Mandy’s POVThe sun was setting, casting a soft golden glow across the backyard as I watched Emily play. Her laughter echoed through the air, a sound that always brought a sense of peace to my heart. She was chasing after her dog, with her small feet pounding against the grass as she giggled, her innocence and joy so pure it made everything else seem insignificant.But that moment of peace was fleeting as I had turned my back for just a few seconds to grab a drink from the kitchen, the sound of Emily’s laughter still in my ears as I moved inside. It wasn’t long—just a few minutes, but when I returned, the backyard was silent. Too silent.“Emily?” I called, stepping out into the yard. My heart skipped a beat when I didn’t hear her response. I scanned the area, my eyes darting over every corner, every tree. There was no sign of her.I felt the first stirrings of panic in my chest. “Emily?” I called again, louder this time, my voice trembling. Still no response. My heart began to race as
Lucas’s POVThe clock was ticking. Each second that passed felt like a lifetime, the weight of the situation pressing down on me with increasing force. Emily was out there, and I had no idea where. Damian had her, and I couldn’t let him get away with it. Not this time. I stood in the middle of my office, the room filled with the tense energy of the small team I’d assembled. The investigator, whose calm demeanor had been a constant through this ordeal, sat at the desk, his laptop open in front of him. Across from him was the former associate of Damian’s, a man who had his own reasons for wanting to see Damian fall. His eyes were sharp, his face hardened by years of dealing with people like Damian, but there was something else there—something that told me he was just as determined as I was to bring this to an end.“Where do we stand?” I asked, my voice low, my patience wearing thin.The investigator looked up, his face tense. “We’ve got a lead. It’s not much, but it’s something. Damia
Lucas’s POVEmily’s soft sobs tugged at my heart, but I kept her behind me, shielding her small body with my own. The men blocking the doorway were like wolves, circling their prey. I could see it in their eyes—the malice, the hunger for violence. Damian had chosen them well. “You think you can just walk out of here?” one of them taunted, his voice a low growl. I didn’t respond. Words wouldn’t save us. Action would. Emily’s trembling hand clutched at the back of my shirt. “lucas?” she whispered, her voice so faint it nearly broke me. I glanced back at her, her tear-streaked face lit by the faint glow from the hallway. My heart shattered, but I forced myself to focus. “Stay close to me, sweetheart,” I said, my voice steady despite the chaos. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” Her trust in me was absolute, and that trust gave me strength. I turned back to the men, my grip tightening on the gun in my hand. “Step aside,” I said, my voice low and cold. “This is between me an
Mandy’s POVThe front door creaked open, and my heart skipped a beat. I rushed to my feet, my breath catching in my throat as I saw Lucas standing there, Emily in his arms, her small face pale and her eyes wide with fear. My heart ached at the sight of her, but relief flooded me all the same. They were home. They were safe.“Thank God,” I whispered, rushing to meet them. Lucas’s eyes met mine, a silent message passing between us—one of exhaustion, relief, and something else I couldn’t quite place. He gently placed Emily down on the couch, where she curled up, her little body trembling despite the warmth of the house. I knelt beside her, brushing a strand of hair from her face, my fingers trembling as I tried to comfort her. “Hey, baby,” I murmured softly. “You’re safe now. You’re okay.”But Emily didn’t respond. She just clung to me, her small arms wrapped tightly around my waist. I could feel her fear, her confusion, and it broke me inside. I wanted to shield her from all of this,
Lucas’s POVThe weight of the plan settled heavily on my shoulders as I sat in the dimly lit office, the stack of files in front of me a constant reminder of everything that was at stake. Damian had made it clear—he wouldn’t stop until he had everything he wanted. He’d crossed a line, one that could never be uncrossed. And now, it was time to turn the tables.I ran a hand through my hair, my eyes flicking over the information I had painstakingly gathered. Damian’s network was vast, complex, and deadly. Every step I took felt like walking on a razor’s edge, and one wrong move could cost us everything. But it was the only move left.I leaned back in the chair, staring at the map of connections and safe houses spread across the table. The walls felt like they were closing in, but I knew I couldn’t afford to hesitate. Damian was playing a dangerous game, and if I didn’t play it better, I’d lose everything—Mandy, Emily, and even my own life.The plan was simple, in theory. I would feed
Lucas’s POVHowever, the air was thick with tension as I stood in the dimly lit warehouse, the sound of my own breathing the only thing keeping me grounded. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline surging through my veins. I had set the trap, and now, the moment of reckoning had arrived.I glanced around, the cold concrete walls of the abandoned building pressing in on me. The place was empty—save for the figure standing at the far end, his silhouette barely visible in the shadows. Damian.He had taken the bait. He had come, just as I knew he would. But I wasn’t sure if I was ready for what this moment would bring. What I had learned about him, about his connections, his twisted motivations—none of it had prepared me for the confrontation that was about to unfold.Damian stepped forward, his face emerging from the shadows, his expression unreadable. There was no warmth in his eyes, just cold, calculating fury. He knew exactly what this was. He knew I had set him up, and he wasn’t
Mandy’s POVSilence settled over the house and it was deafening. It was the kind of silence that came after a storm had passed, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. I sat in the living room, my gaze fixed on the floor, lost in the whirlwind of emotions that had taken over me.The chaos, the fear, the uncertainty. it all felt like it had happened in a blur, and now, in the aftermath, it was hard to know what to hold on to.Lucas sat across from me, his face etched with exhaustion. His usual confident demeanor had been replaced with a weariness that spoke volumes. We had just survived the worst of it, but the reality of what we had faced, and what was still to come, weighed heavily on both of us.He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes dark with the burden of the choices he had made. “I never thought it would come to this,” he muttered, more to himself than to me. “I never imagined that it would get this far.”I nodded, unable to find the words to comfort him. The truth was,
Mandy’s POVEmily’s question hung in the air like a thundercloud about to burst as my breath was suddenly caught in the middle.She was so young, too young to be burdened with the weight of my choices, but there was no escaping it now. So, I dropped to my knees in front of her, reaching out to take her tiny hands in mine. “Emily. Baby,” I began, my voice trembling, “what you heard… it’s true. Lucas is your daddy.” Her eyes widened, and she pulled her hands away, stepping back slightly. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. “I didn’t tell you because I wanted to protect you. I thought it was the best way to keep you safe.” “From what?” she demanded, her voice rising. “From Lucas?” “No,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “Not from Lucas. Never from Lucas. I just… there were things happening that I didn’t understand, things I was afraid of. I thought keeping it a secret was the right thing to do.” Her lip quivered, and tears welled up in he
Mandy’s POVThe house was quiet, save for the faint hum of the heater kicking in. Lucas sat on the couch, his phone gripped tightly in his hands, his face a mask of tension. My earlier question hung in the air like a storm cloud. “Who sent this?” I asked again, my voice firmer this time. He didn’t look up, but I saw the way his jaw tightened, the way his shoulders stiffened. Whatever he was holding back, it was big. My heart pounded as I crossed the room and sat beside him. “Lucas,” I pressed, my tone soft but unyielding. “Talk to me.” He exhaled sharply, finally setting his phone down on the coffee table. His hands raked through his hair, leaving it even messier than before. “It’s from....," He paused as a quick sigh escaped from him as he continued immediately. " It's from someone who knows Damian,” he said, his voice low. "Damian?" I quipped. "Is that why the message stated, “You can’t hide forever. The truth will come out.”"What are you hiding again, Lucas, what truth
Mandy’s POVThe morning sun sneaked through the blinds, putting long streaks of light on the bedroom. However, its warmth did not help the cold knot in my stomach. I’d barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, Mary’s message caught my mind and was almost as luminous as a neon light, mocking me.Meanwhile, Lucas stirred beside me, his breathing steady and calm, as though he didn’t have a care in the world. How could he sleep so peacefully after last night? After that message? With that, I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him, and padded to the kitchen. As the smell of coffee brewing filled the air, but even that couldn’t calm the storm raging inside me. I was halfway through my cup when I heard his footsteps. He entered the kitchen, his hair tousled, his face still marked with the exhaustion of the past few days. “Mandy,” he said softly, his voice breaking the silence. “We need to talk.” I set my mug down, folding my arms across my chest. “About Mary?” He nodded, pul
Mandy’s POVEmily’s question hung in the air like a thundercloud about to burst as my breath was suddenly caught in the middle.She was so young, too young to be burdened with the weight of my choices, but there was no escaping it now. So, I dropped to my knees in front of her, reaching out to take her tiny hands in mine. “Emily. Baby,” I began, my voice trembling, “what you heard… it’s true. Lucas is your daddy.” Her eyes widened, and she pulled her hands away, stepping back slightly. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. “I didn’t tell you because I wanted to protect you. I thought it was the best way to keep you safe.” “From what?” she demanded, her voice rising. “From Lucas?” “No,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “Not from Lucas. Never from Lucas. I just… there were things happening that I didn’t understand, things I was afraid of. I thought keeping it a secret was the right thing to do.” Her lip quivered, and tears welled up in he
Mandy’s POVSilence settled over the house and it was deafening. It was the kind of silence that came after a storm had passed, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. I sat in the living room, my gaze fixed on the floor, lost in the whirlwind of emotions that had taken over me.The chaos, the fear, the uncertainty. it all felt like it had happened in a blur, and now, in the aftermath, it was hard to know what to hold on to.Lucas sat across from me, his face etched with exhaustion. His usual confident demeanor had been replaced with a weariness that spoke volumes. We had just survived the worst of it, but the reality of what we had faced, and what was still to come, weighed heavily on both of us.He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes dark with the burden of the choices he had made. “I never thought it would come to this,” he muttered, more to himself than to me. “I never imagined that it would get this far.”I nodded, unable to find the words to comfort him. The truth was,
Lucas’s POVHowever, the air was thick with tension as I stood in the dimly lit warehouse, the sound of my own breathing the only thing keeping me grounded. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline surging through my veins. I had set the trap, and now, the moment of reckoning had arrived.I glanced around, the cold concrete walls of the abandoned building pressing in on me. The place was empty—save for the figure standing at the far end, his silhouette barely visible in the shadows. Damian.He had taken the bait. He had come, just as I knew he would. But I wasn’t sure if I was ready for what this moment would bring. What I had learned about him, about his connections, his twisted motivations—none of it had prepared me for the confrontation that was about to unfold.Damian stepped forward, his face emerging from the shadows, his expression unreadable. There was no warmth in his eyes, just cold, calculating fury. He knew exactly what this was. He knew I had set him up, and he wasn’t
Lucas’s POVThe weight of the plan settled heavily on my shoulders as I sat in the dimly lit office, the stack of files in front of me a constant reminder of everything that was at stake. Damian had made it clear—he wouldn’t stop until he had everything he wanted. He’d crossed a line, one that could never be uncrossed. And now, it was time to turn the tables.I ran a hand through my hair, my eyes flicking over the information I had painstakingly gathered. Damian’s network was vast, complex, and deadly. Every step I took felt like walking on a razor’s edge, and one wrong move could cost us everything. But it was the only move left.I leaned back in the chair, staring at the map of connections and safe houses spread across the table. The walls felt like they were closing in, but I knew I couldn’t afford to hesitate. Damian was playing a dangerous game, and if I didn’t play it better, I’d lose everything—Mandy, Emily, and even my own life.The plan was simple, in theory. I would feed
Mandy’s POVThe front door creaked open, and my heart skipped a beat. I rushed to my feet, my breath catching in my throat as I saw Lucas standing there, Emily in his arms, her small face pale and her eyes wide with fear. My heart ached at the sight of her, but relief flooded me all the same. They were home. They were safe.“Thank God,” I whispered, rushing to meet them. Lucas’s eyes met mine, a silent message passing between us—one of exhaustion, relief, and something else I couldn’t quite place. He gently placed Emily down on the couch, where she curled up, her little body trembling despite the warmth of the house. I knelt beside her, brushing a strand of hair from her face, my fingers trembling as I tried to comfort her. “Hey, baby,” I murmured softly. “You’re safe now. You’re okay.”But Emily didn’t respond. She just clung to me, her small arms wrapped tightly around my waist. I could feel her fear, her confusion, and it broke me inside. I wanted to shield her from all of this,
Lucas’s POVEmily’s soft sobs tugged at my heart, but I kept her behind me, shielding her small body with my own. The men blocking the doorway were like wolves, circling their prey. I could see it in their eyes—the malice, the hunger for violence. Damian had chosen them well. “You think you can just walk out of here?” one of them taunted, his voice a low growl. I didn’t respond. Words wouldn’t save us. Action would. Emily’s trembling hand clutched at the back of my shirt. “lucas?” she whispered, her voice so faint it nearly broke me. I glanced back at her, her tear-streaked face lit by the faint glow from the hallway. My heart shattered, but I forced myself to focus. “Stay close to me, sweetheart,” I said, my voice steady despite the chaos. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” Her trust in me was absolute, and that trust gave me strength. I turned back to the men, my grip tightening on the gun in my hand. “Step aside,” I said, my voice low and cold. “This is between me an
Lucas’s POVThe clock was ticking. Each second that passed felt like a lifetime, the weight of the situation pressing down on me with increasing force. Emily was out there, and I had no idea where. Damian had her, and I couldn’t let him get away with it. Not this time. I stood in the middle of my office, the room filled with the tense energy of the small team I’d assembled. The investigator, whose calm demeanor had been a constant through this ordeal, sat at the desk, his laptop open in front of him. Across from him was the former associate of Damian’s, a man who had his own reasons for wanting to see Damian fall. His eyes were sharp, his face hardened by years of dealing with people like Damian, but there was something else there—something that told me he was just as determined as I was to bring this to an end.“Where do we stand?” I asked, my voice low, my patience wearing thin.The investigator looked up, his face tense. “We’ve got a lead. It’s not much, but it’s something. Damia