Chapter 2: His Name

I felt my breath catch in my throat. "No," I whispered, staring at the picture in disbelief. "It can't be him.".

Logan had seen my reaction. A line furrowed in his brow. "You know him?

I nodded, feeling anger and resentment roll over me. "We went to college together.".

He bullied me—his whole group did.  The memories came flooding back, each one sharper than the last: Thorne's cruel taunts, the way he'd reveled in my discomfort, and how he'd made me feel small and insignificant. He was the charismatic leader of the most feared group on campus, charming and handsome, but he'd wielded that power like a weapon against me.

“So, he is the same Thorne you know from then," he said.

I hardly could bear to think of seeing him again. I was scared to meet Thorne since I did not know whether I was prepared to confront that man who had turned my college life into a sort of nightmare.

 Fearful of becoming once again that vulnerable girl in my thoughts, the fear persisted. I took a deep breath, steadying myself with my trembling fingers. The sight of Thorne Crimson sent a wave of memories crashing over me, each one sharper and more vivid than the last.

"He is still the same man I despise," I whispered aloud, my voice nearly a whisper. "The same man who led that group of bastards in college."

I turned my head and looked back at the photograph. Thorne's smirking confidence stung my gut. "He was supposed to be the man I adored at first. I mean, he was everything I thought I wanted—charismatic, charming, and the center of attention. But once I saw how he treated people, how cruel he could be, that all changed."

Logan nodded slowly, his eyes taking in the weight of my words. "And now he is involved with something hazardous. It's not a chance coincidence.".

"No, it is not," I said firmly. "Thorne always managed to draw people in while he was tearing them down. I thought when I first felt his charm that it was my imagination, but I learned the hard way how wrong I was."

Memories flooded back as I heard the whispers in the hallways, the laughter that followed me as I walked past their group. He made me feel I didn't belong, which is something I can hear in their mocking laughter now.

"If he is indeed involved, we have to tread carefully. You have a history with him. It could play to our advantage or prove to be our weakness."

"I know," I replied, my heart thudding in my chest.

Logan kept pushing forward with his eyes fixed on mine. "That's why I never mentioned it before to everyone because I did not have solid evidence about it. Thorne is a man with a reputation and a CEO who has a lot of power-a billionaire connected to powerful people that can't even get touched."

I frowned, a weighty feeling in what he was saying settling into the air. "So, you are saying that you're afraid of possibly erring on your accusation?"

"Not like that. He's not such an easy target," Logan said gravely.

"The Crimson Brotherhood is more than a gang of thugs-they're feared and respected. They operate in the shadows, and accusations against Thorne without proof could blow up in our faces. We risk losing our careers, or worse, for chasing him without concrete evidence."

A knot tightened in my stomach. I already knew Thorne was powerful but hearing it put so bluntly brought the reality of the situation crashing down on me.

"So, what do we do? Sit back and let him get away with whatever it is he's involved in?

"Logan, that man must be punished for that crime."

"Are you really sure you are going to handle this case, Emma?" he asked worriedly.

"After all the cases I solved, you are asking me that? Don't you trust me?" I asked him.

"I trust you but what will be your first move?" he replied.

"We collect evidence. We must tie everything that has happened together: Thorne, Franco's murder, and the Crimson Brotherhood. If we can find just one thing—anything—connecting him to these acts, we can act against him."

Logan was curious about my words at my mouth “but how can you do this?”

A fire was burning deep inside me-which had been fueled by determination to face my past and unravel the mystery surrounding Franco Gil's death. I knew that to reach Thorne Crimson I'd have to infiltrate his world, and that required a plan that would get me in.

"I have a plan."

He gazed up from the pile of papers, curiosity wearing a thin smirk on his face mixed with concern.

“What plan? “He asked.

I took a deep breath to suggest: "I have to go undercover. I needed to get close to him."

Logan's eyebrow shot up at her, skepticism etched upon his face. "Undercover? Emma, come on. This is serious case. We're not playing games here. That is a powerful CEO connected with mafia groups. You could easily die for this."

"I know it's a risk," I said, my heartbeat taking over. "But can you think about this; who else can infiltrate his life but a player? I can become that flirting woman, one who'd get his attention and manage to get him to start trusting me."

Logan stared at me. Shock wrote across his face, "You want to flirt with danger? You just waltz into his life and make him fall for you?

“It's not about him falling in love with me,” I clarified to myself, a fire starting in my belly.

“It is about getting to the inner sanctum, understanding his motives. I'll be a shadow in his world, getting information and tracking him. If I can do that, we might find what we need.”

"Emma, this is no ordinary case handling. Thorne is an unpredictable man. You may end up in a situation that you are not prepared for," Logan cautioned sternly.

"I know the stakes," I said a little too loudly.

"But sitting it out is not an option. Thorne is a master manipulator, and if I want to play this game, I have to play it as sharp as he does. And if I'm going to call him on it, I have to know his world inside and out."

Logan relaxed back in the chair as I presented my words to him.

The two of us sat there, waiting through the silence until he realized the weight of my plan. Finally, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

 "If you're serious about this, I'll help you," he said.

"But we have to do it smart.”

"I can figure that out," I said, racing my mind with possibilities.

“Just remember, Emma, if things get too bad, you pull back. I can't lose you to someone like him,” Logan said in a much softer voice now.

I looked at him and felt a rush of gratitude for his encouragement.

"I’m more than ready, Logan," I said, my voice firm and commanding, exuding confidence.