Chapter 29 : Big Fight.

"Both of you. Leave my house. Now."

"Denzel, I'm just trying to help," Susana protested.

"No, you're not. You're here because you smell blood in the water and you want to see how bad things get. Both of you, get out."

"You're being unreasonable…."

"This is my house. My sister has been kidnapped. And I don't have time for whatever games you're playing. So unless you have actual information that can help me find Naomi, get the fuck out."

Susana's mask slipped completely. "Fine. But don't come crying to me when you realize you need me."

"I've never needed you. That was always your delusion."

She grabbed her purse and stormed toward the door, but not before stopping in front of Serena.

"And who are you?" Susana asked, looking her up and down dismissively.

"Someone who can see right through your bullshit," Serena said calmly.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. You're not here to help. You're here to cause drama and make yourself look important. And frankly? You're pathetic."

Susana's face flushed red. "How dare you…."

"How dare I what? Tell the truth? Call you out on your manipulative behavior? Point out that you're a narcissistic leech who uses her child to control a man who clearly wants nothing to do with you?"

"You don't know anything about me!"

"I know enough. I know you tried to kiss Denzel in his study. I know you got kicked out of this house for abusing the staff. I know you're a toxic, manipulative…."

Susana slapped her.

The sound echoed through the room.

For a moment, no one moved.

Then Serena smiled. "Big mistake."

Rayna's POV

I'd never seen anyone move so fast.

Serena grabbed Susana by her perfectly styled hair and yanked her forward. Susana screamed and tried to slap her again, but Serena dodged and punched her square in the face.

Blood spurted from Susana's nose.

"You bitch!" Susana shrieked, lunging at Serena.

They went down in a tangle of limbs, rolling across the floor. Serena got on top and hit her again. And again.

"This is for abusing Bee!" Punch. "This is for manipulating Denzel!" Punch. "And this is for being a terrible person!" Punch.

"Someone stop her!" Ivy screamed.

But no one moved. Not me. Not Denzel. Not even the security guards who'd come running at the noise.

We all just watched as Serena beat the hell out of Susana.

Finally, Denzel sighed and pulled Serena off.

"As much as I'm enjoying this," he said, "we don't need assault charges on top of everything else."

Serena was breathing hard, her knuckles bloody. Susana lay on the floor, her nose broken, her designer dress torn, her hair a mess.

"You're all crazy!" Susana sobbed. "I'm calling the police!"

"Go ahead," Denzel said coldly. "Explain to them why you broke into my house uninvited and got into a physical altercation. I'm sure that'll go well for you."

Susana struggled to her feet and ran out the door, still crying.

Ivy looked between all of us, clearly trying to decide if staying was worth the risk.

"You should go too," I told her.

"Rayna…"

"Now, Ivy. Before Serena decides you're next."

Serena cracked her knuckles meaningfully.

Ivy left without another word.

The moment they were both gone, Serena turned to me.

"Sorry," she said. "I know violence isn't the answer, but that woman has been begging for someone to punch her for weeks."

"Don't apologize," Denzel said. "That was the most satisfying thing I've seen all day."

"You're bleeding," I pointed out, gesturing to Serena's knuckles.

"Worth it."

Despite everything, the kidnapping, the threats, the fear, I found myself laughing. Actually laughing.

Serena joined in. Even Denzel's lips twitched.

For just a moment, the tension broke.

Then my phone buzzed.

Another text from the unknown number.

Interesting visitors you have. But they can't help you. No one can. 46 hours remaining.

The laughter died.

They were watching. Right now. They'd seen Susana and Ivy arrive. Seen the fight.

They were always watching.

And we were running out of time.

Denzel's POV

"They're watching the house," I said, showing everyone the text.

"How?" Marcus asked. "We swept for cameras. There's nothing…."

"Then they're watching from a distance. A neighboring property. A car on the street. Somewhere."

"I'll have the team do another sweep. Wider perimeter this time."

My phone rang. Unknown number.

I answered on speaker. "What do you want?"

The same distorted voice from before. "Entertaining afternoon, Mr. Adams. Though I must say, Ms. Bennett has quite the temper."

Serena's eyes widened. They knew her name.

"Where is my sister?" I demanded.

"Alive. For now. But Mr. Adams, you're still asking questions. Still investigating. That wasn't part of our agreement."

"You never told me what you wanted. Just to stop investigating. Stop investigating what?"

"That's for you to figure out. But tick tock. Forty-six hours. And Mr. Adams? If your lovely wife's friend continues to involve herself in this situation, she'll join your sister in our care. Do we understand each other?"

The line went dead.

Serena had gone pale. "They know who I am."

"They know everything," I said grimly. "They've been watching this house for days, maybe weeks. They know our routines, our visitors, our vulnerabilities."

"Then we need to leave," Amelia said. "Go somewhere they can't watch us."

"No. If we leave, they might kill Naomi immediately. We have to play their game. For now."

"And just wait? While they watch us? While they…"

"While we figure out what the hell they want us to stop investigating," I interrupted. "Oliver's attack. The threats. Naomi's kidnapping. It's all connected to something I'm supposed to stop looking into. But what?"

"Your business deals?" Serena suggested. "A competitor?"

"Maybe. But which one? I have dozens of active deals, hundreds of competitors."

"What about your past?" Amelia asked quietly. "Could this be about something from before we got married?"

I thought about it. My past was complicated. Dark. Full of things I'd rather forget.

But relevant to this? I didn't know.

"I need to make some calls," I said. "Reach out to people who might have information. Marcus, keep the team searching. Serena, if you have contacts who can help, use them. But be careful. If they're watching, they'll know."

Everyone nodded and dispersed.

Amelia stayed.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly.

"No. My sister has been kidnapped. Someone is threatening my family. I have no idea who or why. I'm very far from okay."

"We'll get her back."

"You don't know that."

"I have to believe it. Because the alternative..." She moved closer, putting her hand on my chest. "We'll get her back, Denzel. Together."

I wanted to believe her. God, I wanted to.

But forty-six hours wasn't much time.

And whoever had Naomi was always one step ahead.