Chapter Six: She Is Not Replaceable

The first thing I remembered was promising Eden that no one would touch her.

The second was watching her get dragged away.

I stood up slowly, nursing my ringing head. 

“Master Wayne!” James called out. 

Taking one unsteady step after another, I made my way to James. 

“James, any injuries?” I asked. 

“Nothing serious, Sir. Glad to see you standing as well.” His voice was a bit laboured. 

Five black SUVs arrived within minutes. 

My security team had finally arrived. 

I struggled to quell my growing anger at their incompetence. 

“You two, get James out of the car and check him for injuries.” I ordered the two guards closest to me.

“Sir, we need to get you to a hospital." Mike, my deputy head of security said. 

I shifted my gaze to him. 

“What we need to do is find John. How the hell did he know our movements?” My voice rose toward the end. 

“We don't know yet, Sir. By the time we realized, he was already gone.” Mike stiffened. 

I took a deep breath, fighting to clear my mind.

I couldn't let my emotions cloud my judgement.

There were only a few select people who knew today was Eden's insemination and the exact annex of my lab I would use.

Finding a mole would have to wait. Getting Eden back was my priority. 

“Sir?” Mike pulled me out of my thoughts. 

“Track the cars and check all abandoned buildings that have even the slightest connection to my family. Comb through the entire city if you have to.” I paused. “Don't come back till you've found Eden.” I ordered Mike before dismissing him. 

James slightly limped towards me. 

“Your leg?” I asked.

“It’s nothing. Just a slight sprain.” James replied with a small shrug. 

“You should go to a hospital.” My expression softened. 

“And miss catching those bastards because of a sprain? No, Sir.” James replied with a blank expression. 

I held his gaze for a second. I could see the resolve in his eyes so I didn't push further. 

“How many people knew about Eden's insemination and the exact lab we'd use?” I asked, shifting the topic. 

“You, myself, Mike, the doctor at the lab and Mistress Candice.” 

“That isn't a lot of people. So how exactly did my family uncover my plans?” My mind worked in an attempt to solve the puzzle.  

James stayed silent as he watched me think. He knew better than to interrupt me at this moment. 

“Have the lab doctor questioned. He might know something or have spoken to the wrong people.” I paused. “In the meantime, double the security on Claire's room. No changes are to be made to her treatment without my approval and two-person authorization for every medication administered should be initiated.” I said, knowing fully well that my family could go after Claire to get to me as well. 

James immediately sprang into action, seamlessly issuing my commands. 

We headed back to my estate with a small security detail.

Inside the house, Candice immediately pulled me into a warm embrace. 

“I heard you were attacked. Are you injured? There's so much blood on you.” She said as she pulled back, observing every inch of my body. 

Her worried expression warmed my heart.

“I'm okay.” My face hardened. “But they took Eden.” 

Candice's expression immediately turned sour. 

“So what?” Her tone suggested I had said something ridiculous. 

“What do you mean so what? My family attacked me. They stole Eden in order to prevent me from getting my heir. Don't you see that?” My eyes locked with hers.

Candice shrugged. She moved away from me, taking unhurried steps to the wine bar. 

She wordlessly poured a glass for each of us. 

I took it, patiently waiting for her reply. 

“The way I see it, they did us a favour.” She spoke slowly, as if to make sure I didn't miss a single syllable. 

“Speak plainly, Candice.” My patience was already running thin. 

“They showed their hand too early. Eden was just inseminated. It's impossible to tell if she's pregnant or not and there's a high chance she might not be. The simple solution is for us to find a new candidate and protect her more strictly.” Candice finished, taking a sip out of her wine. 

“No.” My voice was calm and resolute. 

Her reasoning was cold and precise but not entirely wrong. It still didn't matter. 

“The procedure has already been completed. She may be carrying my child.” 

Candice's face hardened. “And if she isn’t?” She pressed.

I held her gaze for a second.

Knowing the hidden meaning behind her question, I replied, “She still comes back.”

Candice smashed her wine glass on the ground.

“Like hell she is.” She snapped. 

“She wasn't even fit to be a surrogate. That dimwitted fool who didn't know her place. She can be replaced by a thousand other candidates.” Her eyes locked with mine. 

I took a slow, controlled step toward her.

“Whatever resentment you feel toward her

doesn't give you the right to assault her.”

“Are you taking her side over mine because of what happened this morning?” She asked. 

“There are no sides to be taken. Eden may be carrying my heir and I can't let any harm come to her.” I paused, setting my untouched wine glass on a nearby table. “And she is not replaceable.” I said with finality. 

“Sorry to interrupt, Sir.” James walked over. His eyes moved from the broken glass on the floor to Candice. “Mistress Candice.” He gave her a slight polite nod before looking back at me. 

“We found John's vehicle.” He said.

“Any update on Eden?” I immediately asked.

Something flashed in his face, too quick for me to read. 

“No news on her for now, Sir.” He replied.

I looked at Candice one more time, her sharp blue eyes tracked me with an icy gaze. 

“Let's go. You'll tell me the details on the way.” I turned and began to move with James. 

“Sylar.” Candice called my name with the same tone she used when she felt I was being unreasonable. 

“We can get another surrogate.” Her voice sounded almost like a plea. 

I stood still for a heartbeat. 

“We could, but I want to protect this heir.”

I walked out with James without looking back.

“Where was John's car found?”

“Clinical Annex Seven. One of your abandoned laboratories.” James replied. 

I gave him a short nod of approval.

We entered the car, driving to the location while Mike and a small detail followed closely.

“Sir, if this were only about securing an heir, you would have accepted Mistress Candice’s suggestion.” James said quietly. 

I turned toward him.  “What are you implying?”

“That you want Miss Eden back whether she is pregnant or not.”

I remained silent for a moment.

“I promised to protect her. That's all.” My jaw tightened.

“Of course, Sir.” James faced the road again.

We arrived shortly. 

A traffic camera had captured John’s vehicle entering the service road leading to Clinical Annex Seven shortly after the attack but it had yet to come out.

The abandoned laboratory building appeared ahead of us.

I was certain Eden was inside.

I checked the magazine in my gun and looked toward the dark entrance.

Pregnant or not, I was going to keep my promise.

I stepped out of the vehicle with my men, ready to give instructions.

Before I could issue the first order, a gunshot shattered the silence from inside the annex.