The ride back to the estate was quiet.
Not the comfortable kind of silence.
The calculating kind.
Vanessa sat in the back seat beside Gale, watching the city pass through the window. Streetlights flickered across the glass, casting brief flashes of light over Gale's face.
He hadn't spoken in ten minutes.
That usually meant he was thinking.
Hard.
Vanessa broke the silence.
"You're planning something else."
Gale didn't look at her.
"Yes."
"Care to share?"
"Not yet."
Vanessa sighed.
"You're very secretive for someone who married a detective."
Gale finally turned his head slightly.
"That's why I married you."
Vanessa frowned.
"That doesn't make sense."
"It does."
Before she could question him further, the car slowed.
Marco spoke from the front seat.
"We're almost home."
Vanessa leaned forward slightly.
"Anything unusual?"
Marco checked the mirrors.
"No."
But Gale's eyes suddenly narrowed.
Vanessa noticed immediately.
"What?"
Gale spoke quietly.
"The car behind us."
Vanessa turned subtly in her seat.
A dark sedan followed two cars behind them.
Normal distance.
Normal speed.
But—
Too consistent.
"Following?" she whispered.
"Yes."
Marco's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.
"I noticed them three blocks ago."
Vanessa's pulse quickened.
"Well."
She leaned back in the seat.
"That was fast."
Marco glanced at the mirror again.
"You think it's Romano?"
"Possibly," Gale said.
Vanessa tilted her head.
"They're starting early."
"Yes."
The sedan turned when they turned.
Still there.
Vanessa smiled faintly.
"They're watching."
Gale nodded once.
"Good."
Marco frowned.
"Good?"
Vanessa answered before Gale could.
"Because the bait is working."
Marco sighed.
"I really hate this plan."
The estate gates came into view ahead.
Marco pressed a button on the dashboard.
The gates began opening slowly.
Vanessa glanced back again.
The sedan slowed.
Then drove past the estate without stopping.
Gone.
Marco exhaled.
"Definitely watching."
Vanessa nodded.
"They confirmed where we live."
"They already knew," Gale said calmly.
"Then they confirmed the routine."
Marco pulled the car into the driveway.
The gates closed behind them.
Guards immediately approached the vehicle.
Vanessa stepped out.
The mansion lights glowed softly against the night sky.
Everything looked peaceful.
But now she knew better.
Eyes were watching.
Somewhere out there—
Romano and the Circle were planning their move.
Marco spoke quietly to one of the guards.
"Double perimeter patrol."
The guard nodded and hurried away.
Vanessa looked at Gale.
"You're expecting them tonight."
"No."
"Tomorrow?"
"Soon."
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"You're calm about that."
"They need preparation."
"So do we."
Gale looked at her.
"Yes."
Vanessa tilted her head slightly.
"Which means you're about to set another trap."
Gale didn't answer.
But his silence was enough.
Marco groaned softly.
"I already don't like where this is going."
Vanessa smiled.
"That makes two of us."
Gale turned toward the mansion.
"Come inside."
—
Inside the estate, the atmosphere had changed.
More guards.
More movement.
Phones ringing quietly in different rooms.
News of the ambush and the surveillance had clearly spread through Gale's organization.
They walked into the study.
The room was large, lined with bookshelves and a massive desk near the window.
Gale walked directly to the desk.
Vanessa leaned against one of the chairs.
"So what now?"
Gale opened a drawer and pulled out a small tablet.
He tapped the screen a few times.
Then turned it toward her.
Security footage.
Vanessa leaned closer.
The screen showed the street outside the estate.
The same sedan that had followed them.
Parked three blocks away.
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
"You already found them."
"Yes."
Marco looked impressed.
"That was fast."
Gale zoomed in on the video.
Two men sat inside the car.
Watching the estate through binoculars.
Vanessa studied the image carefully.
"You're not sending men after them."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because they're not important."
Vanessa frowned.
"Then why show me?"
Gale tapped the screen again.
The camera angle changed.
Another vehicle.
Parked further away.
Hidden behind a row of trees.
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"Second surveillance team."
"Yes."
Marco leaned closer.
"Those aren't Romano's men."
Vanessa nodded slowly.
"They're professionals."
Gale's voice lowered slightly.
"The Circle."
Vanessa exhaled quietly.
"So they're already here."
"Yes."
"And they're watching me."
"Yes."
Vanessa straightened.
"Well."
She cracked her knuckles lightly.
"That saves us time."
Marco stared at her.
"You're excited again."
Vanessa shrugged.
"I like knowing where the enemy is."
Gale watched her carefully.
"Be careful."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
"You're warning me?"
"Yes."
"That's new."
Gale's expression remained calm.
"The Circle isn't like Romano."
"How so?"
"They don't make mistakes."
Vanessa smiled slightly.
"Everyone makes mistakes."
Gale didn't respond.
Vanessa looked back at the screen.
The surveillance team continued watching the estate.
Waiting.
Planning.
She turned back to Gale.
"So when do we spring the trap?"
Gale closed the tablet slowly.
"When they move."
Vanessa nodded.
"And when they do…"
Her eyes gleamed slightly.
"…I'll be ready."
Because for the first time since this dangerous marriage began—
Vanessa realized something.
She wasn't just surviving inside Gale's world anymore.
She was starting to play the game.
And soon—
The people hunting her were going to realize something very important.
They weren't watching prey.
They were watching a trap.