Romano's smile slowly faded.
For a moment, the warehouse felt strangely quiet.
Vanessa leaned back in the chair, wrists still bound behind her. The ropes around her arms were tight enough to convince anyone watching that she was helpless.
But inside—
She was completely calm.
Romano studied her carefully.
"You're very confident for someone tied to a chair."
Vanessa shrugged slightly.
"I've been in worse positions."
Romano glanced at Sebastian Vale.
"Is she always like this?"
Sebastian watched her with cool curiosity.
"Yes."
Romano frowned.
"You've met her before?"
"No."
Sebastian folded his hands behind his back.
"But I've studied her."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
"That's flattering."
Sebastian stepped closer.
"You're a problem."
Vanessa tilted her head.
"For who?"
"For everyone."
Romano walked around her slowly.
"You should be afraid right now."
Vanessa glanced at the ropes around her wrists.
"You mean because I'm tied up?"
"Yes."
Vanessa sighed.
"Honestly, it's not that impressive."
Romano's patience thinned.
"You're about to watch your husband die."
Vanessa met his gaze calmly.
"You really believe that."
Romano leaned closer.
"I know it."
Vanessa smiled faintly.
"That's adorable."
Romano's hand slammed onto the table beside her.
"You think this is a joke?"
Vanessa didn't flinch.
"No."
"Then why are you smiling?"
Vanessa leaned forward slightly.
"Because you made one mistake."
Romano narrowed his eyes.
"What mistake?"
Vanessa's voice dropped slightly.
"You kidnapped a detective."
Romano scoffed.
"And?"
Vanessa's eyes flicked toward the warehouse entrance.
"And detectives notice details."
Romano frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Vanessa smiled.
"The security cameras outside this building."
Romano looked confused.
"What about them?"
Vanessa shrugged.
"They're all pointing the wrong direction."
Romano turned slowly toward Sebastian.
Sebastian's eyes narrowed.
Then—
Gunfire exploded outside.
The warehouse doors burst open.
Armed men stormed inside.
Black suits.
Precision movement.
Gale's men.
Romano cursed.
"Move!"
His guards immediately raised their weapons.
The warehouse erupted into chaos.
Bullets slammed into metal crates.
Men shouted.
Glass shattered somewhere above.
Vanessa remained seated calmly in the center of the storm.
Exactly where she was supposed to be.
Romano grabbed her chair suddenly.
"You're coming with me!"
Vanessa smirked.
"Not happening."
Before Romano could react—
The ropes around her wrists snapped loose.
Romano froze.
Vanessa slowly stood up.
Her hands were free.
She rubbed her wrists lightly.
"Plastic restraints," she said casually.
"Very cheap quality."
Romano stared.
"You were never unconscious."
Vanessa winked.
"Nope."
Romano grabbed his gun.
But before he could aim—
A single shot echoed across the warehouse.
Romano's weapon flew from his hand.
The bullet had struck it perfectly.
Romano looked toward the entrance.
Gale De Luca stood there.
Gun raised.
Calm.
Cold.
Deadly.
The gunfire around them slowly stopped as Gale's men secured the building.
Within seconds, Romano's guards were disarmed and forced to the ground.
Silence returned.
Vanessa turned toward Gale.
"Took you long enough."
Gale walked toward her slowly.
"You seem fine."
Vanessa shrugged.
"I told you I would be."
Romano looked between them in disbelief.
"You planned this."
Vanessa smiled.
"Yes."
Romano's face twisted with anger.
"You let us take her!"
Gale's voice was calm.
"You insisted."
Sebastian Vale stepped forward from the shadows.
Unlike Romano, he wasn't panicking.
He was watching.
Calculating.
His eyes moved from Gale… to Vanessa.
"Interesting."
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"You're surprisingly calm."
Sebastian nodded slightly.
"This was expected."
Romano turned toward him.
"Expected?!"
Sebastian ignored him.
Instead he looked directly at Gale.
"You're clever."
Gale didn't respond.
Sebastian continued.
"But this changes nothing."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
Sebastian nodded.
"You exposed this location."
Vanessa gestured around the warehouse.
"Yes."
Sebastian smiled faintly.
"That was intentional."
Vanessa's expression shifted slightly.
"Meaning?"
Sebastian's eyes gleamed.
"This building was never important."
Vanessa felt the tension instantly return.
Sebastian stepped closer.
"You wanted to find the Circle."
"Yes," Gale said calmly.
Sebastian nodded.
"And now you have."
Vanessa frowned slightly.
"That sounds like a problem."
Sebastian smiled.
"It is."
Gale raised his gun again.
"Not for long."
Sebastian didn't move.
"Kill me."
Vanessa blinked.
Sebastian's smile widened.
"And the Circle will respond."
The warehouse grew quiet again.
Vanessa slowly understood.
"You're bait too."
Sebastian inclined his head slightly.
"Exactly."
Vanessa sighed.
"This night just keeps getting more complicated."
Gale looked at Sebastian carefully.
Sebastian spoke again.
"You've started a war tonight."
Vanessa stepped beside Gale.
"Good."
Sebastian laughed quietly.
"You really are dangerous."
Vanessa smiled.
"Thank you."
Sebastian's eyes moved between them.
"The detective and the mafia king."
He shook his head slightly.
"This will be interesting."
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Oh it already is."
Sebastian looked at Gale one last time.
"The Circle will see you soon."
And somehow—
The way he said it sounded less like a threat…
And more like a promise.
Which meant the war Gale had been preparing for—
Had only just begun.