06. Threat

                                Mia Miller

Among all the possible situations, I never imagined seeing my father leave our home lifeless. My mind was a mess; while my son was kidnapped, I still had to deal with the grief of my father's death.

I wondered, lying there staring at the ceiling, what I had done wrong to deserve so many terrible things?

I truly didn’t know.

I sat on the floor of the living room, my arms wrapped around my legs, while emptiness and pain consumed my chest. The house was silent and cold, reflecting the state of my heart. My father was gone, and my son, my little Lorenzo, was in the hands of someone I didn't even know. The weight of it all was unbearable, and I didn't know what to do anymore.

I began to think about all the choices I had made up to this point, questioning each one. How did I get here? How did I allow my life to fall apart like this? If I had told Ethan about Lorenzo earlier... Maybe none of this would be happening. But I didn’t know who he was. I barely knew what to expect that night, let alone that the consequences would be so devastating.

And then, I started to cry. I knew it wouldn’t solve anything, but at least it would be a momentary relief.

Then the phone rang.

Charlotte’s name appeared on the screen. I answered it promptly.

"Friend," she said, already knowing what had happened. "I'm sorry I didn’t pick up earlier, I was at the hospital."

"It's okay," I said, wiping my tears with my shirt.

"I'm coming over right away."

"You don't need to, Char. There’s nothing we can do. I just want to be alone for a while. I just need to focus on finding my son."

She offered me some words of comfort, but nothing seemed enough. I had lost the only person I had, and the world seemed devoid of color.

And on top of that, I had a million other problems: my kidnapped son, a mortgage to pay, and no job.

My thoughts returned to my father as I looked at the picture in our living room—him and me, hugging and smiling at my graduation. Flashbacks of happy moments came to mind, as if trying to comfort me. His proud look…

I remembered the nights when he stayed up late, helping me study for exams. He had always been my safe haven, the rock I leaned on, and now that rock is shattered.

Flashback:

“Dad, I don’t know if I can do this,” I said when I was about to start college.  

He smiled—that smile that always calmed me. “You can do anything, Mia. And I’ll be here to support you every step of the way.”

I didn’t know that support would cost him so much. He took on a huge debt to pay for my education. He never told me, never wanted me to know. Now he was gone, and the guilt was suffocating me. I couldn’t protect him, just as I couldn’t protect my son.

All of this was my fault.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of a car stopping in front of the house. I stood up, my heart racing, as the door opened and Ethan walked in. He looked different, more controlled, but his eyes carried an intensity that made me instinctively step back. He looked around the room, his eyes landing on the boxes with my father’s belongings, before turning his gaze back to me.

It was clear how much he hated me for hiding the fact that he had a son.

“Ethan…” My voice came out weak, almost a whisper.

He stepped forward, stopping in front of me, his presence overwhelming. I felt small in front of him, the pain and anxiety mixing with a growing sense of fear. He seemed to have control over everything, and that terrified me.

“Explain to me what happened,” he ordered, his voice firm and devoid of any emotion. He moved closer, invading my personal space.

I tried to maintain my composure, but my voice trembled as I spoke. “My father… he’s gone. And my son... Ethan, I don’t know what to do.”

He looked at me for a long moment, assessing my words. “And you’re telling me that only now have you decided to involve me in this? When have you  already lost control of the situation?”

“I didn’t know who to turn to,” I replied, my hands shaking. “I thought that… maybe…”

He scoffed, a nearly animalistic sound that made me shiver. “I already said I'd help find the boy. But listen well, Mia. When we find him, he will be mine.”

I felt the ground crumble beneath my feet. “What do you mean by ‘yours’? He’s my son, Ethan. You can’t just take him from me! I just lost my father, you’re a monster,” I shouted.

“I can, and I will,” he said coldly, his eyes locked on mine, not budging an inch. “You have no idea what we’re dealing with here. Lorenzo is more than just your son, Mia. He’s part of something bigger, something you would never understand.”

“That doesn’t make any sense!” I was on the verge of tears, the anguish growing inside me. “You can’t just make that decision for me!”

Ethan leaned closer, and I could feel the warmth of his breath against my skin. “You’ve stepped into a world you don’t know. When we find him, he’ll be under my protection. If that means taking him from you, then that’s what I’ll do.”

His words hit me like a punch in the gut. I didn’t fully understand what he meant, I was completely confused, but the seriousness in his voice and the intensity in his eyes told me he wasn’t joking.

“I’ll never let you take my son from me,” I whispered, but even then, I could hear the fear in my voice.

He straightened up, his expression hard. “We’ll see about that. Now, if you want your son back, do as I say. Early tomorrow, my driver will be here. I’ve already activated everything possible to find my cub. And about your father, I’ll cover all the funeral costs and whatever else you need.”

He turned to leave, leaving me alone in the oppressive silence of the house. I sat back down on the floor, feeling more lost than ever. My father was dead, and now it seemed I was about to lose my son too.

I needed a plan. And somehow, I needed to find out who Ethan really was and what he was hiding.