LOGINSienna’s PovThe day at the lake had been perfect. For a few hours, I had forgotten about Victor. I had forgotten about the investigations. I had forgotten about the files.When we returned to the Calloway estate, everything changed again.Roman was waiting in the library, looking tired. “I didn’t want to ruin your day.”I smiled a little. “You didn’t.”“I just received something from the investigators.”The smile disappeared from my face. “What is it?”“They recovered another document.”Cole frowned. “I thought everything important was destroyed.”“So did I.” Roman held up a single sheet of paper. “It was hidden inside another folder.”I looked at it. “My name?”He nodded. “I’m sorry.”Cole immediately looked at me. “You don’t have to read it tonight.”I wanted to agree. Instead, I held out my hand. “I need to.”Roman hesitated before giving me the paper. I unfolded it slowly. At first it looked like every other surveillance report—dates, times, observations. Then my eyes stopped on
Cole’s PovFor the first time in weeks, I turned my phone off. Roman had called twice before breakfast, the investigators had already sent three messages, and the board wanted another meeting. I ignored all of them.Sienna looked at me from across the kitchen. “You turned your phone off.”“I did.”She smiled. “I never thought I’d see the day.”“I needed a break.” I walked closer. “We all need one.”Ava looked up from the table. “A break from what?”I smiled. “From grown-up problems.”She nodded seriously. “I don’t like grown-up problems.”“I don’t either.”She grinned. “So what are we doing today?”I looked at Sienna. “I was thinking we could disappear for a few hours.”“Disappear?”“Somewhere quiet.”“No reporters?”“None.”“No meetings?”“Not one.”“No investigations?”“Not today.”Sienna smiled. “That sounds perfect.”Ava clapped happily. “Adventure!”I laughed. “Exactly.”An hour later we arrived in a small lakeside town nearly two hours away. The streets were quiet, children rode
Sienna’s PovI did not want to go back to the abandoned safe house. The last time we had been there, everything had felt cold and wrong. Now we were standing outside the same building again.Roman looked at me before unlocking the front door. “You don’t have to do this.”I looked at him. “You said there was something I needed to see.”“There is.”I took a deep breath. “Then let’s finish it.”Cole reached for my hand. “I’m staying with you.”“I know.”“I’m not leaving your side.”I gave him a small smile. “Thank you.”We walked inside together. The investigators were already searching through the damaged rooms, boxes filled with evidence covering the tables. One of the investigators walked toward Roman. “We recovered everything that survived the fire.”Roman nodded. “Anything important?”The investigator looked at me. “Some of it.”My stomach tightened. Roman turned to me. “Sienna. There was a file here with your name on it.”“I remember.”“We found part of it.”“Only part?”He nodded.
Cole’s PovI had faced board meetings, hostile reporters, angry investors, and people who wanted to destroy my family, but nothing had ever made me as nervous as the conversation I was about to have with a five-year-old little girl. I stood outside Sienna’s apartment holding a small stuffed bear that I had bought on the way over. I wasn’t even sure why I bought it. Maybe I just wanted something to keep my hands busy.The door opened before I could knock again. Sienna smiled softly. “You came.”“I said I would.”She looked at my face for a moment. “You’re nervous.”“I’ve never been this nervous.”She stepped aside. “Come in.”I walked inside. The apartment was quiet. “Where’s Ava?”“In the living room. She’s drawing.”I nodded slowly. “Sienna.”“Yes?”“Are you sure this is the right time?”She reached for my hand. “There will never be a perfect time.”“What if she gets upset?”“She might.”“What if she hates me?”Sienna shook her head. “You won’t know unless you tell her.”I let out a
Sienna’s PovThe afternoon started like every other day until my phone rang.I smiled when I saw the daycare’s name on the screen because I thought they were calling to tell me Ava had finished another drawing or had said something funny.Instead, the teacher sounded terrified. “Mrs. Vale, are you on your way to pick up Ava?”I frowned. “No. Cole is supposed to get her today.”There was silence. Then she whispered, “Someone already picked her up.”My heart stopped. “What did you just say?”“A man came with authorization. He had the correct paperwork and identification. We thought everything was in order.”My knees almost gave out. “That wasn’t us,” I whispered.The teacher gasped. “Oh my God…”I ended the call before she could say another word and immediately called Cole. He answered on the first ring.“Hey, Sienna.”“They said someone picked up Ava.”His voice changed instantly. “What?”“The daycare said someone already took her.”There was complete silence. Then I heard something cr
Roman’s PovMy phone started ringing before sunrise. I barely had time to open my eyes before another call came through. Then another. Then another.I reached for the phone on the bedside table and answered without checking the screen. “What happened?”“Roman, turn on the news right now,” my assistant said.I sat up immediately. “What is it?”“We have a serious problem.”“How serious?”“Very.”I switched on the television. Every news channel carried the same headline.CONFIDENTIAL CALLOWAY FINANCIAL RECORDS LEAK ONLINE.The anchor’s voice filled the room. “Thousands of confidential financial records belonging to Calloway Industries were anonymously released early this morning. Several documents appear to suggest years of hidden transactions, secret accounts, and possible financial misconduct involving senior members of the Calloway family.”I grabbed my jacket. “I’m on my way.”“Roman,” my assistant said, stopping me. “The company’s stock has already started falling.”“How bad?”“It h







