Chapter 3

The floor shook under our feet as part of the building’s outer wall blew apart. Smoke poured through the broken windows, alarms screamed, and BlackSword guards rushed through the corridors with their guns drawn.

Someone was attacking us.

My emergency bag was already in my hand. I checked the weapons inside, then slipped the strap over my shoulder.

Ricci was already changing into his BlackSword combat uniform, his face hard and all business now. “I’ve got an emergency deployment order,” he said to Valerie. “My team is heading to the blast zone. I’m going back to command the rescue and security teams, and you’re staying close to me. Don’t wander off.”

Valerie smiled and picked up her gun. “Of course, Ricci. You know I’d never make you worry about me.”

I almost rolled my eyes.

Crazy woman.

“I’ll go too,” I said.

Ricci stopped.

He turned around slowly, like he’d just heard the stupidest thing in his life. “You?”

“Yes, me.”

“What the fuck are you going to do there?” he snapped. “Stay at the evacuation point, Thalia. This is BlackSword business, and it’s dangerous. I don’t need you running around the blast zone and becoming another person my men have to rescue.”

I adjusted my bag. “During a bombing, sitting around waiting to die doesn’t sound very smart.”

His jaw tightened. “You really want to argue with me right now?”

Valerie stepped closer, smiling like she was being reasonable. “Let her come, Ricci. She can stay at the rescue center and help with supplies. Besides, if you leave her behind, she’ll probably just worry about you the whole time.”

Ricci looked at me for a long moment before clicking his tongue. “Fine. But you stay where my men can see you. Don’t be stupid.”

I didn’t answer.

If only he knew how many battlefields I’d walked through before I ever became his wife.

At the blast zone, everything was chaos.

Buildings were burning, cars were overturned, and people were trapped under concrete, screaming for help while BlackSword soldiers and emergency crews tried to reach them.

Then I saw Valerie.

A wounded man crawled toward her, blood covering his shirt. “Please... help me...”

Valerie stared at him before calmly raising her gun.

Bang!

The man stopped moving.

I froze.

Valerie lowered the weapon and looked at Ricci. “Let’s not make him suffer, Ricci. Look at him. He’s not going to live much longer anyway.”

Ricci glanced at the body, his expression unchanged. “You’re right. Keep moving.”

Valerie smiled.

Then another survivor cried for help.

She shot him too.

Another followed, and she wiped the blood that splashed across her cheek with two fingers, smiling like she was enjoying herself.

My stomach turned.

So this was the woman Ricci called an outstanding young assassin.

And this was the woman he chose over me.

I said nothing. I simply turned away and started pulling survivors from the rubble, one after another, until my hands were covered in blood and dust.

I carried children out, lifted broken concrete with the rescue team, searched through collapsed buildings, and pulled bodies from places nobody else wanted to enter.

I’d done this before.

Not in a rescue center.

In Naples’s underworld.

I’d searched through ruined compounds after shootouts and buried people I’d known since childhood. I’d learned how to keep moving even when grief made it hard to breathe.

For five years, I’d hidden those skills for Ricci.

Now there was no reason to hide anymore.

When we finally returned to the rescue center, Valerie walked toward me with a large basin of hot water. She looked at my blood-covered clothes and smiled. “Thalia, you’re really going all out, aren’t you? You don’t have to imitate me just because Ricci trusts me.”

I kept working.

She stepped closer. “I already told you, Ricci and I are comrades in BlackSword. You’re covered in dirt, blood, and God knows what else. If I were you, I’d go home instead of standing here and getting in everyone’s way.”

I ignored her.

There were still people waiting for help. Why would I waste even one second on her?

Valerie’s smile slowly disappeared. She hated being ignored. Then, without warning, she tipped the entire basin toward me.

Scalding water hit my face.

A sharp hiss escaped my lips. Pain flashed across my skin, but I didn’t scream.

Valerie immediately dropped the empty basin and stumbled backward. “Ah!”

She dropped the basin and grabbed her hand as a tiny splash landed on her finger. “Thalia! I saw you covered in blood, so I brought you hot water to clean yourself up. Why would you suddenly attack me? I was only trying to help you!”

The second Valerie finished talking, Ricci came rushing over. Of course he did. He was still her good boss always ready to protect her, always ready to believe her. He didn’t even look at my burned face or my bloodied hands before shoving me hard enough that I hit the ground.

“Thalia, have you fucking lost it?” he barked. “You’ve been acting crazy all day, and now you’re attacking one of my people? Do you have any idea how much BlackSword has invested in training Valerie?!”

I pushed myself up slowly. “She poured boiling water on me.”

“Enough,” Ricci snapped. “Valerie is one of BlackSword’s best assassins. She’s been through hell to earn that position, and you’re not going to blame her because you’re jealous. Apologize to her. Now!”

“Apologize?”

Something in me finally snapped.

I lunged at Valerie and knocked her to the ground before striking her across the face again and again. “You’re framing me, aren’t you?” I hissed. “People are dying all around us, and you’re still playing these disgusting little games. Do you even deserve that BlackSword uniform?”

Valerie screamed, but I stopped when I heard Ricci shout my name. I looked at her for one second, then got up.

There were still people trapped inside.

I had no time for her.

I turned and ran back into the disaster zone. Then a massive explosion suddenly ripped through the street.

BOOM!

The ground shook from the blast, and a damaged building finally gave way. Concrete crashed down between Valerie and me, sealing off most of the passage.

“Get out!” one of the BlackSword soldiers yelled. “The structure’s coming down!”

I looked around. Only one narrow opening was left, and Valerie was closer to it.

Then Ricci’s voice came through the chaos.

“Valerie! Get her fuck out of there, now!”

A young BlackSword member hesitated. “But, Boss, your wife is still inside…”

“That’s an order!” Ricci’s voice was cold. “Valerie is one of BlackSword’s elite. Thalia isn’t! If we have to choose, we choose Valerie. Anyone can replace that fucking Thalia.”

I went completely still.

Anyone can replace me?

After five years of marriage, that’s all I was worth?

Valerie glanced back at me and smiled.

Then she let the soldiers pull her out first.

Outside, Ricci immediately grabbed her. “Are you hurt? Let me see your hands.”

“I’m fine, Ricci... Don’t worry about me.”

He checked her anyway, touching her carefully while dust covered the street around them.

They looked like a perfect couple.

I stared at them through the dust.

My chest hurt so badly I almost couldn’t breathe.

I smiled bitterly.

“Thalia!”