Chapter 7 - The Inside Job
Thiago stared at Mateo, the flashing lights of the fire trucks reflecting in his cold, furious eyes.
Someone inside his own multi-billion dollar company had just tried to assassinate him and destroy an entire hospital.
"Who had access to those specific chemicals?" Thiago demanded, his voice dangerously low.
"Only senior level executives in the engineering division," Mateo reported, wiping soot from his forehead.
Thiago’s mind raced, mentally calculating every single executive who stood to gain from his sudden death.
He realized the company’s recent aggressive expansion into the pharmaceutical logistics market had made many enemies, even among his own board of directors.
Cassie stood beside him, shivering in the cool night air despite the intense heat radiating from the burning building.
Thiago immediately took off his expensive, ruined suit jacket and draped it gently over her shoulders.
"Mateo, secure Cassandra and her father," Thiago ordered firmly. "Take them to the private safe house in upstate New York. Do not trust anyone else in the company with their location."
Cassie grabbed his arm, looking up at him with fierce determination.
"Where are you going?" she asked, her voice tight with worry.
"I have to go back to the corporate headquarters," Thiago stated grimly. "I need to find the rat before they try to strike again."
"No," Cassie argued stubbornly. "If someone on your board wants you dead, walking into that building alone is exactly what they expect you to do."
Thiago frowned, realizing she was absolutely right.
His corporate enemies would be waiting for him to blindly charge in seeking vengeance.
"She's right, Boss," Mateo agreed quickly. "You need to stay off the grid until we can verify who compromised the security protocols."
Thiago looked at Cassie, completely amazed by her ability to think clearly in the middle of a literal warzone.
"Fine," Thiago relented, his jaw clenched tight. "We all go to the safe house."
They rode in a heavily armored SUV for two hours, heading deep into the remote, forested mountains of upstate New York.
The safe house was a massive, modern fortress disguised as a rustic hunting lodge, complete with an independent power grid and reinforced steel walls.
Walter was comfortably settled into a luxurious guest room, heavily sedated and monitored by a private, trusted physician Mateo had arranged.
Cassie finally had a moment to breathe, standing alone in the massive kitchen, staring blankly out the bulletproof windows into the dark woods.
She was exhausted, terrified, and completely out of her depth in this world of billionaires and assassins.
Thiago walked quietly into the kitchen, having finally washed the soot and blood from his hands and face.
He was wearing simple black sweatpants and a tight t-shirt that highlighted his powerful, tattooed arms.
He looked completely different from the vulnerable man in the restaurant or the intimidating CEO in the suit.
He looked exhausted, yet incredibly handsome.
He poured two glasses of expensive whiskey and slid one across the granite counter toward her.
"I am so sorry I dragged you into this nightmare, Cassandra," Thiago said softly, leaning against the counter.
Cassie picked up the glass, taking a slow, burning sip.
"You didn't drag me anywhere, Thiago," Cassie replied honestly. "I chose to step in front of my manager for you. I chose to fix that generator. I'm not a victim."
Thiago smiled, a small, genuine expression of pure admiration.
"I have spent my entire life surrounded by people who only want my money, my power, or my name," Thiago confessed, his dark eyes locking onto hers.
"You are the first person to ever look at me and see just a man."
Cassie felt her heart flutter wildly in her chest, the intense connection between them undeniable.
"I saw a good man," Cassie whispered, stepping slightly closer to him.
Thiago reached out, his large, warm hand gently cupping the side of her face.
He leaned in slowly, giving her every opportunity to pull away.
Cassie didn't move an inch.
She closed her eyes as his lips softly, desperately crashed into hers.
The kiss was electric, fueled by the adrenaline and sheer terror they had just survived together.
It was a promise of safety, of passion, and of something incredibly real in a world full of lies.
Suddenly, the kitchen lights flickered and died, plunging the massive lodge into total darkness.
The heavy steel blast shutters automatically slammed down over the windows with a terrifying, metallic crash.
Thiago pulled away instantly, his romantic demeanor replaced entirely by lethal, terrifying focus.
He grabbed Cassie, pushing her behind the heavy granite kitchen island.
"Mateo!" Thiago roared into the darkness, drawing his weapon.
There was absolutely no answer from his trusted head of security.
May you like
Instead, a chillingly calm, familiar voice echoed from the shadowed hallway.
"Mateo can't hear you, Thiago," the voice sneered. "I'm afraid he had a sudden, fatal accident."
