Bound to the calloway's heir

ZANE.

I stood in the heart of the showroom, the vast space echoing with an unnatural quiet that felt both luxurious and isolating. The air carried the faint scent of fresh polish on the marble floors and the subtle floral notes from the display cases, where diamonds glittered under strategically placed spotlights like stars trapped in glass. The entire building had been locked down the moment our convoy pulled up; my security teams had swept every floor and sealed off entrances.

Sienna moved beside me with that graceful stride of hers, her hair flowing over one shoulder, her hand slipping into mine as we approached the ring display. Her warm touch sent a storm brewing inside me.

Belinda followed beside us, her eyes wide with genuine delight, chattering endlessly about the planner's suggestions.

I squeezed Sienna's hand, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach the worry lines etching my face. The rings sparkled before us, each one a promise of forever, but my mind couldn't stop wandering if to the brotherhood that had been my foundation for years could stand the test of the ongoing chaos. The cartel couldn't afford weakness, not now.

Sienna's voice pulled me back, teasing as she pointed to a ring. A platinum band with an emerald-cut diamond flanked by sapphires. "This one, Zane. Strikes as bold and unbreakable. Like us."

I lifted her hand, sliding the ring onto her finger. Her eyes met mine, that mix of love and fire that had drawn me to her from the start, and for a moment, the worries receded.

"Like us," I murmured, my thumb tracing the band. "Can't imagine anyone else wearing it."

Belinda winked from the side, clapping her hands lightly, her delight as pure as her smile. "You two are too romantic! Sienna, it looks perfect. Try the matching earrings, oh, and the planner mentioned those pre-wedding bracelets.

Sienna laughed, leaning into me, her body fitting against mine like it always did, a perfect puzzle piece. "Okay Bel, let's see them."

While Sienna and Belinda were focused on the staff bringing out the trays of pre-wedding engraved cufflinks for me and a delicate anklet for her, the showroom's quietness amplified the knot in my gut. I stepped back slightly, pulling my phone from my pocket. "Excuse me for a sec," I said.

I needed to reach Noah; the cartel was dividing. My fingers dialed his main line, the ringtone buzzing in my ear as I paced the hallway.

No answer. I tried the burner line, too; it was dead. Was he pulling away? The empire needed him.

Begrudgingly, I scrolled to Damian's number. I still had not been able to overlook his overstepping the boundary by dating Ava, but I needed answers. I dialed him

The call connected, his voice coming through laced with the same rudeness I had picked up since our fight. "What now, Zane? Another lecture on family lines?"

I gripped the phone tighter, and lowered my voice to avoid drawing Sienna's attention. "Cut the bullshit, Damian. Noah's lines are down even the burners. Where is he? And we still need to talk about Ava..."

He interrupted quickly. "There you go again, like a broken record. Ava's my choice, Zane. Yours is to accept it or lose me. We're done talking about anything, not until you see reason with that."

The line went dead before I could snap back, the click echoing in my ear like a door slamming on our brotherhood.

Frustration boiled over me, I balled my free hand into a fist as I stared at the blank screen, the reflection of my tense face staring back. The cartel was fracturing, since my brothers had chosen to defy me when unity was our only strength. I couldn't let it fall. Atlas was the legacy protecting all of us.

I called the one I knew would stand firm among the brothers, Liam. He answered on the second ring. "Zane? What's the play?"

"I need you back in LA," I said, "Things are dividing. I cannot get hold of Noah and, Damian's pushing back. We need to deal with this now, together."

Liam paused, then said "Shit. On it. Private jets are always on standby anyway. I would be there by dawn. I have got your back, brother. Hang tight."

The call ended and I felt a thread of relief loosening the knot in my chest. Liam would come through; he always did.

I pocketed the phone, forcing the worries down as I rejoined Sienna and Belinda at the bracelet display. Sienna glanced up, her eyes softening as she read the tension in my posture. She slipped her hand into mine, her fingers intertwining with a gentle squeeze. "Everything okay, love?"

I nodded, pulling her close, my arm wrapping around her waist, feeling the curve there that always centered me.

Belinda hovered nearby as she watched us. "Zane? You look like you could use a break. Yes, wedding planning's stressful, but we've got this."

I managed a chuckle, kissing Sienna's temple, her hair soft against my lips. "Just business worries. Noah's still not reachable and Damian's... being Damian. But Liam's on his way back."

Sienna leaned into me, her body fitting perfectly, "They'll come around. You're the heart of this. We'll handle it together." Her hand rested on my chest, fingers tracing light circles over my heart, a romantic gesture that eased the weight of my worries.

Belinda nodded exchanging a glance with Sienna.

Sienna extended her wrist to me, and I fastened the bracelet, my fingers lingering on her skin, "Looks beautiful, Like you. Can't wait to see you in the dress, walking towards me. You and me against the world."

She turned her hand, the charms catching the light, her eyes meeting mine with that romantic glow. "Against the world. That's our promise, Zane. I love you for carrying it all, but let me share the load when necessary."

I pulled her closer, our foreheads touching as I whispered, "I love you more. For being my strength."

Belinda sighed dreamily, clasping her hands. "You guys are too cute. Okay, but we have to go, it's cake tastings next, the planner's waiting!"

Belinda and the planner, Eloise, with a tablet perpetually in hand, guided us to a private alcove where tasting samples waited. They had tiers of cake in flavors from vanilla bean to chocolate hazelnut, frosting swirled in elegant patterns.

"Oh wow" I said, wondering if I had seen such a number of cakes in one place before that day. Sienna laughter filling the space, as she spooned a bite for me. "Try this one. Bel, you have to taste. It's heaven."

I took the spoon from Sienna, our fingers brushing, her eyes twinkling as I sampled it. The sweetness burst on my tongue, but my mind wandered to the cartel again.

Sienna noticed, her hand on my knee under the table, she called to me. "Hey, come back to me. We'll fix the cartel. But right now, us."

I covered her hand with mine, squeezing gently. "You're right. Always are. I love these moments with you, planning our forever. I apologize for zoning out on you."

She smiled, leaning in for a quick kiss, her soft lips soft tasting of frosting. "Forever starts now."

Belinda grinned, raising a spoon like a toast. "Up next are the invitation cards. Should it be embossed or minimalist?"

"Remind me again why I have a word class planner on my payroll and still going through this much stress?"

"It is what we do, Zane. You have to personalize it. Sorry about it" Sienna said, as I sighed, shaking my head. I had successfully managed a multibillion-dollar tech company but with these two women dragging me through Los Angeles for the wedding shopping. I could never get anything done with the chaos going on in the cartel

But for the Calloways' bride, Sienna Cartel was worth every second of the moment of stress. "Lead the way, ma'am."