With a determined stride, Victoria entered the bar with The Pen. Salvatore, in his office, saw them through the security cameras and frowned. He immediately stood up, puzzled, and went out to the main lounge.

For an instant, he felt a fleeting pang of jealousy, but recognizing the man beside her—the same fighter Victoria had helped some time ago—his expression shifted to one of somber distrust.

"Salvatore!" Victoria greeted him with a light kiss on his cheek.

"Darling, I thought you weren't coming today," he replied, immediately marking his territory. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forcefully, staring intently at The Pen, as if sending him a...