Chapter 610 - 206 Dreams Exposed

Chapter 610: Chapter 206 Dreams Exposed

Lila’s POV

Katarina’s early morning call pulled me from sleep. She was practically vibrating with excitement about the upcoming year-end celebration at the Thorne family estate. Daniel’s parents from the Martinez family had confirmed their attendance, along with his brother and sister-in-law from the East Coast operations. Jude would be joining us for the entire holiday break, while Gemma, Dominic, Ivy, Caleb, Zoe, Finn, and MP would arrive for the New Year’s Eve gathering. Xavier was extending his Paris assignment at Caleb’s request, meeting with European associates and key clients in their overseas money laundering operations. Sybilla was pretending to be fine with this arrangement, but I could tell she was disappointed about not seeing the Thorne family’s consigliere sooner.

After helping Katarina coordinate some security details for the gathering, I was fully awake. I completed my morning routine and headed toward the kitchen for coffee. Walking through the hallway of Daniel’s fortified penthouse, I heard Sybilla’s voice, which seemed odd given the early hour. I quietly approached her partially open door and peered inside.

"Xavier, that feels incredible... mmm..." Sybilla was talking in her sleep, clearly having vivid dreams about the Thorne family’s brilliant strategist.

This was too perfect to ignore. I slipped into her room and started recording with my phone. Evidence was essential when dealing with someone as stubborn as Martinez family princess Sybilla.

"Yes, right there, Xavier... oh, that’s perfect..." She wore a blissful smile that would make any mafia daughter jealous. "Xavier, kiss me..."

"Tiny one!" Daniel’s voice boomed from somewhere in the apartment, his cop instincts making him project his voice like he was commanding a crime scene.

"AAAAHHH!" Sybilla screamed as she jolted awake, tumbling off the bed with a thunderous crash that probably woke half the building. "Lila, have you lost your mind? You nearly stopped my heart!"

The commotion brought Daniel bursting through the door with the force of a SWAT raid, making it slam against the wall hard enough to rattle the expensive artwork.

"What happened? Is everyone safe?" His expression was pure tactical alertness, like he was ready to eliminate any threat to his territory.

I couldn’t contain myself. Laughter exploded from me so violently that I slid down the wall until I was sitting on the marble floor, clutching my stomach. Both Martinez siblings stared at me like I’d completely lost my sanity.

"Your girlfriend has gone completely insane!" Sybilla complained, rubbing her hip where she’d landed. "Damn it, I landed right on my tailbone."

"Why all the screaming?" Daniel demanded, his detective instincts scanning between us for answers.

"Because I woke up with this lunatic hovering over me with her phone pointed at my face." Sybilla glanced at my device, realization dawning on her face as I met her gaze with a knowing smirk.

"Sybilla talks in her sleep," I explained once my laughter subsided. "I thought it was entertaining, so I recorded it for future reference."

Sybilla’s face went completely white, like she’d just been caught in a federal wiretap.

"She’s done that since childhood," Daniel said with a casual shrug. "Whenever she’s obsessing over something she wants desperately or when she’s under pressure, she talks in her sleep. Comes with the Martinez family paranoia."

"Is that so? How fascinating..." I grinned wickedly. "Come on, I’ll make coffee. Good morning, Inspector."

"Good morning, beautiful little one." Daniel swept me into his arms with the confidence of a man who owned half the city, and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he claimed my lips.

"Hey! Take that back to your own territory. Not in my bedroom," Sybilla protested as I giggled against Daniel’s mouth.

"You know what? Coffee can wait. What do you say we return to our private quarters, Inspector? The morning is still young." The suggestion clearly pleased my powerful detective.

We retreated to our bedroom, and when I finally made it to the kitchen later, Sybilla was already dressed in her sharp business attire, coffee in hand, looking every inch the Martinez family princess.

"Why didn’t you go back to sleep? It’s incredibly early," I asked, noticing her exhausted yawn.

"Impossible to rest with you two making the bed frame hit the wall like machine gun fire," she replied with a mischievous half-smile. "Is my brother really that skilled in all areas?"

"Your brother is absolutely extraordinary, Sybilla," I laughed. That detective was pure perfection in every way.

"Sometimes I wish I had a man that extraordinary," she sighed, absently stirring her coffee with the melancholy of a mafia princess denied her heart’s desire.

"Like the one starring in your dreams?" I teased mercilessly.

"I have no idea what you’re referring to." Her attempt to deflect was completely predictable.

"I’m referring to this masterpiece!" I played the video for her, watching her face drain of all color like she’d just been threatened by a rival family.

"Morning, ladies." Daniel walked in just as Sybilla nearly dropped my phone trying to stop the playback.

"You’re particularly jumpy today," he observed, taking my coffee mug with the casual authority of a man who commanded respect from both sides of the law.

"I’m exhausted. It’s impossible to get proper rest in this fortress," Sybilla complained, making Daniel laugh with genuine amusement.

"Get soundproofing, because my little one is beautifully vocal!" he said with pride.

I swatted his muscled arm playfully, and he kissed me behind my ear with tender possession. "I need to leave for the precinct. Have a productive day and stay protected." He gave me a quick but thorough kiss and paused at the doorway. "Tiny one, don’t forget I love you!"

My heart melted completely at his public declaration. I ran to him and delivered a kiss worthy of a classic film.

"Show-off," Sybilla muttered after he left for his police duties.

"Absolutely! But now, let’s discuss Xavier. We’ve been dancing around this conversation for too long."

"What’s there to discuss when you already possess all the evidence?" She rested her chin in her hand, staring miserably at her empty mug.

"I can make educated guesses, but I want to hear the truth directly from you."

She released a deep, defeated sigh. "I didn’t want this complication, Lila, but I’m completely captivated by him. I’ve always been drawn to him. But he doesn’t reciprocate these feelings. He barely tolerates my presence because of Daniel. Please keep this information confidential."

"Of course I would never betray your trust. But Sybilla, he just ended his relationship with Ruby recently, and he was genuinely serious about her. You’ll only end up devastated. You need to find strategies to move forward."

"Don’t you think I’ve attempted that? I’ve watched him with countless women over the years. I’ve had casual encounters, even a serious boyfriend, but I cannot shake these feelings."

"Maybe it’s simply infatuation? He’s your brother’s closest associate, you grew up with him around the family business, and he’s undeniably gorgeous."

"Lila, my ex-boyfriend ended our relationship because I called him ’Xavier’ during intimacy. And you want to know what’s worse? I only dated him to try forgetting Xavier. We were together for a long time, and absolutely nothing changed. Do you understand how hopeless this situation is?"

"Damn, you’re really in deep," I squeezed her shoulder, realizing the situation was far more serious than I’d initially thought.

"Even when he’s completely cold to me, I still want him. I don’t understand the psychology behind it."

"My grandmother always said the heart follows its own mysterious and often destructive path."

"I’ve considered leaving Thorne Group, but I genuinely love working in the legal division. Plus, you and Jude are there," Sybilla admitted with the vulnerability rarely shown by Martinez family members.

"Let’s head to the office and see how things develop today. If it becomes truly unbearable, I’ll speak with Dominic about finding you another position within our network."

"You would actually do that for me?"

"Absolutely, but I believe you’ll manage just fine."

Sybilla hugged me tightly, her pain radiating through her composed exterior. Her suffering was genuine, and all I could offer was my unwavering support and friendship while she navigated these dangerous emotional waters in our complicated world.