15. Challenging Me?

Rebel's POV

It wasn't until our flight landed that Xavier considered asking about the sudden change in the plan.

I understood—it was unexpected for him, just as it was for me.

One moment, I was in a meeting I didn't even want to attend but was starting to enjoy, seeing Zion pissed off and Belkov with his hands full. Quite an entertainment.

But it didn’t take long for things to turn to hell, starting with a text on my phone from an unknown number.

Normally, I don’t entertain texts or calls from unknown sources, but since I was beginning to get bored, I opened it.

What struck me immediately was the picture attached to the message—my little brother Ryan, unconscious. It made my blood boil.

I looked across the table at the people seated opposite me, narrowing my gaze as I tried to figure out who among them might have a death wish. It couldn’t be a coincidence; the timing of Ryan’s kidnapping and this meeting aligned too perfectly.

I shouldn’t have been surprised. These people live to dig up each other’s weaknesses and strike mercilessly, all while chatting and smiling.

I was expecting something to go wrong. I was even ready for it. But never once did I imagine Ryan would be dragged into this mess.

I’d spoken to Angelina just yesterday, and she’d assured me everything was fine. Not that we’re exactly on the best of terms, but she would have told me immediately if something had happened to Ryan.

He’s my brother.

We might not be related by blood, but I care for him deeply, and she knows that.

As much as I wanted to beat the truth out of these old men, I couldn’t risk exposing the secret Evan had maintained for years to protect his family.

If my suspicions were wrong, it would be like giving a taste of blood to the sharks.

Evan King’s family died seven years ago in a car accident.

It was pure torture sitting there, counting every second, resisting the urge to storm out and catch a flight back to the island.

But I didn’t.

I couldn’t.

Zion seemed to pick up on my change in demeanor and tried to get under my skin to catch a wisp of the situation, but I kept my lips sealed.

Not until the second meeting ended. I was already on my way out of that damned place, calling my contacts to get a plan in motion.

I contacted Angelina on the way there. I couldn’t understand how she let something like this happen. She’s obsessed with keeping her son away from this wretched world.

It turned out Ryan had outsmarted her, sneaking out of the house without anyone noticing.

Angelina soon found out and sent a group of her trusted men to look for him quietly.

Whoever took Ryan was targeting me, though, since I was the only one who received the text.

It made me think, once again, that Zion or Belkov might have a hand in this—but they couldn’t possibly know Ryan’s true identity as King’s heir.

This was the work of someone familiar, someone who could slip through unnoticed.

I immediately contacted Karim and asked him for updates on Ryan’s friends and what had happened before he disappeared.

Karim had already talked to all of his friends, learning that they had helped Ryan sneak out of the house to go to a concert together.

And what happened after that.

He’d spoken to everyone but one friend—the one who’d been under suspicion from the start.

It couldn’t be a coincidence that this friend vanished at the same time as Ryan.

Another text chimed on my phone, pulling me from my thoughts.

I was in the car, heading to Angelina’s house from the airport.

I opened the message; this time, it wasn’t another picture of my little brother in distress. It was a location.

And a second text: “See you soon.”

My jaw clenched. Not only had this bastard made the mistake of attacking someone close to me, but he was also challenging me.

My eyes met Xavier’s in the rearview mirror. He seemed to be keeping a close eye on me today from the passenger seat.

I ignored his curious gaze. Satisfying his curiosity was the least of my concerns.

I instructed the driver to stop and dropped out here.

Xavier seemed to misunderstand and got out of the car right after me.

“You’re not coming with me. Get to the hotel and wait for further instructions,” I told him firmly.

“Kyle trusted me with your safety. I can’t leave you alone in unknown territory,” he said, standing up to me, looking me in the eyes.

My jaw ticked. He might have the skills, but he was still a wild horse, and I’ve always been allergic to wild horses. They’re a pain in the ass.

With a sigh, seeing no other option, I let him tag along.

It was clear why Kyle had chosen him as his replacement.

Following the location, we arrived at a beach house.

It was situated on the island’s secluded side, with no one around. The shore was lined with old boats, no longer in use—a place locally known as the boat graveyard.

“Wait here. I need to go in alone. Keep your gun close—you never know when you might need it,” I instructed Xavier before moving toward the house.

“You have to go there alone?” He asked, surprising me for a second. The way he delivered the question made it seem as if he understood how important this is for me. Although he had no idea what was going on since I didn't bother to fill him with the situation.

“Yes.” I nodded. Answering his question right away.

Surprisingly, he didn’t argue and simply nodded, gripping his gun he rather moved to secure the perimeter.

But not before saying with the ultimatum. “I will follow if you don't walk out of there in ten minutes.”

Remind me, who is the boss again?

He was out of my line of sight before I could say anything to him.

And I walked towards my destination.

With Ryan’s life on the line, no mistakes were allowed here.