THE TEMPTRESS

||Surveiling||

•STEPHANIE•

I parked the car at the curb and grabbed my binoculars from the backseat. Adjusting the earpiece, I peered through the binoculars at the mansion.

"Nico, come in." I heard some shuffling before Nico's voice crackled in my ear.

"I'm in position. What's your status?"

I scanned the area, counting the guards around the mansion. No sign of Luca, but the tight security confirmed he was home.

Nico, my trusted ally from Steven's inner circle and an ex-Navy SEAL was with me. We were discreetly surveilling Luca's house today. We've been doing this for weeks now, just doing the normal routine.

I relayed the guard count to Nico. "Ten guards in total. Two patrolling outside, three inside, and five around the house. What have you got?"

"I've got eyes on Luca in the East wing with three guards. Two on the second floor, one on the West wing." 

I switched to the iPad, pulling up live footage from Nico's viewpoint. Luca was indeed inside.

Today wasn't our day to strike; we were maintaining our routine surveillance to check if there were any changes. Luca's guards rotated every three hours, with new shifts at eight in the evening. He hadn't left his mansion for weeks, except for a mysterious visitor every Friday. I hadn't investigated him yet, but Friday's visits with Luca meant he was up to something no good.

My phone buzzed with a text from Kaden, wanting to meet at a hotel. Every message like this spiked my anxiety. I feared he'd discovered my secret, although nothing indicated that yet.

I jumped in surprise when Nico hopped back in the car, tossing his sunglasses on the dashboard. 

"Did you check the footage?"

"I did. Nothing new, but we'll keep watching him closely. I have a feeling he's planning something."

Nico raised an eyebrow. "The mystery Friday guy again?"

I nodded, starting the car. "Yeah. I need to figure him out before making my move. If he's a threat, he needs to be dealt with."

Nico chuckled. "You know, Steven could handle him. Let him clear the path while you focus on your mission for Luca."

I let out a small sigh and glanced at him.

"I know. But he knows I can handle it on my own. I don't need his help."

The car fell silent as we continued driving.

"He's worried about you, you know. He might not show it often, but we all see it," Nico said.

I nodded, already aware of Steven's concern, even without Nico reminding me.

Steven and I had never been close, despite the thirteen years I spent under his protection and training. He wasn't a father figure, and we both accepted that.

I didn't need him to suddenly act like a father. But I did need his cooperation for our plan to work.

So, if Steven was worried, it meant he was concerned about the plan, not about me.

"Where do you want me to take you?" I asked Nico, and he turned his head sharply.

"Where are you headed?"

"Blue Shine Hotel."

He made a teasing sound.

"Meeting up with the fake boyfriend, huh?" I rolled my eyes at him.

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Then what is he?"

"A pawn in the game. I need to keep him close to get to Luca. Simple."

"Whatever you say." He retorted playfully.

I turned the car left and pulled up by the sidewalk.

"Get out. You can find your way home from here."

Nico narrowed his eyes at me, unbuckling his seatbelt.

"Gee, thanks a lot, partner. Way to abandon a friend who just did you a favor."

I scoffed. "There was no favor. What the fuck are you on about?"

He shrugged, flipping me his middle finger before shutting the door.

I chuckled in amusement before getting back on the highway, heading to Blue Shine Hotel to meet up with Kaden.

Let's see what this is about now.