Bound to the calloway's heir

SIENNA.

The scarred-faced man's words echoed in my head, his gravelly voice looping like a broken record of how he wanted the fund brought to the choice warehouse, alone. I sat in the back seat, staring out the tinted window. I rested a palm over my stomach that had not stopped churning, triggering a cold sweat at the back of my neck. I wasn't naive enough to believe the dangerous cartel would just take the money and walk away, leaving me and Zane in peace. Trusting them would be the death of me.

Belinda's voice pulled me back to the car. "So, Jason, you ever get tired of playing chauffeur for this one?" She jerked her thumb toward me. "I mean, don't get me wrong, Sienna's great, but all this brooding must get sickening, right?"

Jason's hands tightened on the steering wheel, and he glanced at her through the rearview mirror, his lips twitching in what might have been a smile. "She's my job, not a friend," he said, smartly dodging her questions. "I am used to it."

Belinda laughed, a sound that filled the car, but it barely touched me. I pressed my forehead against the cool glass of the window, my breath fogging it. All I could see was the scarred-faced man's cold eyes, the way they had locked onto mine in the café, sizing me up like I was a puzzle he had already solved. The memory sent a shiver down my spine, causing my heart to beat faster.

"You okay back there, Sienna?" Belinda's voice softened, her head turning slightly to glance at me. Her eyes were sparkling with concern. "You're quieter than usual, and that's saying something."

I forced a smile, my lips stiff. "Just tired. Didn't know that chat would drain me this much."

She raised an eyebrow, "Still don't want to tell me what he wants?"

"No," I said curtly. Belinda shook her head, clearly not buying it, but Jason spoke before she could press me. "You sure you don't want to head straight to the penthouse?" he asked, his eyes flicking to mine in the rearview mirror. "Zane will be expecting you."

The mention of Zane sent a pang through me. I pictured him in his office, leaning back in his chair, his dark eyes tracking my every move.

"Take us to the office instead," I said. "I need to grab some things."

Jason's brow furrowed, but he nodded, merging into the next lane without a word. Belinda turned fully in her seat now, her eyes narrowing as she stared at me. "You've been acting all weird since we left the café."

I shifted, my fingers tightening around the edge of my seat. "Nothing's going on," I said, meeting her gaze. "Just some paperwork I forgot to file."

She snorted, folding her arms. "You're a terrible liar, you know that?"

I touched my nose instinctively, then dropped my hand, heat creeping up my cheeks. "I'm fine," I insisted.

Belinda's lips parted, ready to argue, "But..."

"Can we drop it?" I snapped at her.

She caught the look in my eyes and sighed, turning back to face the front. "Fine. But you're gonna spill eventually, Sienna. I'm not letting you sulk forever."

The car fell quiet, save for the soft hum of the radio and the occasional honk from the street outside. Belinda started up after a few minutes, asking Jason questions about his job, his training, even his taste in music. He answered with short, clipped responses, his eyes flicking to the mirrors in alert.

While they talked, I was grateful for the space to sink back into my thoughts. The idea of walking into that warehouse, surrounded by men who would kill without hesitation, made my stomach lurch. What was to stop them from taking the drive and putting a bullet in my head? Or worse, coming after Zane once they had what they wanted? I wasn't a fool. I had grown up in the shadow of my father's world, even if I hadn't known it at the time. Trusting the cartel was like trusting a wolf not to bite when you dangled meat in front of it.

But what choice did I have? If I told Zane, he would lock me down and take over, maybe even confront the cartel himself. And that would mean war and more blood, bodies and, chaos that had already cost us Noah, still fighting for his life in a hospital bed. I couldn't let that happen. I needed to end this my way, to prove to Zane I could stand with him and not just cower behind him. I needed him to see me as an equal, not a burden. But the fear was there too, knowing that I was probably walking into a trap.

Belinda laughed at something Jason said, but there was an edge to it, like she was trying to keep the mood light for my sake. She glanced back at me. "You sure you're okay, Sienna?"

I forced a smile. "I'm fine," I said.

The car slowed as we pulled into the office building's underground garage and Jason parked, the engine cutting off with a soft click.

I reached for the door handle. I smiled at Belinda as we stepped out. I wrapped my arms around myself as we headed for the elevator.

I was terrified of what was waiting for me in that warehouse, but I was more scared of losing Zane. I had to do this to find a way to end it without either of us getting hurt.

The elevator doors slid open, and we stepped inside, my finger hovering over the button for the top floor. My heart pounded, my breath shallow, but I pressed it anyway, the doors closing with a soft thud. Then I straightened, steadying my shaky hands. I was Sienna Ellison, my father's daughter, and I wasn't running anymore.

Z ֍ A ֍ N ֍ E

ZANE

I leaned against my desk with my arms crossed, trying to keep my face blank as Sienna stepped out of the elevator with Belinda and Jason behind her. The sight of her commanding presence hit me like a fist to the chest.

Her dark hair spilling over her shoulders, bouncing with each step she took closer to me. It slightly brushed the curve of her chest in a way that made my pulse spike. Her fitted jacket hugged her body, and the way her jeans clung to her hips sent a jolt through me. As always, my body was reacting lustfully as my eyes settled over the rise and fall of her boobs as she walked. My dick started to grow bigger in a way that was both infuriating and embarrassing.

I shifted my weight, staying behind the desk, grateful for the barrier that hid the evidence of my erection. The last thing I needed was her friend, Belinda's eyes to catch on, and turn this into a joke. I gripped the edge of the desk with my hands as I fought to keep my focus, but Sienna's sexy presence was pulling my thoughts into dangerous territory.

Inside, I was torn between the promise I had made to my brothers, who had demanded I handle Sienna, and the way my blood heated every time she was near. That photo Damian had tossed on my desk, her sitting across from the scarred-faced man in that café, and I kept asking the same questions. Why was she there? What was she hiding?

"I would have expected to see the entire LA up here. Belinda asked, looking around. "Belinda" Sienna started, but Belinda continued,

"This place is like a tomb tonight," she said, her red curls bouncing as she scanned the empty floor. "What's with the lockdown vibe, Zane? Are you hiding state secrets or something?"

I forced a smile, pushing off the desk, but staying behind it, my body was not relaxed enough. "Security protocol," I said, "After the bomb blast, I'm not taking chances. Top floor is off-limits without clearance."

Sienna's eyes met mine, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe. She looked calm, but there was a tightness in her jaw that made my chest ache. I wanted to cross the room, pull her aside and demand answers about the cartel and the drive. I needed her to tell me about all the secrets she was keeping. But I couldn't, not with Belinda watching and Jason standing by the elevator.

Belinda tilted her head, her lips curving into a grin. "Well, Mr. Security, how about a tour? I want to see what makes this place tick."

I glanced at Sienna, expecting her to protest, but she just shook her head, " Perfect, I've got work to do anyway," she said, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. "You two go ahead."

My gut twisted with suspicion, flaring at her words. Was she staying back to hack into my systems? Or was it something else tied to that drive and the cartel? I wanted to ask why she had agreed without argument but Belinda was already moving, her heels clicking as she headed toward the conference room, expecting me to follow. I nodded at Sienna, "Jason's at the door. Don't go anywhere without him."

"Got that already, Sir" She nodded, her eyes darting away, and I turned to follow Belinda. I could feel her gaze lingering on my back, and I fought the urge to turn around, to see if she was watching me or already slipping into my office to do God-knows-what.

Belinda's chatter filled the air as we walked through the conference room while she kept dropping her questions about the company.

I answered absentmindedly since my mind was elsewhere. We reached the server room and Belinda stopped placing her hands on her hips. "Okay, Zane, enough with the tour-guide act," she said. "What's going on with you and Sienna?"

I froze at my spot for a moment, then leaned against the wall, crossing my arms. "What're you talking about?" I asked, hoping I sounded as blank as I wanted.

She sighed. "Don't play dumb. I saw the way you looked at her back there, like you were torn between kissing her and locking her in a vault. She's scared, Zane. Really scared. Whatever she's tangled up in with those cartel guys, it's eating her alive."

My chest tightened, my hands curling into fists in my pockets. "She told you about the cartel?" I asked.

Belinda nodded. "Not everything. She's too stubborn for that. But I was there, Zane. I saw her in that café, talking to that guy with the scar. She was trying to act tough, but I know her. She's terrified. And she's trying to handle it alone because she thinks she has to."

"Why's she doing it?" I asked. "Why's she meeting them behind my back?"

Belinda stepped closer, her voice fierce now. "Because she loves you, you idiot. She's trying to fix whatever mess she's in so you don't have to. She thinks if she can handle it, you'll trust her, see her as more than just a burden. But she's in over her head, Zane. She's always looked after herself, but this time? She might not make it out."

My breath caught, her words slicing through me. Had I hurt her? Had my distance and suspicion pushed her to this?

"You think I don't know she's in danger?" I snapped. "The cartel's coming for us, Belinda, If Sienna's working with them, if she's betraying us..."

"She's not," Belinda cut in. "You don't know her like I do. She's loyal, Zane. To you. To whatever you two have. But she's scared, and she's trying to prove something. You need to talk to her, figure out what she's doing before she gets herself killed."

I ran a hand through my hair. "And if she's lying and playing us all?"

Belinda's eyes softened, but her voice didn't waver. "Then you'll deal with it. But don't assume the worst just because you're scared too. She loves you, Zane even after you laughed it off when she told you."

I felt a wave of guilt wash over me as Belinda continued to talk about Sienna's love for me. I had been cold and distant to her lately, letting my suspicions build a wall between us. Had she gone to Belinda because I had pushed her away? The thought made my chest ache,

"We need to get back," I said, turning toward the office. "Before she starts wondering."

Belinda nodded, falling into step beside me. "Promise me you'll keep an eye on her, Zane. Don't let her do this alone."

I nodded at her. "I will," I said, the words a vow I wasn't sure I could keep. I had promised the brotherhood I would handle her. Time was running out, and I had to choose between keeping her safe and keeping Atlas standing.

SIENNA.

I set my bag down, my hands trembling as I pulled out my laptop and the USB drive. The second, they were gone. Zane's scent lingered in the air, making my breath hitch, the weight of what I was about to do pressing down on me.

I plugged the drive into my laptop, the screen flickering to life as the encrypted files loaded. My hands shook as I typed in the passcode we had cracked days ago. I was not surprised to find the fund there in an offshore account, hidden behind layers of shell companies and fake names. It was the figure that shocked me.

The cartel wanted it, and I could give it to them, but only if I had a plan. My eyes darted to the door every few seconds, half-expecting Jason to barge in or Zane to return too soon. But I pushed it down, focusing on the numbers shifting as I moved the funds into the new account bit by bit.

The process was slow but I couldn't rush it. One slip, and the cartel would know and Zane would find out before I was ready. I couldn't let that happen. The decoy drive was my backup plan. I grabbed a blank USB from the desk drawer, identical to the first one Travis had copied the file into. I needed the blank USB containing the dummy files to hand it over at the warehouse, and buy myself time. If the cartel took the bait, I could disappear with the real funds and keep Zane safe.

"If they didn't..." I swallowed hard, my hands pausing over the keyboard. That would mean I would be dead before dawn.

I exhaled, my fingers moving faster now, the transfers nearly complete. I opened a folder of random documents, copying old spreadsheets, meeting notes, anything that looked official enough to pass a quick glance. My fingers worked in steady glides, but inside, I was scared of what awaited me.

The transfers finished with a soft ping, and I leaned back, taking long breaths. The funds were safe, hidden in an account only I could access. The decoy drive was ready, its files convincing enough to fool the cartel for a few hours, maybe a day. I unplugged both drives, slipping the real one back into my pocket and tucking the decoy into my bag.

The door swung open, and I flinched, my hand flying to my bag to cover the decoy drive. Zane stepped in, Belinda trailing behind him, her voice bright as she gestured at the office. "This place is insane, Sienna," she said, her eyes wide. "You didn't tell me Zane's got a whole command center up here. It's like something out of a spy movie."

Zane's gaze settled on me and my stomach dropped as I noticed he was acting differently. His eyes flicked to my laptop before meeting mine. "Everything okay?" he asked,

I nodded, my throat tight. "Just finishing up," I said, closing my laptop with a soft click. My fingers brushed the decoy drive in my bag, and I forced a smile, hoping it looked natural. "Got what I needed."

Belinda plopped into a chair, her legs swinging over the armrest. "You're such a workaholic," she teased. "What's so important it couldn't wait till tomorrow?"

I shrugged. "Just tying up loose ends," I said. Zane's eyes lingered on me, and for a moment, I thought he was going to push for answers I wasn't ready to give. But he just nodded.

"Jason's waiting. "You should head out," he said.

I stood, Belinda hopped up, linking her arm with mine as we headed for the door. "Come on, Sienna," she said. "Let's get you home before you turn into a zombie."

"Okay."

Belinda's phone beeped and she pulled it out of her pocket to check it out. "Oh shoot! I have to drop by our place. Need to be at work in the morning." Belinda squealed, reluctantly taking her eyes off the screen.

"Okay. Sure you don't want to just come with us?"

"I will be fine. I trust Zane to keep you fed and safe. Don't worry about me, okay," Belinda said.

I glanced back at Zane, his eyes on me but distant. When it was over, I would tell him everything and pray he would understand and still look at me like I was his.