Lucian

The elevator doors closed, taking Lexi away out of sight, in and I immediately wanted to punch something. Preferably Victor Kane's smug face.

I stared at the closed doors for a full minute, fighting the urge to chase after her. This was for the best. She will be safe at the cabin, and I could handle Victor without worrying about collateral damage.

My phone rang. An unknown number flashed across the screen.

“Cross.” I said coldly.

“She's prettier in person,” Victor's oily voice slithered through the speaker. “That red dress really brings out her eyes.”

What? My hand tightened on the phone so hard I heard the case crack. “If you touch her…”

“Oh, Lucian. So predictable.” He chuckled like we were old friends sharing a joke. “You always were too emotional. Your grandfather would be disappointed.”

“My grandfather should have fed you to the sharks years ago.”

“Maybe.” He scoffed. “But your grandfather is dead, and you're still that scared little boy who wet himself at board meetings.”

I sat down behind my desk, forcing my voice to stay calm. “What do you want, Victor?”

“The Meridian files.” He said, I could sense the desperation in his voice. “All of them. You have twenty-four hours.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then I start sending you pieces of your little journalist. I'm thinking I'll start with her fingers. She has such delicate hands.”

My heart tightened. He could see her.

The line went dead.

I threw the phone across the room. It shattered against the wall, pieces scattering across the marble floor like confetti.

Twenty-four hours.

I opened my laptop and pulled up the secure server where my grandfather's files were stored. Hundreds of folders. Thousands of documents. Enough dirt to bring down governments.

The Meridian files were the crown jewel. Evidence of a conspiracy that went all the way to the top. Politicians, judges, CEOs, even a few foreign diplomats. All involved in a network of corruption that would make Watergate look like a parking ticket.

My grandfather had spent thirty years building this insurance policy. And now Victor wanted me to hand it over for one stubborn journalist with whiskey eyes and a smart mouth.

The smart move would be to cut my losses. Give Victor what he wanted and disappear. I had enough money stashed in offshore accounts to live comfortably for ten lifetimes.

But the thought of Lexi's fingers being cut off made my vision go red.

I picked up my office phone and dialed a number.

“Ramirez.” A feminine voice announced.

“It's Cross. I need a favor.” Ibaod sharply.

Detective Maria Ramirez had been on my payroll for three years. Not dirty, exactly, just practical. I fed her information that helped her close cases, and she occasionally looked the other way when my business methods got creative.

“What kind of favor?” Her voice was cautious.

“The kind that involves Victor Kane and a very large donation to the police widows fund.”

She was quiet for a moment. “How large?”

“Two million.”

“Jesus, Cross. What did he do?” Her toke raised.

“He threatened someone under my protection.” I said.

“Who?” She asked, getting curious.

“None of your business.” I said voice stern.

“Cross, I've told you before. I can't get involved in your personal vendettas.” She stated.

“This isn't personal.” I replied immediately. “Victor Kane is a killer, Maria. You know it, I know it, and half the city knows it. But nobody can touch him because he's too smart to leave evidence. I'm just trying to help the city.”

“And you think you're smarter?”

I smiled, and it wasn't a nice smile. “I know I am.”

She paused. “What do you need?”

“Surveillance on Kane's operations. I want to know where he is, who he's with, and what he's planning.” I rapped.

“That's going to cost more than two million.” She stated.

“Five million. And I'll throw in the location of the warehouse where Kane stores his imported girls.” I added before she lost interest.

That got her attention. Maria had been trying to bust Kane's human trafficking operation for years.

“You have proof?” Her voice was low.

“Photos, shipping manifests, financial records. Everything you need for a clean arrest.” I smiled, finally proud of my grandfather for keeping records.

“Deal.” She said. “But Cross?”

“Yeah?”

“If this goes sideways, I don't know you.” She said matter-of-factly.

“Understood.” I nodded.

I hung up and opened another secure file. Time to remind Victor Kane why my grandfather had chosen me as his successor.

My office door opened. Gregory walked in, took one look at the shattered phone on the floor, and backed toward the door.

“Sir, if this is a bad time…”

“It's fine. What do you need?” I said, my eyes locked on the screen.

He cleared his throat nervously. “The Henderson contract needs your signature, and the Tokyo office is asking about the merger timeline.”

I stared at him. Here I was, planning what might be the most dangerous twenty-four hours of my life, and Gregory was worried about paperwork.

“Gregory.” My voice was cold enough to freeze water.

“Yes, sir?” He replied, his voice trembling.

“How long have you worked for me?” I asked, my eyes locked on his.

He blinked in confusion. “Three years, sir.”

“And in those three years, have I ever struck you as someone who gives a shit about the Henderson contract when people are threatening to kill me?”

His face went pale. “I... no, sir.”

“Cancel my meetings for the next week. Reschedule everything. And if anyone asks where I am, you don't know.”

“Should I be worried, sir?”

I looked at this nervous little man who'd been quietly efficient for three years. Gregory had never asked questions, never gossiped, never tried to use his position for personal gain. He was probably the closest thing I had to a friend, which was depressing as hell.

“Gregory, do you have somewhere you can go for a few days? Maybe visit your mother in Florida?”

His eyes widened. “Sir?”

“Just answer the question.”

“I... yes, sir. I could leave tonight.”

“Good. Do that.” I opened my desk drawer and pulled out an envelope I kept for emergencies. “Here's ten thousand dollars in cash. Take a vacation. Come back next week.”

He stared at the envelope like it might explode. “Mr. Cross, what's happening?”

“Nothing you need to worry about. But Gregory?”

“Yes, sir?” He whispered.

“Thank you. For everything.” I smiled.

He took the envelope with shaking hands. “Sir, you're scaring me.”

“I'm scaring myself,” I admitted.

After Gregory left, I sat alone in my office as the sun set over the city. My city, built on my grandfather's business empire and connections and has now become mine.

I thought about Lexi, probably pacing around the cabin right now, demanding answers from Marcus that he wouldn't give her. She was brave, I'd give her that. Stubborn, but brave.

The therapist's words echoed in my head again. “You're falling in love.” I shook my head. I can't he that cheap. Falling for a woman that low wasn't me.

My ex-fiancée was a big time french model. A sexy ass daughter of a billionaire. Lexi wasn't even a percent close.

My secure phone rang. Marcus's name flashed on the screen.

“Tell me you have good news,” I said, already knowing I wouldn't like what came next.

“Sir, Miss Lexi escaped!” Marcus’ deep voice sounded. “She said she needed to see her best friend who would be worried if she just disappeared.”

I closed my eyes and counted to ten. Then I counted to twenty. “How the hell did she escape from you, Marcus? You're a trained professional.”

“She's... resourceful, sir. And fast. She climbed out the bathroom window while I was checking the perimeter.”

“The bathroom window? It's on the second floor!”

“Yes, sir. She used bedsheets as a rope.”

I rubbed my temples where a headache was forming. Of course she did. Of course Lexi would MacGyver her way out of a safe house using bed sheets.

“Where is she now?” I asked, my voice calmer than I felt.

“Unknown, sir. She left her phone behind, so I can't track her.”