Leo walked back and forth in his base, unable to keep still. His fists were clenched tightly, and his jaw set. He was like a lion caged in his own fury, his usually cool composure replaced by an edge of barely restrained violence.Every fiber of his being thrummed, his mind set on one mission—finding Chloe.A heavy door swung open behind him, and Anton strode in, followed by five of Leo’s most trusted men.Anton frowned and walked faster when he noticed the rigid stance of his boss. “We came as soon as possible, boss,” he said, halting in front of Leo, the men at his side straightening to attention. “What’s the situation?”Leo took a slow, measured breath, as if forcing himself to keep from shouting. “It’s Chloe,” he said in a low and dangerously calm voice. “She’s been kidnapped.”Anton’s eyes widened, genuine surprise flashing across his face. “Chloe? Westbrook?”Leo’s gaze sharpened as he turned to him, patience slipping. “Which other Chloe do we know about? Of course, it’s Westbro
Leo’s SUV and the other two vehicles stopped just outside the rundown warehouse, its rusty walls standing tall like a dark sentinel in the dim moonlight. The cold air bit him and his men as they exited the vehicles. The faint hum of distant machinery and the occasional creak of metal were the only audible sounds.Leo surveyed the warehouse, his jaw set and his hands steady despite the storm raging inside him. Chloe was in there, somewhere, and every second felt like a lifetime.He turned to his men. “We go in quiet. No unnecessary violence unless it’s unavoidable. Priority is getting Chloe out alive. Do you understand?”“Yes, boss,” Anton and the others replied in unison.Leo’s eyes flicked back to the building, scanning for weak points, entryways, anything to give them an advantage. But as he studied the area, his thoughts betrayed him.This is my fault.The words echoed in his head like a cruel refrain. Chloe’s capture wasn’t just a calculated move by the Gaglianos—it was collatera
A moment later, another set of footsteps entered the room—a slower and more deliberate one.“Chloe?” The familiar voice called out.Chloe’s breath caught in her throat. “Leo?” she whispered, disbelief and relief flooding her at once.Leo’s voice was calm yet clear, piercing the musty atmosphere of the dimly lit room. “I’d be careful if I were you.” His gun was raised, trained with deadly precision on the man holding Chloe.The kidnapper paused for a moment, keeping his gun aimed at Chloe, his hand tightening around the handle. “You wouldn’t put her life in danger,” he sneered, but the slight tremor in his voice revealed his doubt.Leo’s eyes burned with cold fury. “You think I won’t put a bullet in your head before you can even pull that trigger?” His words carried no bravado, only the lethal certainty of a man who had done worse for less.The man hesitated, his resolve faltering under Leo’s intense gaze. “I just do my job, alright? Nothing personal. You want her back? Let me walk out
Anton gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white as he pressed the accelerator, speeding through the city’s streets with no regard for traffic lights or the blare of honking horns. The SUV roared past intersections, weaving through traffic like a predator hunting its prey. In the back seat, Chloe held Leo’s limp body against her, her tears staining his shirt as she tried to steady him.Her chest heaved with sobs, her mind consumed with guilt. “This is my fault,” she whispered in a trembling voice. “He’s hurt because of me. If I hadn’t been—”“Enough!” Anton’s voice interrupted her. “He’s not dead yet, so stop crying over him like he is. Save it for later, when he can yell at you himself.”Chloe flinched at his tone, biting her lip to hold back her tears. She knew he was right—her tears wouldn’t help Leo now—but the feel of his blood soaking through his shirt, his shaky breaths, and the shallow rise and fall of his chest shattered her resolve. She nodded weakly, holding
The office building had grown eerily quiet, the usual hum of activity replaced by the oppressive weight of uncertainty. Marcus paced in Chloe’s office, her cane and phone resting on the desk where he’d placed them after retrieving them from the floor outside. Every so often, his eyes darted to his watch. Over an hour had passed since Leo had taken off with Chloe. No updates. No calls.Marcus stared at his phone, his thumb hovering over Leo’s number. He’d called twice already, and each time, the line went straight to voicemail. “Damn it,” he muttered under his breath, shoving the phone back into his pocket.The silence in the room felt deafening. Marcus’s mind raced with worst-case scenarios. What if something had gone wrong? What if the men who had taken Chloe had backup? What if—No. He shook his head, forcing himself to stay calm. Leo would handle it. He promised he would. But the nagging feeling in his gut told him otherwise. He had waited long enough.Taking a deep breath, Marcu
The room was dimly lit, filled with sweat and the smell of cigarette smoke. Signs of earlier chaos were everywhere, with debris scattered around and chairs turned over. The man in charge of the kidnap, a wiry man with a gaunt face and sharp, hawk-like eyes, paced back and forth, his boots thudding heavily against the concrete floor.Before him, three men knelt, their faces bruised, blood trickling down from cuts on their foreheads and lips. Each bore the aftermath of a mission gone disastrously wrong, but they kept their heads bowed, too terrified to meet their leader’s burning gaze.The wiry man suddenly stopped, his eyes narrowing on the closest man. “Just thirty damn minutes. Thirty!” he snarled, his voice echoing sharply against the cold, bare walls. “I told you to watch her, to keep her contained. All you had to do was scare her. Make her sweat a little. That’s it!”He took a step closer, his fists clenched at his sides. “And not only do you mess it up,” he growled, his voice dr
The room was still and quiet, the only sound you could hear was the soft, rhythmic beeping of the monitors beside Leo’s bed. Shadows from the dim overhead light played across the walls, creating a calm amidst the storm that had torn through the night.Chloe sat slumped in the chair beside him, her head resting on the edge of his bed. Her breathing was soft, her face turned slightly toward him, her fingers still curled around his hand as if even in sleep, she couldn’t let him go.Leo’s eyes fluttered open slowly, his vision hazy and blurred at first. The ache in his chest was a dull throb, a reminder of the bullet that had narrowly missed his heart. He blinked, the fog lifting as his gaze focused on the figure beside him.Chloe.For a moment, he simply watched her. Strands of her hair fell across her face, and her lips were parted slightly in the relaxed stillness of sleep. Despite the exhaustion evident in the dark circles beneath her eyes, there was a softness to her features that
When Chloe woke up, the room was a bit dark and silent. The gentle sound of the air conditioning and the far-off footsteps were all that suggested that there was life in the mansion somewhere. Chloe was now lying in bed, feeling the soft mattress underneath her, which was very different from the chair where she had dozed off.She sat up slowly, disoriented for a moment. Her hands brushed against the soft sheets, and a faint scent of lavender lingered in the air. The faint ache in her muscles from the events of the day before made her sigh softly.“You’re finally awake,” a familiar voice said from somewhere nearby in a warm and teasing tone.Chloe turned her head toward the sound, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Leo,” she said softly. “You’re out of bed. You shouldn’t be up. You should be resting.”“Don’t tell me you’re going to be one of those grumpy nurses who would keep me in bed all day if they could,” he quipped with a faint chuckle in his voice.Chloe couldn’t help but laugh
The days after her confrontation with Leo passed in a haze of confusion and regret for Chloe. She hadn’t meant to push him away with her words. All she wanted was honesty—a glimpse into the shadows he seemed to live in. Yet, she had managed to create a chasm between them.She shook her head as she sat in her office, braille documents under her fingers. It was foolish to keep thinking about him. She didn’t have the luxury to let herself get distracted—not now, not with everything else spiraling around her. Perhaps it was the universe’s way of telling her to focus on herself and the challenges ahead.Still, every so often, her mind would wander, and she would find herself wondering where Leo was. Was he angry? Hurt? Or worse—indifferent?Her frustration simmered as the hours wore on. By the time Marcus helped her into the car that evening, Chloe felt the exhaustion weighing on her, both physically and emotionally.“Rough day?” Marcus asked as he slid into the driver’s seat.“Rough wee
Chloe's gentle breathing created a calm atmosphere in the still living room while Leo tucked the blanket around her shoulders. Her head lay gently on the soft pillow, her face calm in sleep. For the first time in what seemed like days, she appeared genuinely relaxed, causing him to pause before stepping away from her.As soon as he went outside, the calm appearance faded away. The cool evening air touched his skin, but it did not calm the restless energy flowing inside him. His thoughts raced, each one more intense than the previous, as he walked toward the side of the house where Anton was waiting.“Anton,” Leo said, his voice sharp.Anton moved out from the dark corner of the patio, his big body fitting well into the low light. “He’ll be here soon,” he said, his deep voice calm and steady.Leo nodded, his jaw clenched as he folded his arms. “Okay. I would like this completed promptly.”Their tension was clear as the minutes went by, broken only by the soft chirping of crickets. Le
“And yet, you’re still here,” he teased gently, brushing a strand of hair from her face.Chloe’s lips curved into a genuine smile, the weight on her shoulders feeling just a little lighter. For the first time in weeks, she allowed herself to hope—not just for a resolution to her troubles, but for something more.Leo’s hand lingered on Chloe’s cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin. The intensity of the kiss they’d just shared hung in the air between them, thick and electric. Chloe’s breath was uneven as she tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a faint, self-conscious smile.“Leo,” she began, her voice soft but steady, “I—”Whatever words she had been about to say were cut off as Leo leaned in again, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was as deliberate as it was tender. This time, there was no hesitation, no unspoken tension—only the quiet reassurance of two people finding solace in each other. Chloe’s free hand slid up to rest on his chest, feeling the stead
Leo King sat in his office, scrolling through his phone while sipping his usual black coffee. The sharp taste of the drink combined with the usual flow of emails created a clear difference from the surprising news alert that suddenly appeared on his screen.BREAKING NEWS: WESTBROOK ENTERPRISES INTERIM CEO ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLEMENT.Leo’s heart sank. Chloe. He set the coffee cup down with a soft clink, his jaw tightening as he read further. Every line painted her as a calculating executive funneling funds into offshore accounts. It was a clear attack, and yet the media presented it as gospel truth.Without hesitation, he dialed her number. Chloe picked up after a couple of rings, her tone steady but tired. “Leo.”“Chloe, I just saw the news. What’s going on?”“I don’t know who’s behind this,” she began, her voice measured but tinged with frustration. “Someone planted false evidence. Marcus and Adam are helping me—”“I don’t care what the media says,” Leo interrupted firmly. “I care ab
The mall buzzed with the usual hum of activity: children’s laughter echoing from the play area, the faint clinking of plates from the food court, and the soft strains of background music weaving through the air. Sofia Sawyer strolled through the upscale shopping district, her heels clicking against the polished floor. She carried an aura of determination, masking the simmering bitterness she’d harbored since her last encounter with Chloe.She turned into a designer store, her fingers brushing over racks of meticulously crafted garments. Sofia hardly noticed the clothes—her mind was too busy running through scenarios to regain control of her crumbling image. She needed leverage, an edge against Chloe.“...She thinks she’s untouchable,” a sharp voice cut through Sofia’s thoughts.Sofia turned slightly toward the sound, her curiosity piqued. Near the store’s expansive glass windows stood Nancy Greyson, phone pressed to her ear. Nancy’s body language was as cutting as her tone—shoulder
The sound of tires crunching against gravel echoed through the Westbrook mansion driveway, drawing Chloe’s attention from her seat in the drawing room. The faint creak of the front door followed moments later, and Marcus’s measured footsteps approached.“Miss Chloe,” Marcus said from the doorway, his tone careful. “A delivery has arrived for you. It’s... several large boxes.”Chloe tilted her head slightly. “From whom?” she asked, her fingers instinctively tightening around her cane.Marcus hesitated. “Mr. Dan Sawyer.”The name made her chest tighten, her pulse quickening. She forced herself to remain calm, though her voice sharpened. “What’s in the boxes?”“Baby items,” Marcus replied evenly. “A crib, toys, clothes… a few other things. It looks like he was preparing for the child.”Chloe’s lips pressed into a thin line. Her heart sank, and her anger simmered just beneath the surface. “Return them,” she said coolly. “The truck left already, Miss.”“Then call another delivery service
The next few days passed in a blur of happiness and healing for the Westbrook family. The once somber atmosphere of the mansion lightened with each passing day. Adam had taken to cracking even more jokes, and Francis—despite his grumbles—was slowly warming to the teasing camaraderie. Their father spent long afternoons sitting with their mother, the two of them quietly reconnecting after the long, frightening separation.Chloe, too, felt a change within herself. Though her mother’s recovery was still in its early stages, each visit left her feeling more connected. For the first time in a long while, she didn’t feel like an outsider.On a crisp Thursday morning, Chloe stood in the foyer of the Westbrook mansion, adjusting her cane and dress as she waited for Adam. Adam’s voice rang out from upstairs, muffled but still audible.“Chloe! If you don’t wait for me, I’m charging you rent for the ride!”Chloe chuckled softly, her grip tightening on her cane. “You’re the one who’s late, Adam.
Adam's words lingered in the air, each sound affecting Chloe and Marcus like a pebble dropped into calm water.“She’s awake. Mom… Mom is awake.”Chloe’s grip tightened on her cane, her lips parting slightly in disbelief. “Oh my God,” she whispered, the weight of the words settling in her chest. “That’s… That’s incredible news.”Adam’s grin spread, a mixture of relief and excitement lighting up his features. “After a month plus,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “She’s finally awake.”Chloe steadied herself, taking a slow breath as her heart raced. “We need to go,” she said, her voice firm with urgency.Adam was already dialing on his phone. He pressed it to his ear, pacing as the call connected. “Francis? Yeah, it’s Adam. Listen, I just got a call from the hospital. Mom’s awake.”A muffled gasp came from the other end. Adam nodded as though Francis could see him. “Yeah, I know. We’re on our way too. Just... don’t try to drive yourself, alright? We’ll pick you up.”As he ended th
The gift store bell jingled softly as Chloe and Adam stepped inside, Marcus trailing a step behind them, his expression as unreadable as ever. The air carried a faint mix of lavender and vanilla from the myriad of candles and potpourri sachets scattered throughout the shop. Chloe tapped her cane lightly on the floor, the sound echoing faintly as her feet felt the polished tiles beneath her.“I don’t know why you insist on dragging me into this,” Chloe said, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “It’s not like I can help much with picking things out.”“That’s nonsense,” Adam replied, his voice full of mock offense. “You’ve always had impeccable taste. Besides, I need someone to rein me in before I buy something ridiculous.”Marcus’s low murmur cut through. “Before?” It earned a soft chuckle from Chloe.Adam shot Marcus a mock glare. “I’ll have you know, I have exquisite taste. But, for your information, restraint isn’t one of my strengths.”“Exquisite taste?” Chloe tilted her head, her s