VICTOR.Sitting in my mother’s darkened, dusty cottage, grief grips me like a vise, squeezing the air from my lungs. It’s been days since Nicole was taken from me. She was the only pride I had in this godforsaken world. I swirl the drink in my hand, letting the bitterness numb me.The whiskey is meant to dull the pain, but instead, it amplifies it. Nicole’s face haunts me—the hollow ache in her eyes the last time I saw her alive, when she complained about that deadbeat of a husband… I wish I could have given her better advice than I did.Tears threaten to spill from my eyes, but I swallow them down.My mother won’t let me drown in sorrow. “Victor,” she snaps, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife. “Are you really going to sit here, drinking yourself into oblivion?”I glare at her, but she doesn’t flinch. She never does. She’s a hard woman—made of iron and shadows—and right now, she looks at me as though I’m the pathetic one. “And what would you have me do, Mother?” I snar
JASON. “That son of a witch!” I grip the burner phone tightly while Victor's voice echoes in my ears. The cabin Kane gave out as Victor's current location is empty save for this cursed device. Victor clearly wants to play a deadly game with his own rules… But this will not end well for him! I shove the phone into my pocket and begin to head back towards my car with frustration simmering beneath the surface. I should have known that Kane couldn't be trusted. As I step out into the clearing, the night becomes suddenly eerily silent. My instincts kick in and I know danger is not far. Hence I quicken my pace towards the car to get out of that place but just as my hand reaches out for the door handle, a deafening explosion erupts, sending a wave of heat and force that slums me backwards. I crush hard against the cabin wall, pain radiating through my body. For a moment everything is a blur of smoke and ringing ears… Then a sharp agony in my stomach cuts through the haze, I glanced
STACY. The night air bites into my skin, cold and relentless, as I sit on the porch steps, staring into the pitch-black streets. My arms are wrapped tightly around myself, but it does little to stave off the chill—or the fear inside me. Liam is out there somewhere, and every second that passes feels like another cut to my heart. Is he safe? Is he scared? Has he eaten anything since the kidnapers took him? The questions torment me, each one worse than the last. Suddenly, a noise behind me—a car pulling up—snaps me out of my spiraling thoughts. I turn quickly, hope flaring and then twisting into something darker when I see Daniel stepping out. But he’s not alone. My heart skips a beat when I notice Jason, slumped over and unconscious, being helped out of the car by another man I don’t recognize. “What happened to him?” I’m on my feet in an instant, rushing toward them. Daniel’s expression is grim. “My warriors found him like this at the boarder while patrolling, barely conscio
JASON. “This is a dumb idea, by the way,” Kane says, but no one responds. The drive is already oppressive, every second dragging on under the weight of whatever we might walk into. Daniel sits in the passenger seat beside me, arms crossed tightly over his chest. I can practically feel his glare burning a hole through the windshield. The air is thick with tension, each breath a struggle against the pressure in the cramped space. But none of that matters. With every passing second, Victor could be doing something terrible to my son. Time is of the essence and I need my son back like yesterday… Finally, Daniel decides to break the silence in the car. His voice is cold and clipped as usual. “We should rethink this plan. You staying back and me using my army would give us a better chance.” I keep my eyes on the road, my grip tightening on the steering wheel. “For the last time, Daniel, I’m not staying back.” “But your connection to Victor—” he starts, but I cut him off, my voice shar
STACY. Jason and I slip into the building unnoticed while Daniel and Kane create a diversion. The oppressive silence is only broken by the faint creak of old wooden floors beneath our feet while my heart pounds as I catch a whiff of Liam’s scent—faint but unmistakable. I grab Jason’s arm, my breath hitching. “Jason, I smell him,” I whisper, my voice trembling with a mix of hope and fear. “This way.” He nods silently, his eyes scanning the shadows as I lead the way. The scent grows stronger, guiding us down a dimly lit corridor until we stop in front of a door guarded by two hulking rogues. Their sneers and postures radiate menace. Jason’s jaw tightens as he pulls me back gently. “Stay here. I’ll handle this.” I grip his arm tighter, my eyes wide with anxiety. “Jason, be careful.” He gives me a small, reassuring smile. “I will. Stay hidden.” Before I can protest further, he steps out into the open, his movements calculated and deliberate. The rogues straighten, their eyes
STACY. The road to Blue Moon feels like it stretches endlessly before us, and each mile drag my heart deeper into dread. I steal a worried glance at Daniel. My heart feeling heavy, and torn between relief for Liam and guilt over leaving Jason behind. "Daniel," I say quietly, glancing at him. "Are we really going to leave Jason back there with Victor? All alone?" He doesn’t take his eyes off the road, but his jaw tightens. "Jason’s no fool, Stacy. He knew what he was doing. And don’t worry," he adds, glancing at me. "His guards and my warriors are already on their way. They’ll have his back sooner than later." A rush of relief floods through me, easing some of the weight on my chest. But just as quickly, my concern shifts back to Liam, his small, pale form lying limply against me, still so cold to the touch. I cling to Liam, his fragile breaths barely stirring against me, each one coming slower than the last. His skin is icy under my fingertips, and his lips are pale, ting
STACY. An hour passes, dragging painfully as I sit in the cold waiting room. My mind swings between the urgent prayers for Liam and the nagging worry about Jason. I can’t help picturing both alone, facing their worst fears… Each time a door creaks or footsteps echo in the hallway, my heart leaps, but it’s not any of the people I'm currently worried about. Only doctors, nurses, and strangers passing by—no sign of Jason or news about Liam. Finally, just as the first light of dawn starts to seep through the hospital windows, the doors to the ER swing open. I’m on my feet instantly, heart pounding, but instead of a doctor, I see a familiar figure—tall, broad-shouldered, moving with that calm, lethal confidence I know so well. Jason steps into the waiting room, his clothes rumpled, but not a single scratch marks on his skin. His gaze sweeps the room, finding mine, and for a moment, relief floods through me. I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath. But as he walks closer,
STACY. Two days have passed since we returned from the hospital, and though everything seems normal, an undercurrent of tension remains. Jason’s guards are stationed around us day and night, a constant reminder that he still believes his enemies could strike at any moment once again. I’m sitting on the couch with my laptop balanced on my knees, typing away, while Lizzy flips through paperwork beside me. Every so often, she sneaks a glance in my direction, as if there’s something she wants to ask but doesn’t. The only other sounds are the occasional clink of pots and pans coming from the kitchen, where Jason is busy making lunch—a sight that still feels strange, because of all the time we spent together, I’d never seen him step foot in a kitchen to prepare me a meal for anyone even himself... Oh well, I guess there is always a first time for everything… I’m tapping away on my laptop when Lizzy suddenly nudges me with a knowing look in her eyes. “So, how’s it going, working