Daniel’s POVMy mind raced, trying to think of my next move. “Henry, listen to me. This doesn’t have to end badly for either of us. Let Sophia go, and we can work something out.”“I don’t negotiate with liars,” Henry spat. “Bring me Julia, or say goodbye to Sophia.”I could see Harris giving me a thumbs-up, signaling that he had a trace on the call. Relief and dread mingled in my chest. I needed to keep Henry talking a bit longer.“Alright, Henry,” I said, forcing a calm I didn’t feel. “Give me a little time. Julia is being held by some powerful people, and I’ll need to negotiate her release. Can you give me twenty-four hours?”Henry was silent for a moment, then he growled, “Twenty-four hours, Daniel. Not a minute more. Or you’ll regret it.”The line went dead, and I handed the phone back to Harris. He nodded, his face grave. “We’ve got a location. It’s some abandoned house in a remote forested area.”I scrambled to find out who had Julia. Harris and I visited some of his contacts, s
Elijah’s POVMy mind was a chaotic storm of worry and fear. Sophia was out there somewhere, kidnapped, and no one knew where she was. The investigators had found the abandoned house where she had been held, but by the time they arrived, it was empty. No signs of Henry or Vito, or any of their men. The police were now on high alert too, also searching for Julia after her escape from the courtroom.Desperation consumed me. I can’t just sit around and do nothing!I ended up heading to the office where Trevis was waiting for me, eager to get some news about Sophia. “Elijah,” he said, his voice tense. “I've been talking to some of the staff, but no one saw Sophia after she left the building. Someone saw her getting into a cab, and it had been proven that this was the same one reported stolen by a cab driver. Oh, god! I should have just gone with her to the Hall of Justice. I can’t believe I just talked to her, and then she was kidnapped afterwards! She came here looking for you, so I tol
Sophia’s POVThe airport’s fluorescent lights flickered overhead, illuminating the terminal with a harsh brightness.My heart pounded in my chest, each beat feeling like a drum roll leading to my impending doom. Henry’s grip on my arm was ironclad, and every time I tried to shift away, he tightened his hold, his fingers digging into my flesh through the thick layers of my disguise.“Keep moving,” Henry growled, his voice a menacing whisper against my ear. The rough texture of his breath sent shivers down my spine. I glanced at him, my eyes hidden behind the dark lenses of my sunglasses, but I could feel his piercing gaze burning through them.He had gone to great lengths to ensure we were unrecognizable. His face was obscured by a floppy hat and a fake beard, and I was equally concealed, wrapped in a scarf and sporting black-dyed hair. He shoved a pair of fake passports in front of me. “Look at these,” he demanded. “This is our new identity. We’re a couple flying to France.” The pas
Henry’s POVJulia's presence beside me was like a balm to my weary soul. Her side profile was illuminated by the dim overhead light, and I couldn't help but gaze at her, memorizing every delicate feature. Her hand, warm and soft, lay in mine, and I rubbed it absentmindedly, savoring the contact. The urge to kiss her was overwhelming, but I knew it wasn't the right time. Not yet. But very soon, we will be together forever, Julia. My one and only love. We were on the plane heading to France, still in our disguises and clearly unrecognizable. It had been a cinch using our fake passports to board. In front of us, Daniel and Sophia sat together, but they weren’t talking. Good, then they can’t plan anything at the moment. Less problems for us. I looked around, and the men sitting around us all belonged to Vito Romano and me, making sure that everything would go according to plan. We needed to get to the safe house as soon as possible, the secret base that I had bought a long time ago a
Sophia’s POVAs we approached the chateau, I couldn’t help but marvel at its grandeur. The massive stone structure was nestled in a valley surrounded by lush hills, its tall windows glinting in the waning light. This place was the epitome of elegance and luxury, far removed from the dire circumstances Daniel and I now found ourselves in.We pulled up to the entrance, and Henry and Julia stepped out of the car with a haughty, satisfied air. I followed reluctantly alongside Daniel, my heart thumping hard as I felt the cold pistol touching my back. Henry’s men had us surrounded all the time. There were a lot of them, and there was no way we could escape this. Inside, the chateau was even more impressive. High ceilings embellished with chandeliers, sweeping staircases, and richly furnished rooms greeted us at every turn. The floors were made of polished marble, and the walls were decorated with intricate tapestries and paintings.Julia’s eyes twinkled with delight as she looked around. “
Elijah’s POVI disembarked from the plane, my heart pounding with urgency and frustration. The Paris airport pulsed with its usual activity, but for me, it felt like a chaotic maze. I was determined to find Sophia, no matter the cost. When I noticed a group of security officers and police officials, I quickly headed over there and introduced myself. “Mr. Sinclair?” the officer asked, his accent thick with French inflections.“Yes, that’s me,” I replied sharply. “I need to speak with the head investigator in charge of the search.”The officer nodded and led me to a small office just off the main terminal. Inside, a tall man with a well-tailored suit and a sharp gaze sat behind a desk cluttered with maps and reports.“Mr. Sinclair, I’m Inspector Laurent,” he said, extending a hand. His tone was calm, but his eyes betrayed a hint of frustration.“Inspector Laurent, I need to know what you’ve found,” I said, barely managing to keep my composure. “Have you seen any sign of Henry, Julia,
Elijah’s POVJoe led me to a sleek helicopter waiting on the tarmac, its rotors already spinning. The cold wind whipped around us, blowing on our faces. As we climbed aboard, I couldn’t help but feel the adrenaline rushing through me.Joe settled into the pilot’s seat, his movements precise and practiced. I took a seat beside him as I thought about the implications of the photos and Daniel’s betrayal. Joe handed me a tablet displaying a map with various locations marked in red.“These are potential locations where Henry and Julia could have gone,” Joe said, pointing to the screen. “We’ve got several leads: remote airstrips, private estates, and even a few places where we suspect they might try to lay low.”I scanned the map quickly. “Any particular locations that stand out?”Joe nodded, tapping a few points on the map. “There’s a secluded villa in the south of France that’s been known to host high-profile individuals under the radar. Another is a private airstrip in the countryside. A
Julia’s POVI stepped onto the balcony, feeling the cool, crisp breeze brush against my skin. The sun was just beginning to set, casting a golden hue over the ocean, the sky, and the distant mountains. I threw my arms out wide, letting out a scream of pure, unadulterated joy. “I’m free!” I shouted, my voice echoing against the stone walls of the chateau. “I’m finally free!”I had almost lost hope. There were moments when the darkness seemed impenetrable, when escape felt impossible. But here I was, at the top of the world, reveling in the freedom Henry and I had fought so hard to reclaim. I twirled around with my eyes closed, feeling a sense of exhilaration course through me.Henry soon joined me, his presence as reassuring as ever. I ran to him, throwing my arms around him in a tight embrace. “You’re the best, Henry. You’ve always had my back, even when things seemed impossible.”He laughed, a twinkle in his eye that made my heart skip a beat. “Of course, Jules. I’ve always been her
Sophia’s POVA hush of golden light slipped through the curtains, draping the room in warmth and calm. It felt like the kind of morning that only came after surviving the storm.Weeks had passed since the chaos faded, and for once, the quiet didn’t feel temporary—it felt earned. I stirred slowly, eyes drifting open to find Elijah beside me, his hand resting lightly over mine. I studied him in the silence, taking in the softened edges of a man who’d carried us through fire and finally found peace.I leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. His eyes fluttered open, and when they focused on me, he smiled sleepily."Morning," he murmured."Morning," I whispered back, letting my fingers trace the line of his jaw. "Can you believe we actually get to wake up like this? No chaos, no danger—just us."He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead. "I could get used to this."Just as I was about to say something, the door burst open."Mommy! Daddy!" Reese called out, followed quickly by Roxy an
Elijah’s POVWe weaved through the cracked streets, deeper into a part of the city that felt like time had forgotten it. Boarded-up windows, rusted signage, buildings collapsing in on themselves. This was the kind of place where ghosts lingered, and today, we were chasing one of them."We’re close," Joe muttered from the front seat, his eyes scanning the GPS on his phone. "This is the last possible location that fits Hugo's hideouts."Antoine sat beside me in the back, silent but focused. His jaw was tight, hands clenched. I still didn’t know if I fully trusted him, but I couldn’t deny this: he was here, risking his neck like the rest of us. And right now, I’d take any edge we could get.I have to find Grandpa George. For Sophia.When we pulled up to the burned-out remains of what once looked like a chapel, a chill shot down my spine. The stone structure still stood, half-charred, the wooden beams above blackened and skeletal. Nature had tried to reclaim it—vines curling around scorch
Elijah’s POV“Sophia…”Her name was the only thing in my mind as I stormed through the decaying hallway, boots slamming against rotting wood, gun drawn. My pulse thundered in my ears. The floor creaked beneath every step, but I didn’t slow down. I couldn’t.Joe and his men fanned out behind me, covering corners, checking every room.We were running out of time.Then—A scream.My heart nearly stopped. It was her.I charged forward, slamming my shoulder into the door at the end of the hall. It burst open—and I saw red.Morgana was on the ground, gasping for air as Hugo’s hand squeezed her throat, and across the room, Sophia was trying to drag herself toward them, her face pale and streaked with tears.“NO!” I shouted, and without hesitation, I raised my gun.Hugo turned just as I fired.The bullet tore through his shoulder. He howled, stumbling back and releasing Morgana, who crumpled to the floor, coughing violently.I crossed the room in three strides and tackled Hugo before he could
Sophia’s POVThe first thing I felt was cold.A biting chill that wrapped around my arms and legs like a second set of restraints. Then came the pressure—tight, scratchy ropes cutting into my wrists. My head pounded like a drum, fog thick behind my eyes. Everything smelled like mildew and dust.My eyes struggled to make sense of the shadows.The room was dim, lit only by a weak bulb overhead that flickered like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to stay on. I was on a metal chair, hands tied behind my back, ankles secured to the legs. The air tasted stale and old, like the walls had been sealed off from the world for decades.Panic bloomed in my chest.My brother Chris. What had become of him?I jerked forward, straining against the ropes. “Chris!” I called, my voice hoarse and raw. “Where is he?!”I noticed some movement in the darkness. A shadow stirred in the corner of the room. I froze as a figure stepped out into the light. Tall. Gray-streaked beard. Sunken eyes like old coals. A d
Sophia’s POV“This is insane,” Elijah muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. “We’re relying on Antoine to lead us to Hugo. Does no one else see how crazy that is?”Joe, who had been checking messages on his phone, barely looked up. “We don’t have another choice.”I watched Elijah pace the room, his frustration clear. He wasn’t wrong, but I knew that if there was even the smallest chance of finding Grandpa George, we had to take it.Joe sighed and turned to Antoine. “You sure you can make him bite?”Antoine shrugged. “I know Hugo. He’s a cockroach—he won’t go down without a fight. But if he thinks his last hiding spot is compromised, he’ll make a move. That’s when we strike.”Elijah muttered something under his breath, but I didn’t catch it. Joe’s phone buzzed. As he studied the screen, he said, “We got something. Two possible locations.”Elijah straightened. “Then let’s move.”They all hurried out, and I had the sudden, overwhelming urge to call Elijah back—to make sure he’d pick up
Sophia’s POVMy mother sat on the couch, clutching Grandma Evelyn’s hands, trying to calm her down. My father stood near the window, staring out into the darkness, his face pale and unreadable.Chris and Connor were huddled over a laptop at the dining table, analyzing security footage.Joe was already there, speaking into his phone, barking orders to his contacts.But no one had any answers yet.And Grandpa George was still missing.I turned to my grandmother, kneeling in front of her. “Grandma—did you see anything? Anyone suspicious? A car, a stranger?”Her red-rimmed eyes filled with fresh tears as she shook her head. “No… nothing. I don’t know how this happened.” Her voice broke. “George was just in his study… and then he was gone.”Elijah placed a hand on my shoulder, grounding me, but I could feel the rage simmering beneath his calm exterior. He wasn’t just worried—he was furiousJust then, Chris snapped his fingers at the screen. “We’ve got something.”Connor turned the laptop t
Sophia’s POVWe had been trying to track down both Antoine and Hugo, but they had vanished like ghosts.No leads. No sightings. Nothing.Lucas had called me earlier, still searching, still digging. Even Elijah and his contacts have been working doubly hard. But so far, they’d come up empty too. It was frustrating—knowing the danger was out there, lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike.But tonight…Tonight, we weren’t going to think about it.Tonight, we were here to celebrate.After all, Lila and Adrian’s joint concert was finally happening. This was their moment, their dream unfolding before them.And for the first time in what felt like forever, we were all together, enjoying something good.Kayla was everywhere at once, her headset on, clipboard in hand, barking last-minute instructions into her earpiece. She was stressed, frantic… but glowing. Even though there could have been other people to take care of all this from her company, she wanted to be in charge, to personal
Emily’s POV“Walk away, Hugo,” Antoine said sharply, stepping in front of us as if to shield us from the strange man.The name triggered a memory.Chris had mentioned it just yesterday—Hugo Tournier. Suddenly, I remembered. It’s the name Sophia and Elijah had been trying to track down. The man who had supposedly changed Sophia’s life forever.And now he’s here. Why?!My hands instinctively balled up as my heart slammed against my ribs. Could this really be the same man?Hugo’s expression darkened with satisfaction as he took another step, exuding an air of quiet arrogance.“Well, well,” he drawled, his voice smooth but laced with something sinister. “You’re not as fun outside of prison, Antoine.”Phoebe’s grip on my wrist tightened. “Emily, let’s go,” she muttered under her breath.I wanted to. Every instinct screamed at me to turn and leave. But I couldn’t—not yet.Hugo came forward, his eyes staring straight at me. He gave a low chuckle, mocking. “It’s interesting to meet Sabrina Ba
Emily’s POVI refused to flinch. Even as Antoine stood in front of me, blocking my way, I forced my body to stay still, to stay firm.I squared my shoulders, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. “Move.”Antoine didn’t budge. His gaze shifted between me and Phoebe, like he wasn’t sure if I’d actually listen or turn and run.“I’m not here to fight,” he said, his voice calm. “I just want to talk.”Phoebe’s grip on my arm tightened, and her anger was immediate, sharp.“Oh, hell no,” she snapped. “What are you even doing here? Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”I inhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay calm. I wasn’t going to let him see me feeling nervous or affected by him. Antoine exhaled, his face unreadable. “I just wanted to talk.”Phoebe laughed coldly. “Talk? You took Jared, Antoine. Without permission. Do you have any idea what you put us through?”“I know,” he admitted. “I made a mistake.”Phoebe scoffed. “A mistake?”I stepped forward, my gaze hardening. “Please, Antoine.