LOGINMiller didn't go home that night.He drove straight back to the station, his hands still gripping the wheel the same way they had outside the Thompson house, "After everything, he succeeded in taking her," he said in a low voice.He couldn't go to the Dawson mansion, not tonight. It was already past one in the morning, and there was no version of this conversation that got easier by having it in the dark, half,asleep, with nothing concrete to offer them but bad news. He would go first thing in the morning. He would tell Richard first, God help him, he'd have to look that man in the eye and tell him his daughter was gone, and then the two of them would go to Emily together. She deserved better than a phone call. She deserved better than any of this, honestly, but that wasn't a luxury any of them had right now.The station was quiet when he walked in. His team, the handful of officers he'd pulled onto this specific thread of the investigation, were still at their desks. Their coffee had
Captain Miller sat in his car outside the Thompson house, engine off, staring at the lit windows for a moment.Before going into their house, he remembered Derick, because he needed to let Derick know.He pulled out his phone and dialed Derick.It rang twice before Derick picked up."Miller? What's going on?""I need to tell you something," Miller said. "And I need you to stay calm when I do."A pause. "What happened?""It's Jems. She was taken. Don Emilio's men attacked the estate in France. Christopher and Ethan are both in the hospital with gunshot wounds. She's gone, Derick.""What?? How?? How did they even find her??""She went to France in disguise. Her and Ethan and Christopher, living under new identities. But somehow the address was leaked and they went straight to her. I know you're no longer connected to this case officially, but I felt like you needed to know."The line went quiet for a moment.Then Derick said, "How many hours has it been?""Six hours and twenty-five minu
Ethan had fought until his body simply refused to cooperate anymore. Even with a bullet in his arm, even pinned to the floor by men twice his size, he'd kept fighting, kept reaching for Jems, kept screaming her name. But the blood loss had been relentless, draining his strength with every passing second until his vision darkened and his body went limp against his will.Christopher had been worse. Already compromised from his previous injuries, the bullet to his thigh had been devastating. He'd dragged himself halfway up the staircase before his body gave out completely, leaving a trail of blood on the marble steps behind him.When backup finally arrived, French police units responding to Captain Miller's frantic calls, sirens wailing as they flooded the estate, they found the place devastated. Windows shattered. Doors hanging off hinges. Blood on the floors, the walls, the stairs. The officers who'd been stationed around the perimeter lay wounded, some dead.And Don Emilio's men were
The afternoon sun warmed the back garden of Château Belle-Vue, and for the first time in days, Jems was doing something outdoors. She knelt in the soft soil, carefully patting earth around a tomato seedling, her gloved hands stained with dirt. After being cooped up inside for what felt like forever, the simple act of gardening felt like freedom."Ethan," she called out, wiping sweat from her brow with the back of her wrist, "where's the water? I'm so thirsty.""Coming, love," he answered, emerging from the kitchen door with two bottles of cold water.Christopher stood a few feet away, his arm still in a sling from his injuries, but alert as ever, scanning the property every second."Jems, stop calling him Ethan," Christopher said, for what felt like the tenth time that day. "It's Gerald. You need to get used to it.""Sorry," Jems said, giving a small, sheepish bow. "I'll try harder."Ethan laughed, handing her a water bottle and pressing a quick kiss to her dirt-smudged cheek. "I thin
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the French countryside estate, painting everything in warm golden light. Jems sat at the breakfast table on the terrace, taking in the breathtaking view, rolling hills covered in grapevines, the distant mountains creating a perfect backdrop, and the air so clean and fresh it almost didn't seem real.Ethan emerged from the kitchen carrying two plates of perfectly prepared omelets, setting one down in front of her with a flourish."Breakfast is served, Mrs. Roderick," he said with a playful grin.Jems laughed. "I still can't get used to that name. Kiara Roderick. It sounds so, not me.""Well, you better get used to it," Ethan said, sitting down across from her. "Captain Miller was very clear. As far as anyone in this town knows, we're newlyweds on our honeymoon. You're Kiara, I'm Gerald, and we're madly in love.""That last part isn't even a lie," Jems said softly, reaching across the table to take his hand.Ethan squeezed her fi
7:00 AM, THE MORNING AFTERMira stared at her phone, watching the minutes tick by with increasing dread. The burner phone sat on her nightstand like a coiled snake, silent but threatening.She hadn’t slept at all. How could she? Jems was gone, on a plane to France by now, safe and unreachable. Which meant Mira had failed, and that meant Don Emilio would be calling any moment.She jumped when her regular phone buzzed with a text.Jems: We just landed! France is so beautiful already. I’ll send you pictures once we get to the house. Miss you already!Mira stared at the message, tears blurring her vision. Jems was safe, free, and beyond Don Emilio’s reach. And Mira was about to pay the price for that freedom.The burner phone rang.Mira’s hands shook so badly she almost dropped it. She stared at Don Emilio’s number flashing on the screen, her heart pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears. She couldn't not answer, as that would only make things worse. With trembling fingers, she acc
Knock, knock, knock.“Come in,” Ethan said.A middle-aged Black man entered carrying a garment bag. “Good morning, Mr. Reynolds. Your new suit is here.”Ethan took the suit and went into the bathroom. He changed quickly and came out.“Get well soon,” he said to Jems as he turned to leave.“Ethan, w
Richard rushed over to them.“Oh my, Mr. Reynolds, I’m so sorry,” Richard said as he grabbed a napkin and was about to wipe Ethan’s face.“Disgusting,” Ethan muttered as he wiped his eyes himself. “Don’t you have manners?” he asked, looking at Jems with disgust.“I’m so sorry, Mr. Reynolds. Let me
The moment Derick told them she was awake, they both ran to Jems' room.“Mum... Dad...” Jems whispered, tears filling her eyes the moment she saw them.They both rushed to her side, hugging her carefully to avoid hurting her bandaged arm.“My little princess, how are you feeling?” Richard asked, hi
After Derick finished making the call, a nurse came out and informed him that Jems was in urgent need of a blood transfusion, as she had lost a significant amount of blood. Derick and Ethan immediately offered to be tested to see if either of them was a match. The results showed that Derick was a p







