LOGINAva’s POV“Then explain why the movements are so deliberate.” I said, pointing at the video“People move their hands when they talk.” Vindel replied “Not like that!” I took the phone from him and opened the page again. “Look. I searched for ports beginning with those two letters. There were several with C, but Moonbay is the only one I found beginning with M. And look at its logo. That half moon resembles the C her hand was forming.”I zoomed in on the logo and placed the phone in front of him. “Don’t you see the connection?”Vindell studied the screen “Moonbay Port,” he muttered.“Yes! Crescent Berger owns it. What if that’s where they’re keeping your mother?. Can we do a thorough search on Moonbay?”“Ava, it will be pointless.”My smile gradually disappeared. “What?”“I just have today. No time.” He pushed his chair back slightly and stood. “I’m sorry, Ava, but I can’t risk it anymore. I have to start fabricating Mr. Blackwood’s evidence, and that’s not an easy feat. Whatever I pro
Ava’s POV“Do you see her? Hale and hearty. I give you my word that she walks out of here a free woman the moment you turn yourself in.” Mr. Blackwood’s voice came through the phone.Vindell’s jaw tightened. His fingers curled around the edge of the desk as he stared at the video Mr. Blackwood had sent him.“You better keep to your word,” he warned, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Because if I find out you’ve tricked me, I don’t care how long I have to wait. I will find you, Mr. Blackwood, and rip out your intestines with my bare hands.”A faint chuckle came from the other end. “I always keep my word.”“And stay away from my wife! Do you understand me?”“I honestly hope I never have another encounter with you, Mr. Ashford. So don’t worry about me coming after your family while you’re in prison.”“Good!”There was a brief silence before Mr. Blackwood spoke again.“One more thing. You better do it tomorrow. If you don’t, I’ll have no choice but to kill your mother. So you hav
Ava’s POVAva shook her head slightly. “Vindell, they couldn’t possibly have searched every port in the state and found nothing. Something isn’t right.”“Ava…”“No, listen to me.” She stepped closer to my desk. “How is it possible that your men have searched everywhere and still haven’t found a single trace of Kate? What if they’ve missed something?”“I’ve had my people searching since the beginning. I’ve also used every connection I have. If there was a lead, Michael would have found it.”“But…”“I know.” I raised my hand, stopping her. “I know you don’t want to accept it, but we can’t keep chasing something that isn’t there.”She pressed her lips together, looking away. I watched her for a moment before letting out a tired breath.“I’m sorry.”Her eyes returned to mine. “For what?”“For the way I made you sign that contract. For dragging you into my life and making you experience things you never should have had to experience.” I paused, struggling to find the right words. “You didn
Vindell’s POVI sat behind my office desk, staring at the damning evidence spread across my computer screen. Every file, every transaction, every name was there. Years of carefully concealed operations, political corruption, illegal dealings, and secret organizations were laid bare before me.All I had to do was print the documents and submit them to the government. But the moment I did that, everything would come crashing down.My company would be shut down. My secret organization would be exposed to the world, and whatever remained of my reputation would be dragged through the mud. I would lose everything I had spent years building.It was already day three. Kate had given me two days, and I was running out of time. I dragged a hand down my face, feeling the weight of the decision pressing against my chest. Losing everything I owned was something I could live with. Losing my freedom was another consequence I had already considered.But losing my mother? No. That was one price I wasn
Mrs. Ashford’s POVThe first slap sent my head snapping to the side. Before I could recover, Kate grabbed my face and struck me again. And again. My cheek burned, my ears rang, and the metallic taste of blood spread across my tongue. By the time she delivered the last slap, I could barely keep my head straight. I spat out the blood that had gathered in my mouth and slowly turned back to face her.A grin tugged at my lips. “What? You can’t do it?” I taunted, wiping the corner of my mouth with my tongue. “Get a knife or a gun. Not your weak-ass hands.”Her nostrils flared. Her fingers curled into tight fists as she glared down at me. “You think I can’t kill you and pretend you’re still alive?” she snapped.“Then do it, loser! What are you waiting for?” I leaned forward as much as my restraints allowed. “Are you waiting for orders from your fellow loser? At least accomplish something meaningful with your miserable life.”“Mrs. Ashford…” She pointed a trembling finger at me. “My patience
Kate’s POVI stepped into the room, balancing a steaming burger and a packet of fries in my hands. “Here’s your food!” I announced, dropping the meal onto the bed in front of Mrs. Ashford.She didn’t waste a second. Her fingers immediately reached for the burger, and she began eating as though she hadn’t seen food in days.I watched her for a moment before a mocking chuckle escaped my lips. “Lucky you! I don’t hate you as much as I hate Ava.”I turned away, pacing back and forth across the room. Just thinking about that woman was enough to ruin my mood.“I wonder what choice Vindell is going to make.” I stopped, folding my arms across my chest. “Part of me already knows the answer, while the other part is afraid he’ll find some loophole and outsmart me.”A chuckle slipped out. “But what could he possibly do this time? He’s in a tight corner. There’s absolutely no way out for him.”The door opened, and Mr. Blackwood walked in. His expression was anything but relaxed. “What’s the report







