The encrypted satellite console on the coffee table flared red. Felix tapped accept, his relaxed expression instantly hardening into the focus of Velvet Trigger.

Miya’s face popped up on screen from the bakery downstairs, wearing tactical under-armor beneath her apron and scanning intelligence reports. "Velvet, listen. The Association cracked the tablet from the gala informant. We've identified the head of the Elysium-9 syndicate. He goes by 'The Phantom Alchemist,' a French billionaire rogue making synthetic formulas to paralyze elite scent glands. And he has RSVP'd to a private charity gala next Tuesday night."

Felix sat straight up, his rosy eyes narrowing. "Let me guess. Inside a white marble fortress?"

"Exactly. Hosted by the Destiano family inside their estate ballroom," Miya confirmed. "We cannot breach it from the outside."

Felix chuckled, spinning his keys. "The universe loves our cover story. Emily invited me to the mansion this Sunday for family dinner. We have inside access to map blind spots and prep extraction forty-eight hours early."

"Good, but it's a lion's den," Miya warned. "Keep your scent patch immaculate. Out."

The gold-crested iron gates of the Destiano fortress groaned open as Felix’s matte-black hypercar growled up the driveway. His hair fell in shaggy layers around his jawline. Stepping out in a tailored white button-up and a cream-and-sage knitted vest, his collarbone and neck beauty mark were fully visible.

Miya stepped out from the passenger side wearing a matching vest over a flowing white linen maxi dress, her black hair in soft waves.

Standing on the porch was a full battle line. Richard stood center in a cream silk blazer, cheeks pink. Luke wore a black knit shirt, and Dedrick wore a rolled-up white linen shirt. Diana stood at the front, eyes watery, a crimson blush hitting her cheeks as she looked at Miya.

Felix and Miya walked up the steps and offered a smooth greeting in Spanish: "¡Buenas tardes, familia Destiano! Es un absoluto honor y un verdadero placer estar en su hermosa residencia hoy."

The greeting fried the porch. Richard turned bright red, Luke's jaw slacked, Dedrick stared at the beauty mark, and Diana lost her mind, stepping forward with a massive bouquet of white lilies.

"Miya... you look... absolutely magnificent!" Diana gasped, handing over the flowers.

Miya blushed fiercely, taking the bouquet. "Ms. Destiano... thank you!"

Felix scanned the upper window ledges, mapping the security cameras. "Lead the way, bestie, let’s go explore this fortress!"

The dining room was a stunning display of luxury, illuminated by crystal chandeliers and packed with thousands of fragrant white lilies that masked any stray pheromones.

The seating arrangement was a tactical disaster. Mr. and Mrs. Destiano sat at the far ends in their own lovey-dovey world, while Emily sat in the middle with a suspicious smirk. Felix sat across from them in his wolf-cut and open white shirt, while Miya sat beside him and Diana sat opposite, star-struck.

When the chefs laid out the white truffle soup, the sibling war erupted. Richard leaned over with a gold ladle. "Felix... allow me to serve you personally."

Luke shoved the ladle aside. "Truffle ruins the palate. Felix... you need hydration."

Dedrick slammed his palm on the table, trying to block them with a vintage wine bottle. "Let me pour you this wine!"

The three Alphas fought over utensils and glasses. Felix sat back, his assassin eyes scanning the room. Under the table, his boot tapped Miya's ankle in Morse code: three cameras in the chandelier, one motion sensor by the service door, and a firewall behind the grandfather painting.

Miya nodded, typing the layout into her phone. "Your brothers are enthusiastic, Ms. Destiano."

Diana clutched her chest, starry-eyed. "To see a baker care so deeply for her brother... it moves my soul!"

Emily screamed internally, realizing her family dinner was a high-society asylum. As the chaos peaked, Mrs. Destiano clapped her hands. "Tell me, Felix... have you and Richard finalized the date yet? When is the wedding?"

PFFFFFT!

Richard choked on his soup, spraying it across Luke's black shirt. Luke dumped water into Dedrick's lap, and Dedrick dropped the wine bottle, splashing dark Merlot across Diana’s face and hair. The four siblings turned radiant crimson, coughing and panicking.

Felix sat back, dry and amused. He wiped his hands on a napkin and smoothly stood up from his chair, his black wolf-cut swaying around his pale neck beauty mark.