The word lingered in the air.
Traitor.
It didn't belong in a place like this.
Not in the Romano penthouse.
Not among people who trusted each other with power, secrets… and survival.
And yet—
It felt real.
Too real.
Elena stood still, her fingers unconsciously brushing against the bracelet on her wrist.
A tracker.
A safeguard.
A mark.
Her gaze slowly lifted to Alessandro.
"If someone inside your circle is feeding him information…"
Her voice was steady.
"…then they've been watching me too."
Alessandro didn't deny it.
His silence was confirmation.
Adrian exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
"This changes everything."
"No," Alessandro said quietly.
"It clarifies everything."
Both Elena and Adrian looked at him.
His eyes were colder now.
Sharper.
Focused.
"This isn't random."
He stepped forward, his presence dominating the room.
"This is planned."
Elena crossed her arms.
"Which means whoever is helping him…"
"…is close to you."
Adrian nodded grimly.
"And trusted."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Because that narrowed things down.
A lot.
Alessandro turned toward Adrian.
"List."
Adrian froze slightly.
"You mean—"
"Everyone with access."
Adrian hesitated for a fraction of a second.
Then nodded.
"Alright."
He walked to the table and pulled up a secure file on his tablet.
"Inner circle only."
He began listing names.
"Senior security heads."
"Financial advisors."
"Personal staff."
"Elite guards."
Elena listened carefully.
Every name felt heavier than the last.
These weren't just employees.
They were people Alessandro trusted.
People who had been around for years.
People who knew his life inside out.
Adrian stopped.
"That's it."
Elena frowned.
"That's still a lot of people."
"Yes."
Alessandro's voice was calm.
"We narrow it down."
"How?" Elena asked.
He looked at her.
"By asking the right question."
Adrian tilted his head.
"Which is?"
Alessandro's gaze darkened.
"Who knew about Elena before the marriage?"
Silence.
Adrian blinked.
"…that's a much shorter list."
Elena felt a chill.
"Wait."
She stepped closer.
"You're saying only a few people knew about me before everything happened?"
"Yes."
Adrian nodded slowly.
"Very few."
Elena's mind started racing.
"Then whoever leaked information…"
"…had access before the wedding."
Alessandro nodded once.
"Exactly."
Adrian scrolled through the list again.
Then stopped.
"There are only three people."
The room went completely still.
"Three?" Elena asked.
"Yes."
"Who?"
Adrian hesitated.
Not because he didn't know.
But because saying it out loud…
Made it real.
He looked at Alessandro.
"You're not going to like this."
Alessandro's expression didn't change.
"Say it."
Adrian took a breath.
"Me."
Elena blinked.
"What?"
Adrian shrugged slightly.
"I had access to your background."
Elena frowned.
"That makes sense."
He nodded.
"Second…"
He paused.
"Head of security."
Alessandro nodded slightly.
"Continue."
Adrian hesitated again.
Just for a second longer this time.
Then—
"Third…"
His voice lowered.
"…your personal assistant."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable silence.
Elena slowly turned toward Alessandro.
"You have a personal assistant?"
"Yes."
"Where are they now?"
Alessandro didn't answer immediately.
Which was already an answer.
Adrian's voice dropped.
"They haven't reported in since yesterday."
The air shifted instantly.
Elena's heartbeat picked up.
"That's not suspicious at all."
Alessandro's jaw tightened.
"Name."
Adrian spoke quietly.
"Lena Kova."
Elena froze.
"What?"
Adrian looked at her.
"What is it?"
She shook her head slightly.
"That name…"
Her brows furrowed.
"It sounds familiar."
Alessandro's eyes narrowed.
"From where?"
Elena tried to remember.
Her mind digging through recent memories.
Then—
Her eyes widened slightly.
"The gala."
Both men looked at her.
"She was there."
Adrian frowned.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Elena nodded.
"I remember seeing her near Victor."
The room went silent.
Alessandro's voice turned deadly calm.
"She was supposed to be handling logistics."
Adrian's expression darkened.
"Instead, she was at the gala."
"And now she's missing."
Elena crossed her arms.
"That's not a coincidence."
No.
It wasn't.
Alessandro turned toward the window.
His reflection stared back at him.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
"Find her."
Adrian nodded immediately.
"I already started tracking."
"Faster."
"I'm on it."
Elena stepped closer.
"So she's the traitor?"
Adrian shook his head.
"Too soon to confirm."
"But highly suspicious."
Elena sighed.
"Of course."
Nothing in this situation was simple.
Nothing was clear.
Alessandro turned back toward them.
"Until we confirm…"
His voice was sharp.
"…no one is trusted."
Adrian nodded.
"Agreed."
Elena raised an eyebrow.
"Does that include me?"
Alessandro looked at her.
For a moment, his expression softened slightly.
"No."
She smirked faintly.
"Good answer."
Adrian suddenly spoke again.
"I've got something."
Both of them turned toward him.
"What?"
He enlarged a location on the screen.
"A signal."
"From her phone?"
"Yes."
Elena leaned closer.
"Where is she?"
Adrian's expression tightened.
"An abandoned warehouse district."
Alessandro's eyes darkened instantly.
"That's not good."
"No."
Elena looked between them.
"What does that mean?"
Adrian answered quietly.
"It means one of two things."
"What?"
"Either she's hiding…"
He paused.
"…or she's not alone."
Silence.
The tension in the room reached a new level.
Elena felt it in her chest.
This wasn't just about Marcus anymore.
This was bigger.
Messier.
More dangerous.
She looked at Alessandro.
"What's the plan?"
His answer came without hesitation.
"We go."
Adrian nodded.
"I'll prepare the team."
Elena stepped forward.
"I'm coming."
Both men looked at her.
"No," Alessandro said immediately.
She crossed her arms.
"Yes."
"It's too dangerous."
"So is everything else in your life."
He stepped closer.
"This isn't a debate."
She held his gaze.
"It is now."
Silence.
Tension.
Clashing wills.
Then—
Alessandro exhaled slowly.
"Stay close to me."
Elena smiled slightly.
"Always."
Outside, the night deepened.
The storm had passed.
But something darker was rising.
Because in the shadows of the city…
A traitor waited.
And possibly—
Marcus Virelli himself.