“Enjoying what I sent you?”

Like she was a product. A bonus. A token of goodwill.

I clenched my jaw so hard it hurt. My fingers ached against the steering wheel.

You disgusting piece of shit. She’s not yours. She was never yours.

I took a breath. Two. Reign wouldn’t call Charlie angry. Reign would sound like everything was going according to plan.

I tapped the earpiece. One ring. Two.

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