LOGINRoosevelt’s PovNixie's voice trembled through the phone, and then I heard a terrible sound over the speaker as she shouted."Roosevelt! They are kicking the door," Nixie said as her voice shook so hard I could barely understand her.My heart dropped into my stomach as I sat in the back of Zyran's car as I squeezed my eyes shut, and I prayed with everything inside me that we would not get there too late."Hold on, Nixie," I said into the phone, pressing the speaker close to my ear. "Do not open that door for anyone until we get there.""I am trying to move the small couch," Nixie said, with her voice full of fear. "Awww…It is too heavy for me alone, Roose."On the other end of the line while I spoke to her, I immediately heard a wet cough, and then the sound of metal scraping against the floor. Elias was awake and he was still weak from his surgery, but I heard his bare feet touch the cold floor as he struggled to get to Nixie."Nixie, stop," Elias said, his voice low and weak through
Roosevelt’s PovSo my mother-in-law had bought the boat that let my daughter's kidnapper get away.I looked at the plastic bag in Zyran's hand, staring at the cracked phone screen inside it. A part of me was still reeling in shock as I finally realized what it all meant. Beatrice was not just a mean, bitter woman who hated me. She had been financing a violent criminal who was willing to take matters into his own hands.“I need to go to the police station now,” Zyran muttered, putting his phone into his coat pocket. “The police have Mina in the cell, and she has refused to give them any information.”"I am coming with you," I said, stepping right past him into the hall.“No, Roosevelt, you need to stay here with Lorna,” Zyran replied, turning to face me. “You look exhausted, and you need to stay here in the safehouse with Lorna and rest.“Zyran, Lorna will be fine, and I am not going to sit here in this quiet house doing nothing while your mother funds a criminal,” I said, looking him
Roosevelt’s PovLorna was shaking so hard in my arms to a point I feared her bones would break.Mateo had dumped Mina the second he saw the police lights, jumping onto the boat and leaving her to take the fall alone. The police held Mina to the ground as she cried out for Mateo, but I didn’t care about her. I couldn’t bear the sight of her anymore. All I could think of right now, is about Lorna.“Let me help put Lorna in the car,” Zyran said, reaching out to take daughter from my arms.I drew my body back suddenly, turning my shoulder away from him so he could not reach her. “Do not touch her,” I snapped to his surprise as Zyran paused, his hands hanging in the space between us. He looked at me with pain in his eyes, but I looked away as I pulled Lorna into the back seat of the car by myself and pulled the door shut.We drove to the safehouse without saying a single word to each other. Zyran tried to look at me in the mirror, but I stared straight out the window at the dark roads as
ROOSEVELT’S POVMina was holding the burning matches inches away from an open drum of fuel, and my daughter was tied to a chair right next to her. Lorna was desperately struggling for her life at the mercy of Mina.I wanted so badly to scream but I held myself as crouched low behind Zyran and we walked deeper into the warehouse, my eyes locked on Lorna’s tear-streaked face.My little girl was sobbing silently, her tiny shoulders hitching with every flicker of the red light in Mina’s hand.Zyran’s guards spread out in a wide circle around us, raising their weapons while keeping their distance.I held my breath as we peered around the corner, knowing that any sudden move on our part would end with the whole damn warehouse engulfed in flames.“Do not come any closer, Zyran!” Mina shrieked as she noticed our presence, her voice frayed with no emotion as she waved the burning match-stick in my daughter’s direction.She looked completely wild, her curly hair messy and her eyes wide with unh
ROOSEVELT’S POVMy mother-in-law sold my daughter to the highest bidder, and the text message on my phone was the only proof I needed.I looked at the phone in my hands and felt my heart drop to my stomach.“Honey, look at this,” I said, handing the phone to Zyran while my hands shook.Zyran took the phone, reading the text message twice before narrowing his eyes at the screen as he swore under his breath. “These people have bitten more than they can chew. I can't take this shit from them again” he bit his lips in agony as he turned to his head of security.“Gather the men, get prepared with them. We are driving to the main estate,” Zyran ordered the guard as I comforted myself beside him, crossed my legs over my knees and determined to finally stand up to Beatrice and Clara.I was done being the quiet-forgiving wife who took every insult without fighting back.***As we pulled up to the main gates of the King estate, two guards rushed forward to open the entrance.We walked into the
ROOSEVELT’S POVLorna was sitting in a dark room tied to a wooden chair with a clock counting down from sixty seconds.I stared at the glowing phone screen, and my thumb trembled so hard I almost dropped the device on the floor.“Zyran, lo… look! That's my Lorna! Jezz! That's her” I whispered, as tears welled up in my eyes as I showed my husband the screen with my heart pounding in my ears.Zyran took the phone from my hand, his eyes scanning the video for two seconds. Then his face boiled in fury as he heaved a sigh of depression before he passed it to his chief security officer.“Find this location right now,” Zyran said to his officer, keeping his voice calm and pulling me closer to his chest. “Search all buildings that lead to the hidden exit tunnel.”I pushed Julian closer to my hip, deciding at that moment that I would not be sitting in this villa while something dreadful happened to my daughter.“We need to go to the hospital now,” I said to Zyran looking him in the eyes becau
NIXIE'S POVZyran let out a long, frustrated sigh and pulled his phone from his pocket. "Marcus," Zyran said, anger tightening his voice. "Stand down and cancel the order." "Sir?" Marcus replied, sounding confused. "We are there already, in fact, directly in front of him." "I said stand down," Z
ROOSEVELT’S POV"Daddy, you burned it!"Lorna’s loud giggle filled the kitchen."I did not burn it, little bug," Zyran said playfully. "It is just extra crispy and that is how the best chefs in Italy make it.""No, they don't!" Lorna laughed. "It looks like a black rock!"I stood in the hallway, le
ROOSEVELT’S POV"Put my daughter down. Right now."The words tore out of Zyran’s throat like a dangerous growl.The whole world seemed to stand still. My heart crashed against my ribs."Your daughter?" Lorna shouted from Mateo’s shoulders. She tilted her head, looking around the crowded zoo. "Is yo
ROOSEVELT’S POVI sat in my locked office, covering my face with my hands. My shoulders shook with silent, heavy sobs.He kissed her. He took her to Paris and kissed her right outside his office door.A knock echoed against the glass.I jumped. I quickly wiped my wet cheeks and took a deep breath.







