Morning came softly.
Sunlight slipped through the curtains in thin golden lines, warming the quiet bedroom.
Leah was still asleep.
She lay curled beneath the blankets, her breathing slow and peaceful. One arm rested beneath the pillow while the other lay loosely across the bed. Her hair was spread across the sheets in blonde waves.
Izana stood near the mirror, buttoning the cuffs of his black shirt.
His suit jacket hung over the back of a chair.
He adjusted the collar slightly and studied his reflection.
Calm.
Composed.
Exactly the way the world expected him to be.
But his mind wasn't on work.
Not today.
Today he was picking up the ring.
The small blue diamond flashed briefly in his memory.
He imagined it on Leah's finger.
The thought lingered for a moment.
Then he reached for his jacket and slipped it on.
Once he was finished, he turned toward the bed.
Leah hadn't moved.
She looked completely unaware of everything beyond the quiet comfort of sleep.
Izana walked over slowly.
He stood beside the bed for a moment, watching her.
Her expression was relaxed. Peaceful.
It was rare to see her this calm.
Carefully, he brushed a small strand of hair away from her face.
Leah stirred slightly.
Her brow twitched as she shifted against the pillow.
Izana leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
"Sleep," he murmured quietly. "I'll be back soon... I love you."
Leah made a soft sound, something halfway between a sigh and a sleepy protest.
But she didn't wake up.
Her breathing settled again.
Izana stayed there a moment longer.
Then he straightened and walked toward the door.
His hand rested on the handle.
But he didn't open it immediately.
Instead, he looked back at her.
Leah remained exactly where she was, sunlight now brushing across the edge of the blanket.
Peaceful.
Safe.
Izana held that image for a moment.
Then he quietly opened the door.
And stepped out.
The door closed softly behind him.
Downstairs the mansion was already alive.
Staff moved quietly through the halls. Someone passed carrying a tray of coffee cups. The faint smell of breakfast drifted through the air.
Dante stood near the front entrance, leaning casually against the wall with his phone in his hand.
He glanced up when Izana approached.
"Morning, boss."
Izana nodded slightly.
"Morning."
Dante pushed himself off the wall.
"You look suspiciously calm today."
Izana walked past him.
"I'm always calm."
Dante followed with a small grin.
"Not when Leah is interrogating you."
Izana ignored the comment and stepped outside.
The morning air was cool.
Dante unlocked the car and they both got in.
A moment later the engine started.
They pulled away from the mansion and onto the road.
Traffic was beginning to build.
The city was waking up.
People walked along sidewalks. Shops opened their doors. Delivery trucks rumbled through intersections.
Dante drove with one hand resting casually on the wheel.
"So," he said after a moment.
Izana glanced out the window.
"Yes?"
"Today's the day."
Izana didn't respond immediately.
But he knew exactly what Dante meant.
"The ring," Dante continued.
"Yes."
Dante smirked.
"You nervous?"
"No."
"You definitely are."
"I'm not."
Dante chuckled quietly.
"Sure."
The car continued through the city.
Tall buildings passed by.
Streetlights blinked off as the sunlight grew brighter.
Within twenty minutes they arrived at the office building.
A few hours later.
The meeting room was filled with quiet conversation.
Several men sat around the long table reviewing documents and digital projections.
Izana sat at the head of the table.
Calm.
Listening.
One man finished explaining the final details of the shipment.
"We'll move the cargo through the northern port," he said carefully. "Security teams will rotate every six hours."
Izana rested his hand against the table.
"And the transport route?"
"Already secured."
Izana nodded once.
"Good."
The meeting ended shortly after.
Chairs scraped quietly against the floor as the men stood.
One of them bowed slightly toward Izana.
"We'll begin preparations immediately."
Izana stood.
"Do that."
The men left the room quickly.
Dante stretched slightly near the door.
"Well," he said. "No explosions today."
Izana walked past him.
"Let's keep it that way."
They headed for the elevator.
Dante glanced sideways at him.
"So."
Izana didn't look over.
"Yes?"
"Ring time."
Izana sighed faintly.
"Stop saying that."
Dante grinned.
"You're the one getting married again."
"We're already married."
"You know what I mean."
The elevator reached the ground floor.
They stepped outside into the busy afternoon.
The car ride across the city didn't take long.
Soon the familiar jewelry shop came into view.
Golden lights shimmered softly through the display windows.
Dante pulled the car to the curb.
"Well," he said.
"This is it."
Izana stepped out of the car.
The street was busy but calm.
Pedestrians moved along the sidewalk.
Cars rolled past slowly.
Nothing looked unusual.
Izana adjusted his coat and began walking toward the shop.
Behind him, Dante stayed near the car.
Watching the street casually.
Then—
Everything happened at once.
A dark van screeched to a stop beside Izana.
The side door slid open.
Two men jumped out.
Before Izana could react, strong hands grabbed him from behind.
A black bag was pulled over his head.
Darkness swallowed his vision.
They shoved him forward.
Dante's head snapped toward the sound.
"What the—."
He immediately pulled out his gun.
"HEY!"
He aimed directly at the men.
"Drop him!"
One of the kidnappers turned.
His gun fired instantly.
BANG.
Dante jerked backward.
Pain tore through his arm as the bullet grazed him.
"Shit—."
Blood quickly soaked into the sleeve of his jacket.
But Dante didn't drop his weapon.
He raised it again immediately.
But when he turned toward the van—
It was already moving.
The kidnappers shoved Izana inside.
The door slammed shut.
The van sped down the street.
Tires screeched against the asphalt.
Dante fired once.
BANG.
The shot missed.
The van disappeared around the corner.
Gone.
Dante stood there breathing heavily.
His arm throbbed where the bullet had grazed him.
Blood slowly dripped down toward his wrist.
People nearby had stopped walking.
Some stared in shock.
Others shouted in confusion.
But Dante ignored all of it.
His eyes stayed fixed on the empty street.
Izana was gone.
For a moment the world felt strangely quiet.
Then Dante pulled out his phone.
His voice was cold.
"Get everyone moving."
The man on the other end answered immediately.
"What happened?"
Dante's jaw tightened.
"They took him."
Silence.
Then:
"Who?"
Dante glanced down the street again.
"I don't know yet."
His grip tightened around the phone.
"But we're going to find out."
He ended the call.
His arm was still bleeding.
But he ignored the pain.
Because whoever had taken Izana had just made the worst mistake imaginable.
And Dante was going to make sure they paid for it.