Chapter 28: False Sympathy

Denzel's POV

I stood in my office, staring at the photo of Naomi on my phone.

Tied to a chair. Tape over her mouth. Terror in her eyes.

My baby sister.

Forty-eight hours. That's all I had to get her back.

Marcus stood across from me, tablet in hand, looking grim. "We've analyzed the photo. No identifying markers in the background. Plain walls, concrete floor. Could be a warehouse, basement, storage unit, anywhere."

"What about the phone they used to call me?"

"Burner. Turned off immediately after the call. We can't trace it unless they turn it back on."

"So we have nothing."

"Not nothing. We're running facial recognition on everyone who's been near your property in the last seventy-two hours. Checking security footage from every camera within a five-mile radius. Cross-referencing known associates of your business rivals."

"That could take days. I have forty-eight hours."

"Then we work faster." Marcus's expression softened slightly. "We'll find her, sir. I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep."

My hand throbbed where I'd punched the wall. I looked down and saw my knuckles were split and bleeding. I hadn't even felt it.

There was a knock on the door.

"What?" I snapped.

Amelia poked her head in. "Serena's here. She wants to help."

"How is Serena going to help?"

"She's a journalist. She has contacts, resources, ways of finding information that we might not have access to."

I wanted to say no. Wanted to tell everyone to get out and let me think. But the truth was, I had no idea what to do.

So I nodded. "Fine. Let her in."

Rayna's POV

Serena arrived within twenty minutes of my call, breathless and worried.

"Oh my God, Ray." She pulled me into a tight hug. "Are you okay? What happened?"

I filled her in quickly, Oliver's attack, the threats, and now Naomi's kidnapping.

"Jesus Christ," she breathed. "This is insane. Have you called the police?"

"We can't. The kidnappers said if we involve law enforcement, they'll kill her."

"So what's the plan?"

"Denzel's security team is investigating. But so far, they have nothing."

"Then let me help. I have contacts at the police department who owe me favors. I can reach out quietly, off the record…"

"Serena, if they find out…"

"They won't. I'll be careful." She squeezed my hands. "You're my best friend, Ray. I'm not going to sit back and do nothing while your family is being terrorized."

Before I could respond, we heard a car pull up outside.

I looked out the window and my stomach dropped.

Susana.

Getting out of an expensive car, dressed in designer clothes, looking like she was attending a charity luncheon instead of visiting a house in crisis.

"What the hell is she doing here?" Serena asked.

"I have no idea."

We went to the door. Susana was already walking up the steps, a concerned expression plastered on her face that looked about as genuine as a three-dollar bill.

"Rayna!" she exclaimed. "I just heard about Naomi. Is it true? Has she really been kidnapped?"

"How did you hear about that?"

"News travels fast in our circles. Is Denzel okay? Where is he?"

"He's... dealing with it."

"Poor thing. This must be devastating for him." She pushed past me into the house. "I came as soon as I heard. Connor is with his nanny. I thought Denzel might need support during this difficult time."

Serena and I exchanged a look.

"That's very kind of you," I said carefully. "But now isn't really a good time…"

"Nonsense. Denzel and I have history. He'll want me here."

She swept into the sitting room like she owned the place.

"I don't like her," Serena muttered.

"Join the club."

Another car pulled up outside. This time, I recognized it immediately.

My parents' car.

And getting out of the backseat was Ivy.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," I said.

Ivy walked up to the door, her expression appropriately somber. She was dressed in all black, like she was attending a funeral.

"Rayna," she said when I opened the door. "I heard about Denzel's sister. Mom and Dad sent me to see if there's anything we can do to help."

"Since when do you care about Denzel's family?"

"Since my sister married into it. This reflects on all of us, you know. If something happens to her..." She looked around the destroyed foyer. "What happened here?"

"The kidnappers broke in when they took Naomi."

"My God. This is serious." She stepped inside. "Where's Denzel? I should offer my condolences."

"Your condolences? She's not dead, Ivy."

"Not yet. But from what I hear, these situations rarely end well."

Serena's eyes narrowed. "Who the hell do you think you're ?"

"Ivy James. Rayna's sister."

"The bitter one who's jealous of her sister's marriage?"

Ivy's smile turned icy. "The concerned one who wants to make sure her family isn't destroyed by association with a man who clearly has dangerous enemies."

"Okay, that's enough," I said. "Both of you, stop."

But Ivy was already walking toward the sitting room, where Susana had made herself comfortable on the couch.

This was a disaster waiting to happen.

Denzel's POV

I was on the phone with one of my contacts in private security when I heard raised voices from the sitting room.

Female voices. Multiple.

What now?

I hung up and walked out to find my house had turned into a war zone.

Susana sat on my couch like she belonged there, looking concerned and sympathetic.

Ivy stood near the window, examining the damage with barely concealed interest.

Amelia looked stressed and overwhelmed.

And a woman I didn't really recognize, but I have seen her few times Serena, supposedly was glaring at Susana like she wanted to tear her apart.

"What is going on here?" I asked.

"Denzel!" Susana stood up and rushed over, putting her hand on my arm. "I came as soon as I heard. Are you okay? This must be so hard for you."

I removed her hand. "What are you doing here, Susana?"

"Supporting you. You're Connor's father, and despite everything, I still care about you. When I heard about Naomi..." She let her voice trail off, her eyes filling with fake tears.

"How did you hear about Naomi?"

"Word travels. You know how it is in our social circles."

"I told three people. My security team. Amelia. And Oliver. So unless one of them called you, which they didn't, how exactly did you find out?"

Susana's expression faltered for just a second. "I... someone must have mentioned it. I can't remember who."

"Convenient."

Ivy stepped forward. "Mr. Adams. I'm Ivy James, Rayna's sister. I wanted to offer my condolences and support during this difficult time. If there's anything our family can do….."

"You can leave."

She blinked. "Excuse me?"