Mixed blood

chapter 25: He knows

Luana stormed into the estate, her frustration evident in every step. She dropped her coat onto the nearest chair and rubbed her temples, pacing in the hallway.

The encounter with the Yakuza leader had been exhausting, and the hacker's stubborn silence wasn't helping.

William, seated on the couch with his laptop, noticed her agitation immediately. He set it aside and leaned forward, studying her.

"Rough day?" he asked casually.

She shot him a glare. Of course he noticed. William never missed a chance to poke at my temper.

"Nothing I can't handle."

He smirked, standing up and closing the distance between them. "Come on, Luana. Don't forget, we're partners now. You can tell me about the mafia-maybe I can help."

Her head snapped toward him, his words triggering a memory of his father's smug expression when he'd said she wasn't fit to uphold her father's legacy. His insinuation had been clear: she'd need William's help to lead.

"I don't need help. Especially not from you."

Stubborn as ever, he thought, but there was something fascinating about how fiercely she guarded her independence.

William raised his hands in mock surrender, a faint chuckle escaping his lips. "Alright, message received. But give it time he'll talk eventually."

He knows.

Her eyes narrowed, suspicion flaring. "How do you know that?"

"Know what?"

"Everything. Do you have someone spying on me?"

"Relax! No spies. It's called reports. You know our 'partnership'? Our mafias exchange information. Sound familiar?"

Reports. Operations. The partnership. It felt more like a leash tightening around her neck. The idea of reporting her moves, her plans... It was unbearable.

This partnership sounds like submission.

She looked away, already strategizing. Maybe I'll take one of the unused warehouses. Relocate. Start making my operations completely off the books. He doesn't need to know everything.

Breaking the tense silence, she muttered, "I can't wait for him to talk. They could attack at any moment."

"You'll figure it out, honey bun. I know you will. Just take a breath and think clearly. You're capable of more than you realize."

His calm assurance disarmed her, even if she didn't want to admit it. She hesitated before asking, "You're not going to force your ideas on me, are you?"

He shook his head. "I never wanted to force anything on you. This is your mafia, your legacy. I have no intention of interfering unless you ask me to."

His sincerity caught her off guard, her defenses wavering. For a moment, she felt... supported.

"Thanks."

"And Luana," he said, his tone light but carrying just enough weight to catch her attention. "Just remember... if you ever find yourself in trouble, if things get too much to handle, you've got a husband on your back."

Her eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, she wasn't sure if she'd heard him correctly. "A... husband on my back?" she repeated, trying to mask the faint blush creeping up her neck.

William chuckled, the deep sound filling the room. "You know, someone who can carry some of that weight if you let him. Someone who's got your back when you're ready to drop it all."