The standoff in the living room lasted for ten agonizing seconds.
Vincent Chen lay sprawled on the white Italian leather sofa, clutching his chest, his face a mixture of pain and twisted delight. Julian's foot was still planted firmly on his sternum, ready to crush his ribcage if he made a wrong move.
Around them, six mercenaries held submachine guns pointed at Julian.
"Tell your dogs to stand down," Julian commanded, his voice vibrating with suppressed rage.
Vincent coughed, a wheezing sound that rattled in his throat. He raised a trembling hand and waved two fingers at his men.
"Put them away," Vincent rasped. "Can't you see we are having a... domestic moment?"
The mercenaries hesitated, looking at their boss, then slowly lowered their weapons.
Julian didn't move his foot. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't break your neck right now. You threatened my wife."
"And she broke two of my ribs!" Vincent laughed, wincing immediately after. "Fair is fair, Julian. Besides... I didn't come here to start a war. I came to collect a debt. But seeing as your wife has such... heavy taste in home decor... I'm willing to negotiate over dinner."
Julian glared at him, calculating the risks. Vincent was crazy, but he was a man of his word. If he said he wanted to talk, he would talk. If they fought now, the villa would turn into a slaughterhouse, and Aria might get hurt.
Slowly, Julian removed his foot.
"You have one hour," Julian said, stepping back and pulling Aria behind him. "If you try anything, the sharks outside will be eating well tonight."
Vincent sat up, straightening his flamboyant white suit and checking the red flower in his lapel. He looked at Aria, his eyes gleaming behind his sunglasses.
"Mrs. Qin," Vincent nodded respectfully. "You have a hell of an arm. Former softball player?"
Aria, whose heart was still hammering against her ribs, didn't back down. She gripped Julian's shirt, but her chin was high.
"Dodgeball," Aria lied. "Captain of the varsity team."
Vincent threw his head back and laughed. "I like her! Julian, keep this one. She's much more fun than that boring pianist you used to date."
[The Dining Room - One Hour Later]
The atmosphere at the dinner table was thick enough to cut with a knife.
The long mahogany table was set for three. Julian sat at the head, looking like a king ready to execute a prisoner. Aria sat to his right, wearing a high-necked black dress that covered her trembling hands.
Vincent sat to the left, icing his chest with a bag of frozen peas the chef had reluctantly provided.
"Excellent wine," Vincent said, swirling a glass of Julian's vintage Pinot Noir. "1982? You always did have expensive taste."
"State your business, Vincent," Julian said, not touching his food. "You said you wanted the Northern Shipping Route. That belongs to the Qin family legitimate business. You run underground casinos. The two don't mix."
"They do when you need to move... specialized cargo," Vincent grinned, taking a bite of steak. "But let's not talk shop yet. Let's talk about the happy couple."
Vincent turned his gaze to Aria. He swirled his wine glass, watching her.
"You aren't drinking, Mrs. Qin," Vincent noted. "A vintage like this is wasted on water."
"I'm pregnant," Aria said smoothly, cutting her asparagus. "Alcohol is off-limits."
Vincent's eyebrows shot up. "Pregnant? Already? Julian, you work fast. Or... was it a shotgun wedding?"
"It was a love match," Julian said, his hand resting on the table, dangerously close to his steak knife. "Something a man like you wouldn't understand."
"Love," Vincent scoffed. "Love is a liability. It makes you weak. It makes you... throwable." He rubbed his bruised chest.
He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"But tell me, Mrs. Qin. Do you know who you married? Do you know how Julian got that scar on his chest? Or the one on his back?"
Aria paused. She looked at Julian. He remained impassive, but his jaw was clenched.
"I know enough," Aria said.
"Do you?" Vincent smirked. "Three years ago. The accident in the ravine. The one where you two 'met'. Did Julian tell you why his brakes were cut?"
Aria froze. "He said it was a rival."
"It was," Vincent nodded. "But not a business rival. It wasn't me. It wasn't the Russians."
Vincent took a slow sip of wine, enjoying the tension.
"The mechanic who cut those brakes," Vincent said softly. "He used to work for the Qin family. Specifically... for the Second Branch."
Aria's fork clattered onto her plate.
The Second Branch. That was Mark's father. Her former father-in-law.
"You're lying," Aria whispered. "Mark's father is incompetent. He cares about golf and stocks. He wouldn't try to kill his own brother."
"Incompetent men are the most dangerous," Vincent shrugged. "Because they are desperate. Julian knows this. That's why he took over the company so aggressively after he recovered. That's why he exiled Mark to Africa."
Vincent looked at Julian. "Am I wrong, old friend?"
Julian didn't deny it. He picked up his wine glass and took a long sip. The silence was confirmation enough.
Aria felt a chill run down her spine. She thought she was just fighting a jealous ex-husband and a mean mother-in-law. She didn't realize she had stepped into a nest of vipers who attempted fratricide.
"Why are you telling us this?" Julian asked, setting his glass down.
"Because," Vincent's expression finally turned serious. He stopped smiling. "The Second Branch approached me last week. They want to move 'cargo' through my ports. Cargo that isn't on the manifest."
Julian's eyes narrowed. "Drugs?"
"Worse," Vincent said grimly. "Weapons. They are getting desperate, Julian. They need money to fight you. If they get caught, the entire Qin Corporation goes down with them. And my ports get raided by the feds."
Vincent leaned back. "I'm a criminal, Julian. But I'm a patriot. And I hate heat. I don't want the military sniffing around my docks because your nephew's daddy is an idiot."
He slid a small USB drive across the table. It stopped right in front of Aria's plate.
"That drive contains the communication logs between Mark's father and the arms dealer," Vincent said. "It's enough to send the Second Branch to prison for life."
Aria looked at the small silver drive. It was a smoking gun. It was the ultimate weapon of revenge.
"What do you want for it?" Aria asked, picking it up.
Vincent smiled at her. "Smart woman. Straight to the price."
"I want 10% of the profits from the new resort you're building on this island," Vincent said. "And... I want an apology for the jaguar statue."
"You won't get the 10%," Julian said instantly. "I don't partner with the underground."
"Then I take the drive back, and I sell it to the police myself," Vincent reached for it.
"Wait."
Aria pulled the drive out of reach. She looked at Julian, then at Vincent.
"5%," Aria negotiated. "And we don't pay you directly. We donate 5% to a 'charity' of your choice. That way, the Qin books stay clean."
Vincent paused. He looked at Julian. "She's laundering the bribe? Julian, where did you find her?"
"I told you," Julian said, a hint of pride in his voice. "She's the Captain of the varsity team."
Vincent laughed, a genuine, loud belly laugh. He slammed his hand on the table.
"Deal! 5% to the 'Widows and Orphans Fund'. And the apology?"
Aria stood up. She poured a glass of water from the pitcher. She walked over to Vincent.
"Mr. Chen," Aria said. "I apologize for bruising your ribs. Next time you break into my house, I will aim for your head."
Vincent grinned, taking the glass of water. "I believe you, Mrs. Qin. I believe you."
[Later that Night]
Vincent and his men left as quickly as they arrived, disappearing into the dark ocean on their yacht.
Julian and Aria stood on the terrace, the USB drive sitting on the table between them.
"Is it true?" Aria asked, looking at the drive. "Did Mark's father try to kill you?"
"Yes," Julian said quietly. He was leaning against the railing, looking tired. "But I never had proof. Just suspicion. This drive changes everything. It's the nail in their coffin."
He turned to her. "You handled Vincent well. He respects strength. If you had shown fear, he would have eaten us alive."
"I was terrified," Aria admitted, hugging her arms. "My knees are still shaking."
Julian walked over and wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"You did good," he whispered. "We have the weapon now. When we go back to the city... the war ends."
Aria leaned back into him. "So, no more babymoon?"
"We have to go back," Julian said. "Before Mark's father realizes Vincent betrayed him. But..."
He turned her around and kissed her forehead.
"...we have tonight."