Page 61 of Forged

Whatever Enzo says next drains the color from Lars’ face.

“Fuck,” he breathes. “The file too?”

I sit up straighter, my heart starting to pound.

“That was restricted,” Lars continues. “Only five people had access to?—”

He stops, eyes closing briefly as something clicks into place.

“Gallo,” he says. “So let me get this straight. He questioned Zara when you introduced her, played loyal long enough to stay useful, and now he vanishes with intel on a planned hit inside Falco territory?”

Another pause.

“Do you think he sold it or was he working for someone?”

Lars drags a hand through his hair. “We fucking vetted him. He was part of our crew for three years.”

His voice hardens, something cold and dangerous settling in. “If Gallo handed Falco that file, then Falco knows our timing, our routes, and who we were willing to sacrifice to make the point.”

He stops pacing, turning toward the window like he’s looking miles away.

“Neomi was followed today. We have the man in custody with the Saints and he’s connected to Falco. Fuck, Enzo…this isn’t a coincidence. We’re not safe here.She’snot safe.”

Lars stares out the window, listening and nodding while he runs his hand through his hair.

“I’ll come back to Chicago,” he says. “Tonight.”

A spark of panic runs through me.

“I’ll handle it,” Lars continues. “I want twenty men assigned to me when I get there. Gallo has too much family in Chicago to go very far.”

He listens for another few seconds, then nods once. “Yeah, this is priority now. I’ll have Cash and Hale keep eyes on Sera.”

He ends the call and stands there for a moment, phone still in his hand, shoulders squared like he’s already bracing for impact.

“Lars? Is everything okay?” I say quietly.

He turns, crossing the space between us in two strides. He drops to his knees in front of me again, hands on my legs, his gaze lifting to mine.

“We’re leaving tonight.” He exhales, eyes darting between mine. “Please tell me you’re okay with that.”

I look into his eyes, now filled with so much worry and I wonder how I could tell him no. Part of me worries that once we go to Chicago, I’ll be held under watchful eyes in the name of protection. I know deep down that my life will change if I follow him. Hell, my life has already changed. A million scenarios run through my mind of what a life there will look like with him.

But I also see the care, the devotion, and the bone deep worry in his eyes. He wants to protect me, provide for me, and keep me. There’s a small voice inside that tells me to say yes, that I will never feel the way I feel for him with another man. It whispers that this is my chance at love, no matter how fucked up it might look from the outside.

I can’t leave him.

I nod once. “I’m okay with it, Lars. I travel to make my living, remember? A different city doesn’t matter. Just tell me why I’m not safe.”

His hand moves to the back of my neck. “Falco is as unhinged as they come. He has a track record of using women and putting them in danger to get what he wants, and I need you where you can be properly protected. Where I know you’ll be safe.”

He’s still kneeling between my legs, and I take his face in my hands. Gently, I place a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

“I don’t know what you’ve done to me, Lars Marchetti, but I trust you. If Chicago is where we need to be, then we’ll go.”

The elevator opensto the floor of my Chicago penthouse, and I feel the relief of being home sink into my bones. I step out first, scanning the entry before I let Neomi follow.

Two men are already positioned in the private corridor outside. Another rotation downstairs in the lobby and around the perimeter. Everything was organized while we were in the air.