Michael's POV I sat back in my chair, watching the security footage of David being led away in handcuffs. A sense of satisfaction washed over me. This was a long time coming. David had overstepped, and now he was paying the price. But as I sat there, my thoughts drifted back to our childhood, to the days when we were inseparable. --- Growing up, David and I were more than just brothers; we were best friends. We did everything together. Scarlet was like a sister to us, always by our side, until that fateful day. I remember the accident vividly. Scarlet had pushed our mother out of the way of an oncoming car, sacrificing herself in the process. From that moment, everything changed. Scarlet became the center of our world, but for me, she was more than just a sister. I became overprotective, possessive even, while David’s feelings for her grew beyond brotherly love. One concrete memory stands out: the day Scarlet told her romantic feelings for me. We were sitting under the old
David's POVI felt the cold steel of the handcuffs dig into my wrists as I was led into the police station. My heart pounded with anxiety. This was not how I had envisioned the evening going. I was supposed to be the one gathering evidence, not becoming the evidence myself.The officers at the station were professional but suspicious. They escorted me to an interrogation room, where I was left alone for what felt like an eternity. The stark, sterile environment did nothing to calm my nerves. I knew I was in deep trouble.Finally, the door opened, and a detective walked in, followed by a familiar face – Michael's friend, Officer Jenkins. My stomach churned with unease."David," Jenkins said, taking a seat across from me. "You've put yourself in quite a predicament."I clenched my jaw. "I was investigating a case. You know I work for the FBI."Jenkins raised an eyebrow. "Without a warrant or proper authorization? That's a serious breach of protocol."I took a deep breath, trying to stea
Emma's POV The tension in our living room was palpable. Daniel paced back and forth, his worry lines deepening with each step. I sat on the edge of the couch, my fingers nervously tapping against my knee. David's custody had thrown us into a whirlwind of anxiety and uncertainty. "How could this happen?" Daniel muttered, running a hand through his hair. "David was supposed to be the one helping us, not ending up in jail." "I know," I replied softly, trying to keep my voice steady. "But we need to stay calm and think of a way to get him out. Michael is behind this, I'm sure of it." Daniel stopped pacing and looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and desperation. "Emma, we can't let Michael win. We have to find a way to prove David's innocence and expose Michael's crimes." I nodded, determined. "We will, Daniel. We just need to keep digging and find solid evidence." —- The shrill ring of my phone broke the tense silence. I quickly grabbed it, seeing Laura's name on
Daniel's POVThe steady hum of the hospital office was disrupted by the tense conversation I was having with Laura. I clutched the phone tightly, my knuckles white."Laura, slow down," I said, trying to process everything she was telling me. "You found a connection to the stolen anesthetics?""Yes, Daniel," Laura's voice was urgent. "While going through the financial records Michael gave me access to, I found a suspicious transaction linked to the stolen anesthetics from the time Scarlet was murdered."My heart raced. "And this implicates Michael?""Absolutely. It connects him directly to the theft and frames Emma. But the way I found it is illegal. If we use it, it could get me into serious trouble," Laura explained.I took a deep breath. "But if I, as the financial analyst working for the hospital, can access the same information legally, it becomes valid evidence.""Exactly," Laura confirmed. "You need to get authorization quickly.""Alright, I'll make the calls now," I said, deter
Emma's POVI woke up with a searing pain radiating through my entire body. Blinking against the harsh light, I found myself attached to an IV drip, my head bandaged with a thick gauze. I struggled to sit up, my movements slow and labored as I tried to piece together what had happened. The first thing I saw was Michael standing in the corner of the room, his arms crossed, his expression a twisted blend of intimidation and arrogance."You're awake," he said, his voice cold and cutting.Fear gripped me. "Where am I?" I asked, my voice trembling despite my attempt to sound defiant."Somewhere no one can find you," he replied, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "If you disobey me, you'll stay here."I fought to hide my fear, meeting his gaze with as much strength as I could muster. "Daniel will find me," I warned. "You won't get away with this."Michael laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "Daniel? That pathetic excuse for a hero? I've orchestrated this so well that no CCTV or GPS can trace yo
David's POV The last two days had been a whirlwind of chaos and fear. As a deputy of the FBI under custody for working without authorization, I was in a hell of a situation. My title meant nothing here; I was just another suspect, questioned relentlessly about my actions. But all I could think about was the danger Emma was in and how we could outsmart Michael. The door to the interrogation room creaked open, and Daniel was ushered inside. He looked worse than the last time I saw him—disheveled, eyes red and wild with panic. "David," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "Emma's missing." I motioned for him to sit down. "Start from the beginning. What happened?" He took a deep breath, his words tumbling out in a rush. "After we spoke last, I got the authorization to access the hospital's financial records. I was on my way to review them when Emma left me a voicemail. She said Laura found evidence linking Michael to the stolen anesthetics and Scarlet's murder. But before she cou
Emma's POVIt’s been days since Michael last visited. The isolation, coupled with the relentless silence, gnaws at my sanity. Food is scarce; the kitchen’s supplies have dwindled to almost nothing, but I don’t have the appetite to eat anyway. Depression has wrapped its cold fingers around me again, squeezing the life out of my will to survive. At least the tap water still works, so I won’t die of thirst. That’s a small blessing, I suppose.I can move freely within the house, but it feels more like a gilded cage than any kind of refuge. The mansion is vast, with three stories and an expansive garden where two bodyguards keep vigil. Every attempt to escape has ended in failure. The last time, I tried to jump the barriers, but one of the guards caught me. Following Michael’s orders, they beat me savagely. My injuries from the car accident had been healing, but this assault left me feverish and weak.Now, I’m shivering uncontrollably. The fever is taking its toll. Desperation pushes me to
Daniel’s POVAs I approached the holding facility where David was being held, I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer audacity and resourcefulness of the man. Thanks to his connections and a few well-placed favors, the police didn’t put up much of a fight when I requested to see him. It was almost like walking into a familiar friend's house rather than a heavily secured facility.I walked into the dimly lit room where David was seated, looking far more composed than I had expected. The moment he saw me, a smirk spread across his face."Well, if it isn’t the ghost of Christmas past," David teased, leaning back in his chair. "You look like you haven’t bathed in days, and I’m pretty sure a family of birds could nest in that beard of yours."I chuckled despite myself, scratching my scruffy chin. "What can I say? I never liked shaving anyway. Emma wouldn’t let me kiss her unless I was clean-shaven, so it was more of a necessity than a choice. Now that she’s missing, there’s no point. And a