When the Trap Closes

Amelia’s breath came out in broken shards.

The message on her phone burned into her vision.

He knows. Run. Now.

Lawson watched her with unsettling calm, his smile slow and deliberate, like a man savoring the moment before the blade falls.

“Well?” he asked softly. “Who is it?”

Her fingers trembled around the phone. Every instinct screamed at her to lie, to stall, to buy even a second. But Lawson thrived on hesitation. Fear fed him.

“No one,” she whispered. “Just spam.”

Lawson’s smile widened.

“You’re still doing it,” he said. “Choosing lies when silence would hurt less.”

He reached out and took the phone from her hand with infuriating ease. Amelia didn’t resist. She knew better now.

He read the message.

Slowly.

Carefully.

The air in the room shifted, thickening, pressing against her lungs.

“So,” Lawson said quietly, locking the phone and slipping it into his pocket. “You were warned.”

Her knees weakened. “Lawson—”

“Don’t,” he interrupted. “Not yet.”

He walked back behind his desk and pressed a button beneath its edge.

The screen behind him lit up.

Amelia’s stomach dropped.

It was Maxwell.

This time, he was standing.

Restrained.

Two men flanked him. His lip was split. One eye was swelling shut. But when he lifted his head and their eyes met through the screen, the relief in his gaze was immediate.

He was alive.

That relief shattered instantly.

“Talk,” Lawson said to Amelia without looking at her. “Explain why someone thought it was wise to interfere with my marriage.”

Tears streamed down her face. “This isn’t a marriage,” she said hoarsely. “It’s a prison.”

Lawson turned slowly. “Careful.”

“You can hurt me,” she continued, her voice shaking but loud. “You can threaten me. But you will not turn me into this—this obedient thing you want.”

Maxwell shook his head faintly, a silent plea.

Lawson noticed.

“Interesting,” he murmured. “Even now, you’re still trying to protect him.”

Amelia stepped forward. “Let him go. Punish me instead.”

Lawson laughed softly. “You still don’t understand.”

He gestured to the screen. One of the men struck Maxwell hard across the face.

Amelia screamed. “Stop!”

Lawson’s voice cut through her panic. “I don’t punish you by touching you,” he said coldly. “I punish you by breaking what you love.”

She collapsed to her knees. “Please. I’ll do anything.”

Lawson crouched in front of her, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Anything?”

“Yes,” she sobbed. “Anything.”

He studied her for a long moment, then stood.

“Good,” he said. “Then you’ll listen.”

He nodded once at the screen. The feed went dark.

Amelia’s heart raced wildly. “What did you do?”

“I removed the distraction,” Lawson replied. “Now you can focus.”

She staggered to her feet. “You promised—”

“I promised consequences,” he corrected. “And now we’re done pretending.”

He moved toward her, not touching, not crowding, just enough to dominate the space.

“You’ve been careless,” he said. “Talking. Trusting. Believing someone else could save you.”

She shook her head violently. “You’re afraid.”

His eyes sharpened. “Of what?”

“Of losing control,” she said through tears. “Of someone seeing you for what you are.”

For a heartbeat, silence reigned.

Then Lawson struck the desk with his palm, the sound cracking through the room.

“You think you can provoke me?” he snapped. “You think you can expose me?”

She straightened despite the terror clawing through her. “Someone already has.”

That stopped him.

“Repeat that,” he said softly.

“There’s proof,” Amelia continued, her voice steadier now. “Everything you’ve hidden. Offshore accounts. Bribes. Crimes.”

Lawson stared at her.

Then he laughed.

A deep, genuine laugh that made her blood run cold.

“Oh, Amelia,” he said. “Everyone thinks they’ve found proof.”

He leaned closer. “Do you know how many people have tried to destroy me?”

Her throat tightened. “This time is different.”

“No,” he replied. “This time, it’s personal.”

He straightened and reached for his phone. “Anita.”

She answered instantly. “Yes, sir.”

“Bring Mr. Philip to the house.”

Amelia froze. “My father?”

“Immediately,” Lawson said. “And cancel all his protections.”

Her heart lurched violently. “No. You said—”

“I said nothing about him,” Lawson replied calmly. “You did.”

She rushed forward, grabbing his arm. “Please,” she begged. “He’s already paid enough.”

Lawson looked down at her hand gripping his sleeve.

Slowly, deliberately, he pried her fingers away.

“This,” he said, “is what happens when you forget who you’re bargaining with.”

Her voice broke completely. “You’ll kill him.”

Lawson’s gaze was merciless. “That depends on you.”

Mr. Philip arrived an hour later.

He looked older than Amelia remembered. Smaller. His eyes darted nervously as he was escorted inside.

“Amelia?” he said weakly. “What’s going on?”

She rushed to him, gripping his hands. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “This is my fault.”

Lawson stood across the room, watching them like an audience to a play.

“Mr. Philip,” Lawson said pleasantly. “It’s good to see you again.”

Mr. Philip stiffened. “Lawson… I—I thought we settled everything.”

“We did,” Lawson agreed. “Until your daughter decided to betray me.”

Mr. Philip turned sharply to Amelia. “What did you do?”

She shook her head, tears spilling. “I just— I wanted out.”

Mr. Philip’s face crumpled. “Amelia…”

Lawson clasped his hands behind his back. “Here’s how this works,” he said calmly. “Your daughter has information that could damage me.”

Mr. Philip swallowed hard. “She doesn’t know anything.”

“Oh, but she does,” Lawson replied. “And she’s deciding whether to use it.”

Mr. Philip turned back to Amelia, his eyes desperate. “Please,” he whispered. “Whatever it is… don’t.”

Her chest felt like it was being crushed. “I can’t let him hurt everyone I love.”

Lawson tilted his head. “You already have.”

He gestured toward the door.

Two guards stepped in.

One of them raised a gun.

Amelia screamed. “Stop! I’ll do it! I’ll do whatever you want!”

Lawson raised a hand. The guard paused.

“Good,” Lawson said softly. “Now we’re communicating.”

He walked toward Amelia, his voice low and controlled. “You will give me the name of the person contacting you.”

Her lips trembled. “If I do—”

“They die,” Lawson said calmly. “Eventually.”

“And if I don’t?” she asked.

He glanced at her father.

Mr. Philip’s face drained of color.

Amelia sobbed. “You’re forcing me to choose who lives.”

“Yes,” Lawson said simply. “Welcome to my world.”

Her phone buzzed again.

Once.

Everyone froze.

Lawson’s eyes flicked to it. “Answer.”

With shaking hands, Amelia pulled it out.

A call.

Unknown number.

Her heart thundered. She looked at Lawson.

“Put it on speaker,” he ordered.

She obeyed.

The line clicked.

A calm voice filled the room. Female. Controlled.

“Mrs. Reynolds,” the woman said. “I told you to run.”

Lawson smiled slowly. “And I told you I’d find you.”

The woman paused.

“Lawson Reynolds,” she said evenly. “You’re getting sloppy.”

Amelia’s breath caught.

“You think so?” Lawson replied.

“Yes,” the woman continued. “Because while you’re busy threatening your wife, everything you buried is already scheduled for release.”

Lawson’s smile vanished.

“Tick-tock,” the woman said. “You kill one more person… and the world finds out exactly who you are.”

The call ended.

Silence crashed down.

Lawson stared at Amelia, something dangerous and unreadable burning in his eyes.

Then he laughed—short, sharp, furious.

“So,” he said softly, “you didn’t just betray me.”

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper.

“You declared war.”

He turned to the guards.

“Lock them both downstairs,” Lawson ordered. “If anyone tries to leave—shoot.”

Mr. Philip cried out. Amelia clung to him, shaking.

Lawson paused at the doorway and looked back at her one last time.

“You wanted freedom,” he said. “Let’s see how much blood you’re willing to pay for it.”

The door slammed shut.

The locks engaged.

And somewhere deep below the penthouse, a door opened—

Revealing Maxwell, bound and bruised, being dragged into the same dark corridor.

Amelia’s scream echoed through the house as the trap finally closed around all of them.