The Lion's Den

The heavy knock on the door sounded like a death sentence. Valeriana pulled Jamie closer, her heart jumping in her chest. Silas Vane’s men were right outside. If they walked in and saw the boy, her life as she knew it was over. Silas didn't just take what he wanted; he crushed anything that stood in his way.

Logan moved like a blur. He grabbed his phone and typed something fast. Then, he looked at Valeriana with eyes that were suddenly sharp and focused.

"Go to the back bedroom," he ordered. His voice was low but held a power that made her feet move before she could even think to argue. "Take the boy. Lock the door and don't make a sound."

"Logan, they'll find him," she breathed, her eyes darting to the thin wooden door.

"I won't let them. Trust me, Val. Just this once."

She didn't have time to ask why. She hurried into the small room where she and Jamie slept. She climbed onto the bed, pulling Jamie into her lap and covering his mouth gently with her hand. The boy was warm with fever, his breath coming in short, quick puffs against her palm.

In the other room, she heard the front door creak open.

"Mr. Frost," a deep, gravelly voice said. "Your grandfather was quite clear. He expected you in the car five minutes ago."

"I don’t care what he expects," Logan replied. He sounded bored, like he was talking about a business meeting he didn't want to attend. "I’m busy. Tell him I’ll see him at the office tomorrow."

"He saw you follow the girl, sir. He’s not in a patient mood. He wants to know who lives here and why you’re wasting your time in a place like this."

Valeriana squeezed her eyes shut. She could hear the men moving around her tiny living room. They were looking for her. They were looking for a secret.

"She’s a thief," Logan said suddenly.

Valeriana’s eyes snapped open. A thief?

"A thief, sir?" the man asked, sounding confused.

"Yes." Logan’s voice was cold and mean. "She stole something valuable from my office tonight. I followed her here to get it back before involving the police. I’ve already recovered it, so you can tell Silas the situation is handled. Now, get out of my sight before I have you fired for breathing my air."

There was a long silence. Valeriana held her breath, her chest aching. She waited for the sound of the bedroom door being kicked in. She waited for them to find Jamie.

Finally, the front door closed.

Valeriana waited another minute before she dared to move. She slowly unlocked the bedroom door and peeked out. Logan was standing by the window, watching the street below. His shoulders were slumped, and he looked exhausted.

"Are they gone?" she asked.

Logan turned around. The mean look was gone from his face. "For now. But my grandfather isn't stupid. He’ll check the cameras at the office. He’ll realize I lied."

He walked over to her, his gaze falling on Jamie, who had fallen into a restless sleep. "We have to move. If we stay here, his men will be back with a warrant or a battering ram."

"Where are we going?" Valeriana asked. She felt like she was caught in a storm, with no way to stop the wind.

"To my place," Logan said. "The penthouse has top-tier security. Even Silas can't get in without my permission. I’ll have a doctor meet us there to look at the boy."

Valeriana looked at her small apartment. She had worked so hard to build this tiny, safe world. Now, it was being torn down. "And then what? What happens when the world finds out about him?"

Logan stepped closer, reaching out to touch Jamie’s small hand. A look of fierce protection crossed his face, a look that made him look nothing like a vane. "I’m the heir to an empire, Val. I spent my whole life being told that family is a business. But looking at him... I realize I was wrong."

He looked her straight in the eyes. "I’m going to claim him. I’m going to make sure he has everything he ever needs. But we have to play this carefully. My grandfather wants an heir, but he wants to get rid of you. He thinks you're a distraction."

"I am a distraction," she said bitterly. "I was just a scholarship student who got in the way."

"You were never just a student to me," Logan said. For a second, he looked like the boy from two years ago again.

But the moment broke when his phone buzzed again. It was an email. He opened it, and his face turned to stone.

"What is it?" Valeriana asked.

Logan turned the screen toward her. It was a photo of Valeriana from the gala two years ago, wearing the silver mask. But next to it was a photo of her from tonight, leaving the building in her cleaning uniform.

The subject line read, "I know who your little cleaner is." And I know what she’s hiding in that apartment. Call me, or I'll call Silas.

It wasn't from his grandfather. It was from Rebecca.

"She's coming for us," Valeriana whispered.

"No," Logan said, his jaw tightening. "She's coming for a fight. And she has no idea what I’m willing to do to win."

He grabbed the suitcase and headed for the door. "Let's go. Every second we stay here is a second she wins."

Valeriana picked up Jamie and followed him out into the night, knowing that once she stepped into Logan's world, there was no turning back.

As they reached the lobby, Logan’s grip on the suitcase tightened. He stopped and stared at the front glass doors.

A woman was standing there, leaning against a red sports car. She was holding a phone in her hand, a cruel smile on her face.

"Going somewhere, Logan?" Rebecca asked, her eyes landing on the bundle in Valeriana’s arms. "I think it’s time we had a little chat about your hidden legacy."