The penthouse invasion had made one thing absolutely clear to Eric.
Improvisation was no longer enough.
For a few minutes, he stood by the panoramic window, watching the city.
The movement of the streets felt distant—
Almost irrelevant compared to what had happened the night before.
Fragments of the renovation were still scattered across the apartment:
Drywall panels.
Exposed wiring.
Furniture pushed aside.
The penthouse suddenly felt—
Too large to be safe.
Or too small for the kind of war that was beginning.
Behind him, Lucía organized documents across the improvised office desk.
Open folders.
Legal notes.
Printed reports.
For the past few days, she had been investigating something neither of them had truly addressed before.
Security.
Eric finally turned.
"We need to talk."
Lucía looked up.
"I figured you'd say that."
He walked over and sat across from her.
"I can't keep improvising. That attack made it clear."
She nodded slowly.
"I reached the same conclusion."
Lucía opened a folder and turned several documents toward him.
"I spent the last three days researching private security firms, retired tactical units, and…"
She paused.
"Corporate mercenaries."
Eric raised an eyebrow.
"Corporate mercenaries?"
"Companies that aren't technically military," she explained, "but operate exactly like military units."
She flipped another page.
"Most of them are useless."
"Why?"
"Because they work public contracts—event security, executive escorts…"
She looked straight at him.
"You need something different."
Eric crossed his arms.
"So what did you find?"
Lucía took a breath.
"First, let's eliminate one option."
She pushed a report aside.
"The group suggested by Prince Amir."
Eric frowned.
"Why?"
"Because anything tied to someone we barely know can become a bigger problem than the last group you hired."
Eric didn't argue.
She wasn't wrong.
"So who?" he asked.
Lucía turned another page.
At the top:
Black Fox.
Eric read it slowly.
"Black Fox?"
"Yes."
She crossed her arms.
"A private operations group active between Eastern Europe and Turkey."
"Security?"
"More than that."
She continued:
"They don't advertise. Don't take public contracts. Don't show up at corporate events."
"Then what do they do?"
"Small missions."
She leaned forward.
"Strategic protection."
Eric tilted his head.
"And their reputation?"
"Efficiency."
Silence settled between them.
"What makes them reliable?" Eric asked.
Lucía hesitated for a second.
"They hate Emir's group."
Eric blinked.
"Explain."
She opened another document.
"Years ago, there was an operation in the Middle East."
She slid a photo across.
"Black Fox and Emir's group ended up on opposite sides."
Eric studied it.
"And the result?"
"Bloody."
She closed the file.
"Since then, there's been open rivalry."
Eric leaned back.
"So you think they'd work with me?"
"I already contacted them."
Eric raised his eyebrows.
"You already did?"
"Yes."
She showed him her phone.
"The reply took a few hours."
"And?"
She turned the screen.
The message was short:
"If Emir betrayed you, we are interested."
Eric read it silently.
A chill ran down his spine.
This wasn't just protection.
It was alignment.
Conflict.
Eric rubbed his face.
"Every decision pushes us toward a bigger war."
Lucía didn't disagree.
"That's probably because that's exactly where we're heading."
He thought for a moment.
Then said:
"We need to leave this penthouse."
She nodded immediately.
"Agreed."
"As soon as possible."
Eric continued:
"Find another property."
"Already working on it."
"I want something large. Discreet. Defensible."
"I know."
"And fast."
Lucía smiled faintly.
"I've noticed 'fast' has become your favorite word."
A brief silence followed.
Then she looked at him differently.
"Can I ask something?"
"Depends."
"Which one of us are you planning to marry?"
Eric blinked.
"What?"
She rested her chin on her hand.
"You live with two women."
"You protect two women."
"You risk your life for two women."
She smiled teasingly.
"That's basically a marriage already."
She paused.
"Except for one detail."
The silence that followed was awkward.
Eric stared at her.
"You're impossible."
"I'm realistic."
He laughed quietly.
"Let's change the subject."
"Great idea."
"What properties did you find?"
Lucía turned the laptop toward him.
Photos appeared:
Remote mansions.
Large estates surrounded by land.
Discreet properties outside the city.
"And the payment?" Eric asked.
She crossed her arms.
"Some owners will accept partial payment in gold."
He nodded.
"Perfect."
She raised a finger.
"But I'd prefer not to know where that gold comes from."
Eric smiled slightly.
"It's legitimate."
She sighed.
"I sincerely hope so."
They spent the afternoon reviewing properties—
Photos, blueprints, security layouts.
The sunlight slowly faded.
At some point, Eric noticed something.
Lucía was exhausted.
Her eyes were tired.
Her shoulders tense.
She was running purely on willpower.
Eric closed the laptop.
"Let's eat."
She looked up.
"Now?"
"Yes."
She checked the time.
"It's past ten."
"Even better."
She frowned.
"After everything… you think going out is a good idea?"
Eric shrugged.
"We have escort."
"Escort?"
"Two police cars."
She froze.
"What?"
"They've been following me all day."
Lucía looked furious.
"You didn't think that was important to mention?!"
Eric smiled slightly.
"I considered it free private security."
She grabbed a paper from the table.
"I should hit you with this."
He raised his hands.
"Let's eat first."
She exhaled.
"You're impossible."
Eric grabbed his coat.
"Let's go."
He hesitated for a second.
Maybe he should invite Elena.
But then he remembered the past weeks.
Lucía's silent effort.
Her exhaustion.
Maybe it was time to give her some attention too.
He opened the door.
"Come on, counselor."
She picked up her coat slowly.
"I hope you know I'm doing this against my better judgment."
Eric smiled.
"That's why you're a great lawyer."
And for the first time in days—
They left the penthouse without talking about death or mercenaries.
Just two young people—
Going out for a good meal.
Even if only for a few hours.