CHAPTER 106Rodrigo’s POV As I stepped out into the cold night air, my phone buzzed violently in my pocket. I pulled it out, glancing at the screen. The name flashing made my blood boil.Henry.My grip on the phone tightened so hard I thought it might crack. My heart pounded in my chest as I hit the green button, putting it to my ear.“You got some fucking nerve calling me,” I growled, my voice low and full of venom.A laugh echoed on the other end, dark and mocking. “Rodrigo, Rodrigo. Always so dramatic. Relax, pup.”“Pup?!” My jaw clenched, and I could feel my wolf stirring inside me, ready to rip something apart. “You think this is a fucking joke?”Henry chuckled again, the sound grating on my nerves. “You make it a joke, my dear Alpha. I mean, look at you—running around, bleeding, failing at every turn. And yet you still think you can win?”“Shut your damn mouth,” I snapped. “I’m coming for you, Henry. You won’t see the sun tomorrow.”“Oh, I’m terrified,” he said, his voice dripp
CHAPTER 107Rodrigo’s POV "Your shipments are now ready." "We need the men and the guns," I said, slamming the crate down hard. Then Antonio did the same thing, rolling his shoulders as if the weight weren't there.He leaned back against the wooden table and crossed his arms. He looked at us with that damn smug look on his face. He shook his head and let out a low whistle."Wow, that's nice. "This is good," he said, nodding his head. "You all did a good job.""Yeah, yeah," Antonio said in a low voice. "Thank you's are enough for us. We need firepower."Jace grinned but didn’t argue. Instead, he kicked off the table and stepped forward, rubbing his jaw like he was considering something."I’ll keep my end of the deal," he finally said, and I felt a rush of relief. "You got my package here in one piece, so I’ll get you what you need. But before we get to that…" He trailed off, eyes locking onto mine.I frowned. "What?"Jace exhaled quickly through his nose, then looked at me dead in the
CHAPTER 109Rodrigo’s POV “Tell me you finished the job.”Dad’s voice cut through the heavy air like a blade. He stood behind his massive oak desk, hands pressed against the surface, his sharp eyes locked onto me, Antonio, and Miguel. His presence alone was enough to make a grown man shift on his feet, but I stood firm, meeting his stare without flinching.Antonio, on the other hand, crossed his arms, exhaling through his nose like he was already tired of this conversation. Miguel leaned against the wall, arms folded, head slightly bowed—not in submission, but in that way he always got when he knew things were about to explode.Dad’s office was dimly lit, the glow of the old chandelier barely reaching the corners of the room. The walls were lined with books, old maps, and weapons. The faint scent of whiskey and cigar smoke clung to the air.He asked again, slower this time. "Did you finish the job?"I knew exactly what he meant.I shifted my weight, my jaw tightening. “We got Henry.
CHAPTER 109Rodrigo’s POV “Tell me you finished the job.”Dad’s voice cut through the heavy air like a blade. He stood behind his massive oak desk, hands pressed against the surface, his sharp eyes locked onto me, Antonio, and Miguel. His presence alone was enough to make a grown man shift on his feet, but I stood firm, meeting his stare without flinching.Antonio, on the other hand, crossed his arms, exhaling through his nose like he was already tired of this conversation. Miguel leaned against the wall, arms folded, head slightly bowed—not in submission, but in that way he always got when he knew things were about to explode.Dad’s office was dimly lit, the glow of the old chandelier barely reaching the corners of the room. The walls were lined with books, old maps, and weapons. The faint scent of whiskey and cigar smoke clung to the air.He asked again, slower this time. "Did you finish the job?"I knew exactly what he meant.I shifted my weight, my jaw tightening. “We got Henry.
Carina’s POV I had been at the hospital for over a week now. I hadn’t done anything work-related. I had barely eaten, barely slept. My entire focus had been Ethan. Even as I made sure private agents were searching for my sons, I never left his side. I couldn’t.But exhaustion had finally caught up with me. I was dozing off on the couch in Ethan’s hospital room when my phone rang.The sharp sound jolted me awake. My heart pounded in my chest as I scrambled for my phone, already praying it was good news. My fingers shook as I checked the screen.Rodrigo.My stepbrother.I didn’t waste a second. I swiped to answer."Hello?" My voice was thick with sleep, but the urgency in my tone was clear."Hey, what’s up?" Rodrigo’s voice came through, calm but serious.I sat up straight. "Rodrigo, why are you calling me this late? Did you—""We found them," he said.For a second, I couldn’t breathe."What?" The word came out louder than I meant. A nurse passing by the door turned her head, looking s
CHAPTER 111Carina’s POV Leo and Liam were finally safe. Finally back where they belonged.I had them taken straight to the hospital, refusing to let them out of my sight for even a second. I didn’t trust anyone. Not the world. Not fate. Not even the people who claimed to want to help.The nurses seemed surprised at how protective I was, but I didn’t care. If they had been through what I had been through, what my kids had been through, they would have understood.“Mrs. Carina, we just need to run some basic tests,” one of the nurses, a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes, said softly.“You can run whatever test you want,” I said firmly. “But my kids will not be left alone. And I don’t want them being poked with any needles unless it is absolutely necessary.”The nurse hesitated but nodded. “Of course, ma’am.”Leo and Liam were given clean hospital gowns and tucked into their beds. They were exhausted, both physically and mentally. I sat between their beds, my hands never leaving theirs
CHAPTER 112Carina’s POV Because I have always cared about you," Ethan said, even as he almost fell, slipping from his crutches.I was just there—right in time to catch him. He barely managed to support himself with his other hand gripping the side of the bed."Whew... I almost would have fallen," he said, letting out a small breath as he steadied himself.I chuckled, shaking my head. "And what would you have done without me? You should call me your superhero now. I just saved your life."His lips curled into a smirk, and for a second, there was something in his eyes—something familiar, something that reminded me of all those years ago. He laughed softly, and I did too, but we both quickly hushed ourselves when we remembered Leo and Liam were fast asleep.Ethan glanced at them, his expression softening. "They look so peaceful.""Yeah, they do," I said, my voice quieter now. "They've been through too much. They need this rest."He nodded, then turned his gaze back to me. "And you? Hav
Carina’s POV In no time, the boys were strong and healthy. Though my stepfather refused to let them leave his sight, making sure they were escorted to school and back with protection around the clock. He didn’t want anything to happen to his grandsons at all. My stepbrothers—Rodrigo, Antonio, and Miguel—had also taken it upon themselves to personally escort Liam and Leo to school. I was honestly surprised at how clingy they had become with my sons.I sat at the dining table, watching them. Rodrigo had his arms crossed, leaning against the doorway. Antonio was seated across from me, silently sipping his coffee, while Miguel paced the room. The tension was thick, and I knew exactly why.“Are you going to keep staring at us like that, or are you finally going to talk?” Rodrigo asked, breaking the silence.I sighed, setting my fork down. “I’m just wondering what’s gotten into you three. You weren’t like this before.”Antonio scoffed, placing his cup down a little too hard. “Of course, we
PROLOGUESkyla’s sister, Brianna who was in love with Antonio arrived. They had Lisa locked up while they both dragged Carina to the edge of a rocky cliff even as Carina struggled against the hands gripping her arms. The rocky cliff’s edge looked so dangerous, even as thorns shone from below."Let me go!" she screamed, thrashing against the cruel grip of the Skylar and her sister Brianna.The first woman, Skylar, laughed darkly. "Oh, sweet little Carina. Did you really think we’d let you ruin everything?"The second woman, Brianna, leaned in closer, her breath warm against Carina’s cheek. "You took everything from us. And now, we’re making sure you never come back."Carina’s heart pounded so hard she thought it might explode. "I don’t even know you! What the hell are you talking about?"Skylar’s grip tightened, nails digging into Carina’s skin. "Oh, but you do. You just don’t remember. You stole them. You made them look at you like we never existed. You turned them against us!"Briann
CHAPTER 126Carina’s POV"What's the noise all about?" Skylar's voice cut through the air, smooth and sharp, as she stepped out of the shadows. Two men flanked her, their eyes cold and unreadable.Lisa, who had been running her mouth nonstop, suddenly shut up. Her whole body went stiff as she sized up the situation. And from what we saw? Skylar wasn’t here to talk. She was here to make sure we didn’t leave in one piece."Shit," Lisa whispered under her breath, barely moving her lips. Her hand brushed against mine, fingers trembling slightly. "What do we do?"I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering in my ears. "I have no fucking idea."Skylar took a slow step forward, her smirk widening. "You know, Carina, I expected you to come alone. But I see you brought a little… insurance. How sweet."Lisa scoffed, but there was tension in her voice. "Yeah? And I see you brought muscle. Real fair fight, huh?"The man on Skylar’s left—a tall guy with a scar running down his cheek—cracked his knuckles.
CHAPTER 125Carina’s POV“Shit..." I muttered, squeezing my eyes shut as Lisa pressed another cotton pad against my wound. The sting burned straight to my bones. "I just remembered... Deven!" I winced, gripping the edge of the table. "I’m supposed to meet Skylar today! We have an appointment."Lisa froze. Her hand, still holding the antiseptic, hovered over my skin. Her face darkened, brows pulling together in a deep frown. "Carina..." she called my name, slow and serious, like she was afraid of what I’d say next.I blinked. It had been a long time since she used my name like that. Not 'girl' or 'dumbass'—but my actual name. My chest tightened.Lisa placed the antiseptic bottle on the table, leaning forward, eyes locked onto mine. "Skylar is pure doom. You know that, right?"I swallowed. "Lisa, she said she can help me sever the bond... If I do that, I’ll finally know the whole truth."Lisa, who had been quiet in the corner, suddenly scoffed. Her voice was sharp, almost bitter. "It’s
CHAPTER 124Carina’s POVI had to leave this restaurant. The air felt thick, and something in my gut told me I shouldn’t stay here too long. I glanced toward the entrance just as a group of rogue wolves came in. They were rough-looking—like they’d been on the road since morning. Clothes dusty, eyes hollow, their energy was off.Weird set of people.I lowered my gaze, pretending not to notice them as I reached for my watch and jewelry, slipping them into my bag. I didn’t want any trouble. If they saw anything shiny, they might think I had something worth taking. Best to play it safe.But as I was tucking the last ring into my bag, I heard a voice behind me. Low. Rough. Dripping with arrogance.“Pretty girl, come closer.”I stiffened. My grip on my bag tightened. I didn’t turn around. Maybe if I ignored them, they’d leave me alone.“I said, come here.” His voice was louder now. More demanding.Lisa tensed beside me. “Don’t,” she whispered. “Let’s just go.”I swallowed hard, still refusi
CHAPTER 123Carina’s POVI didn’t even know what to think at this point. My mind was a fucking mess. My head was spinning. My heart was pounding so damn hard I thought it might burst.Rodrigo. My stepbrother. Skylar. His ex-wife. And now this? What did it even mean?Lisa’s voice snapped me out of it. “Carina,” she said, her tone sharp. “What if—” She hesitated. “What if he was actually working with Henry?”I stared at her. My throat felt dry. “No,” I said, but it was weak. It wasn’t convincing. Because deep down, I knew—It was possible.Lisa slammed a hand on the table. “Think about it! Henry kidnapped your son. Henry works for someone. And now we find out Rodrigo’s past is tangled up in some shady-ass shit? What if it’s all connected?”I shook my head, standing up and pacing. “No, no, no. Rodrigo might be a lot of things, but would he really do this?”Lisa’s eyes darkened. “Do you really wanna bet your son’s life on that?”That hit me hard. My stomach twisted. I swallowed down the f
CHAPTER 122Carina’s POVI didn’t answer. My heart pounded as I stared at the words written in thick, dark ink. Words I never thought I’d see.Rodrigo was behind your son’s kidnap.I swallowed hard. Looked up at Skylar.She nodded. “Now do you believe me?”I read the words again. My hands shook. My breath caught in my throat. My head was spinning like I was about to pass out. What the actual fuck?Rodrigo was behind your son’s kidnap.My stepbrother?No. No way. That was impossible. Rodrigo may have been an asshole, but this? Kidnapping? My son?I looked up at Skylar, my voice barely above a whisper. “What the fuck do you mean?”She crossed her legs, completely unfazed by my reaction. “Exactly what it says.”Lisa snatched the paper from my hand, her eyes scanning over the words. Then, like a bomb exploding, she lost it.“Are you fucking kidding me?” Lisa threw the paper onto the table, glaring at Skylar like she was ready to rip her apart. “You come in here with this bullshit, expecti
CHAPTER121Carina’s POVLisa strolled in just as the investors walked out, her hands clapping softly, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Damn, Carina. That was close. We almost lost that deal."I leaned back in my chair, stretching my arms out. "Nah. I had it under control."Lisa scoffed, dropping into the chair beside me. "Oh, please. You were sweating bullets. I thought for a second Benson was gonna eat you alive."I smirked. "And yet, here we are. Deal signed. Money in the bank."She laughed, shaking her head. "You and that big mouth of yours. You stress me out.""It’s part of my charm," I said, winking at her.Lisa rolled her eyes before standing up and walking over to the coffee machine in the corner of the room. She grabbed two mugs, pouring the steaming liquid into them. "Here. You need this more than me."I took the cup gratefully, inhaling the rich scent. "You’re a lifesaver."Lisa plopped back into her seat, crossing one leg over the other. "Alright, now spill. Why the
CHAPTER 120Carina’s POVGetting to the office, I barely parked the car before jumping out, my heels clicking hard against the pavement. My heart was pounding. My hands were sweaty. I was so late.Lisa was already outside, standing near the glass doors, her arms crossed tight over her chest. Her eyes locked on me the second I got out. She didn’t even wait for me to say a word."You’re late, Carina," she snapped, marching towards me.I tossed my keys to her, nearly dropping them in the process. "Help me repark. No time for that now," I rushed, already heading towards the doors.Lisa caught the keys but didn’t move. "You can’t just run in there without knowing what’s going on!" she hissed, grabbing my arm.I stopped, breathing hard. "What? What do I need to know?" I asked quickly, looking around like the investors could pop up at any second.She let out a sharp sigh, glancing towards the meeting room. "They’re pissed. Been waiting too long. Mr. Harrington already checked his watch three
CHAPTER 119Carina’s POVInstead, I just kept my eyes on the road. “I just want to keep you both safe,” I said softly.Liam had his head down. “Safe from what?”I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.More silence.Then, a small voice.“Are you mad at us?” Leo asked, his voice though was kinda shaky.My heart squeezed. “No, baby,” I said immediately. “I could never be mad at you.”“Then why do you always sound so angry?” Liam asked, his voice cracking.I let out a shaky breath. I felt somehow but I just pushed the feeling away. I couldn’t cry. Not now. Not in front of them.“I’m not angry,” I whispered. “I’m just… tired.”They didn’t say anything after that. They just sat there, the silence wrapping around us again.I sighed and focused on the road, my chest heavy.I needed to fix this. But I didn’t know how.It was a really long ride home. The roads were quiet. My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, my mind heavy with thoughts.Thinking so deep, the conversation with my mother, the way Li