Lorena led me inside the villa, the heavy oak doors closing behind us with a soft thud. The air smelled of aged wood, expensive perfume, and the faint aroma of spiced tea. The interior was grand—high ceilings, polished marble floors, antique furniture that spoke of generations of wealth and power.
A woman—elegant, poised, with silver-streaked hair pinned back—turned at the sound of our footsteps. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Lorena. "Lorena, mi hija," she said, her voice warm, motherly. "Come, have some tea?"
"Mom. Dad." Lorena nodded, her voice cool, but there was a flicker of something softer in her eyes—affection, respect, a hint of the girl she must’ve been before the world hardened her.
I stood just behind her, silent, observant, taking in the room—the power dynamics, the unspoken rules, the way Lorena’s parents held themselves like royalty.
Arturo Hernández—Lorena’s father—turned in his high-backed leather chair, setting down the documents he’d been reading. His gaze locked onto me, sharp, assessing, the eyes of a man who knew power when he saw it.
"You must be Jack," he said, his voice deep, commanding, but not unfriendly. "Come. Sit."
Lorena took a seat beside me, her posture straight and confident, but I noticed the way her fingers tightened slightly around the armrest. Her mother poured me a cup of tea, the steam rising in delicate curls, the scent rich and earthy. "Thank you," I said, taking the cup, my voice polite, but my eyes never left Arturo.
He took a sip of his tea, his gaze never wavering from mine. "So, young man..." he began, his voice measured, calculating.
"My daughter showed me the case file..." He set his cup down, his fingers tapping lightly against the saucer.
"And I agree—it is beneficial to Lorena’s career..." His eyes narrowed slightly, studying me like a predator sizing up prey. "But what I don’t understand..." His voice dropped, colder, sharper. "Is what’s in it for you."
I took a slow sip of my tea, letting the silence stretch, letting him wait. "Officer Sarah," I said, my voice smooth, unhurried, "is my girlfriend." My eyes met his, unflinching, unapologetic. "Diaz tried to put his hands on her." My voice dropped to a growl, dark, dangerous. "So I helped him cut them off."
Arturo’s eyes flashed, not with shock, but with something darker—respect, maybe, or the recognition of a kindred spirit. "Mr. Jack," he said, his voice arrogant, challenging, "aren’t you afraid to confess something like that... in front of the Chief Justice?"
I chuckled, low, dark, unfazed. "I’m not afraid," I said, my voice calm, but my eyes burned with something feral. "Of anything." I leaned forward, my gaze locked onto his. "Not laws. Not cops. Not judges." My lips curved into a sly smile. "Especially not men who think they’re untouchable... until they’re not."
Arturo studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he nodded, almost approvingly. "You have balls, Jack," he said, his voice dry, but there was a hint of something like respect in it.
"But balls alone won’t keep you alive in this world." He paused, his gaze flicking to Lorena, then back to me. "You understand that, don’t you?"
I didn’t flinch. "I understand power," I said, my voice low, dangerous. "And I understand enemies." My eyes flicked to Lorena, then back to Arturo. "But I also understand allies."
Lorena’s mother shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her gaze flicking between us, sensing the tension, the unspoken threat hanging in the air. "Arturo..." she murmured, her voice gentle, but firm. "Perhaps we should discuss this later..."
Arturo waved a hand, dismissive, but his eyes never left mine. "No, mi amor," he said, his voice smooth, but his gaze was sharp, calculating. "I want to hear what Jack has to say." He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers.
"You want revenge for Sarah..." His voice dropped, colder, more dangerous. "But revenge is a dish best served with precision... Not recklessness."
I smirked. "I’m very precise," I said, my voice smooth, but my eyes burned with something dark. "Ask Diaz."
Lorena exhaled sharply, her fingers clenching the armrest. "Jack..." she murmured, her voice a warning, but her eyes betrayed her—gleaming with something wild, something hungry.
Arturo chuckled, a low, dark sound, almost approving. "You have a way with words, Jack," he said, his gaze flicking to Lorena, then back to me. "But words won’t save you if you cross the wrong people."
"Neither will fear," I replied, my voice calm, but my eyes burned with something feral. "But power? Power will."
Arturo studied me for a long moment, then nodded, almost respectfully. "You may be right," he said, his voice measured. "But power is a double-edged sword..." His eyes flicked to Lorena. "And my daughter is not a pawn in your games."
"I would never treat her as one," I said, my voice firm, unwavering, my gaze locked onto his. "She’s smart. Strong. Capable." My lips curved into a smirk. "And if she chooses to stand beside me..." I paused, my eyes burning into his. "Then she knows exactly what she’s getting into."
Lorena’s mother cleared her throat, her voice gentle but firm. "Enough, Arturo," she said, her gaze flicking between us. "Lorena is a grown woman. She can make her own choices."
Arturo exhaled sharply, but he nodded reluctantly. "You’re right, mi amor," he said, his voice softer, but his eyes never left mine.
"But Jack..." His voice dropped, dangerous, warning. "If you hurt my daughter... If you betray her..." His gaze burned into mine. "I will destroy you."
I met his gaze, unflinching, unapologetic. "I would expect nothing less," I said, my voice calm, but my eyes burned with something dark, something promising. "But you don’t have to worry..." My gaze flicked to Lorena, then back to Arturo. "Because I protect what’s mine."
Lorena’s breath hitched, her dark eyes locked onto me, gleaming with something wild, something hungry, something free.
Arturo studied me for a long moment, then nodded, almost approvingly. "We’ll see, Jack," he said, his voice measured, but his eyes held a warning. "We’ll see."