[Vivienne]I stare at him for a long minute—maybe longer—because whatever the hell just came out of his mouth didn’t make any sense.My heart drops deep down into my stomach, and my eyes widen as if to make up for my absent verbal reaction.For a second, I have no clue what’s happening. If I’m even breathing or not. If I’m even awake—or if I’ve somehow fallen asleep.Caden was shot?Why the fuck does that make no sense?“You’re lying.” The fact that I just had a word with Alexander and he said nothing like this makes every inch of me want to deny Samuel’s claim. “Because I just talked—”“I’M NOT LYING!” he screams in my face, as if he could scare me into believing.But what actually happens is—I take a step back, realizing he’s probably not telling me the truth.Something seems off about him, too.I might be seeing this man after a very, very long time, but I still remember the chaos he’s capable of. The reasons he left his family. The reasons he never got along with Caden in the firs
[Vivienne]“When will Ben be back, Mommy?” Axel asks for the hundredth time.I sigh, running my fingers through his hair as he sits on my lap, all cuddled up.“Soon, baby. Ben will be back very soon.”I say that, but in my heart, I don’t know how much of that’s true.It’s not like I don’t trust Caden to carry out what he assured me of when he left—it’s just that I don’t know how difficult that woman’s going to make it for him.From what he told me during our return flight, she’s one hell of a psycho. She wants him back in the family, no matter the cost. And if not him, then his blood. Meaning, if she can’t convince Caden to join the family again, she won’t hesitate to come after my son. Something she has already proven she’s capable of.I’m lost in my thoughts when a knock lands on the door.I look up to find Ana standing outside, carrying a cup of coffee.She smiles. “I figured you would need one.”She walks in, puts the tray down on the bedside table, and sits on the edge of the bed
[Caden] Once Ruth is dragged into her room, despite all her screaming and shouting, Alexander turns to me. A flick of his hand, and the two men holding me by the arm let go and step back. I jerk my shoulder forward, realizing just how tightly they must have been gripping me. I feel stiff all over. “What the hell, Alexander?” There’s no other way to react to what just happened. It’s not that I’ve taken offense to what he did to Ruth, but I can’t deny I’m curious as hell. Alexander sighs. “Don’t worry, she’s fine.” “What?” I shake my head. “You think I care about that?” He couldn’t be more wrong. He rolls his eyes, and then, as if finally remembering, rubs his jaw. “Oh, that. Nothing. Had to put on a show.” “Why?” “Because that was the only way.” I wish I knew what he meant, but now’s not the time to get into his reasoning—or is it? “My son. I would like to see him now.” Alexander nods, then gestures to one of his men, who rushes to one of the rooms downstairs. Thankfully, th
Doubt freezes me for a whole second.But when his eyes don’t betray what came out of his mouth, I don’t need to be told twice.I punch him square in the face. His head snaps to the right, and very lavishly, he wipes the blood now trickling from the corner of his lip.He chuckles. “Well… now that settles it.”I frown. But before I can ask, at a single whistle from him, dozens of his men come running. They surround us, some of them even pointing their guns at me.I look around, then look back at Alexander.What the hell is he trying to do?He, on the other hand, straightens up, rolls his shoulder, and then punches me right in the gut.I double over, spitting a patch of blood.“What the—” But before I get to finish, he grabs me by the back of my suit jacket and shoves me toward his men. Two of them grab my arms, not letting me move.“Enough, Xander. Let him go.” This time, the warning from Ruth is directed at Alexander.But he only shrugs. “Why? Because he’s your biological son?”“Well,
The mention of my father makes me want to punch a hole in the wall.I don’t even remember what he looked like. He was never in the picture for me. Always ignored me from the moment he learned I was… defective. Days would go by when I would only hear his voice, and months would pass before I’d see him—if at all—by mere coincidence.“You know what?” I wish I could hide the disgust and hatred I feel for this woman from my face or my tone. But I can’t. I hate her. That’s a fact. And merely looking at her makes me want to throw up. That’s a fact, too. “Why don’t you save this speech for someone else—someone who might at least pretend to be interested—and come to the point? My son. Where the hell is he?”“And I already told you. He’s in good hands. Not in any kind of danger, like you’re obviously hoping for.”“Well, good hands aren’t enough!” I snarl, barely able to keep my fury in. “Bring him out. I want to see him.”“And do what?” she asks, tipping her head as if no one’s as innocent as s
[Caden]When the car pulls up at the Bane residence, I take a long, deep breath.The truth is: I don’t know how this exchange is going to go.But one thing is sure: I’m not leaving without Ben.No way in hell.I step out of the car and look up at the grand entrance.Dozens of guards stand outside—some making rounds, some simply standing guard.When I move toward the main entrance, however, no one makes a move to stop me.I head inside with ease, only to find the place eerily quiet.For a second, I almost think I came to the wrong address. But then, just as quickly, I realize the slim chances of that happening.“I’m here,” I say loudly, announcing my presence, hoping to get her attention that way.“Of course you are,” comes from upstairs.I turn around and narrow my eyes at the top of the stairs.There, standing tall with a bright smile on her lips, stands the woman I hate with every last inch of my existence. The woman with whom, if I ever got stranded on an island, I would leave her