All Chapters of Forbidden Obsession: Falling for My Stepson: Chapter 111 - Chapter 120

 The dock lights cut through the fog like knives and I knew Julian’s men would kill me on sight if they spotted me first.I crouched behind a stack of shipping containers my back against cold metal. The Rotterdam docks smelled of salt and diesel. Rain mixed with the river water under my boots. I had left Ava in the safehouse in Paris with strict orders to stay put. She had fought me on it but I needed her safe with Maya. This job was mine alone. The container Julian wanted sat under a single spotlight fifty yards away. Guards walked slow circles around it. I checked my watch. Three minutes until the next shift change. Time to move.A low voice crackled in my earpiece. “Damien you there? I have eyes on two more guards at the east gate. You sure about this?”I whispered back keeping my head down. “I am sure. Just keep the boat ready. If this goes bad I need a fast exit.”The voice belonged to an old contact from my

 Julian’s smile never reached his eyes and I knew right then that this conversation was about to go very wrong.I stood in the safehouse living room with the gun still in my hand. Julian sat on the couch like he owned the place. Rain beat against the windows outside. Maya slept in the next room. I had told the guards to stay back. This was between me and him. No one else.“You really think I would leave Damien?” I said keeping my voice flat. “After everything he has done for us? For our daughter? You must be out of your mind.”Julian leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees. “Think about it Ava. Damien is dangerous. The raids. The violence. He is turning into his father. Maya deserves stability. The De Witt family can give her that. Schools in Europe. Protection that lasts. A future without the constant fighting. All you have to do is walk away from him. Simple.”I laughed but there was no humor in it. “Simple for you maybe. You show up

 The encrypted video popped up on my screen at three in the morning and I knew my mother had just reached out from the grave she had dug for herself years ago.I sat alone in the dim safehouse room in Paris. Rain drummed against the window. Ava slept in the next room with Maya. I clicked play before I could think twice. Madeline appeared on the screen. She looked thinner than I remembered. Her hair had more gray. She sat in a plain room with concrete walls. Her eyes locked straight into the camera like she could see me watching.“Damien,” she said her voice steady but tired. “If you are seeing this I made it out alive. Barely. I went back underground after the last mess. Deeper this time. No one can find me. Not even you. Listen close. I do not have much time.”I leaned forward my hands gripping the edge of the table. “Mom,” I whispered even though she could not hear me.She continued. “I knew about t

 The phone buzzed on the table at dawn and I knew Julian had just thrown everything he had left at us.I grabbed it fast before it could wake Ava. She stirred anyway her hair messy across the pillow. Maya slept in the crib beside our bed her small chest rising and falling steady. I answered the call keeping my voice low. “What happened?”The security chief sounded out of breath. “Sir the financial sector in New York just locked down. Trading halted. Banks showing massive glitches. They are blaming Langford Enterprises. Losses already in the billions.”I sat up quick. Ava turned over her eyes opening. She reached for my hand. “Damien what is it?”I put the call on speaker. “Say that again. Everything.”The chief repeated it. “It is bad. Systems crashing across the board. Fingers pointing at us. Looks like a cyber attack but they made it look internal. Julian’s signature all ove

 The alarm screamed through the penthouse and I knew they had finally come for my daughter.I bolted out of the study gun already in my hand. Ava’s voice crackled over the intercom. “Damien they are in the nursery. I am going in.”“Wait for me,” I shouted running down the hall. My heart hammered so hard it hurt. Maya was in there. Our little girl. Two years old and sleeping peaceful when the raid hit. I heard glass break and a man grunt in pain. Ava’s voice cut through the chaos.“Get away from her,” she yelled. “Do not touch my baby.”I reached the nursery door and kicked it open. Two men in black tactical gear had Ava cornered near the crib. She had one by the wrist twisting hard. The other lunged for Maya. I fired a warning shot into the wall. “Back off now.”The first man turned on me. “De Witt wants the girl alive. Stand down.”Ava drove her