Chapter 125 Checkmate 2
Gavin’s POV
The phone rang once. Twice. Then three times. Then straight to voicemail.
“Melissa, it’s me. Please call me back. We need to talk.”
I hung up and immediately called again.
Straight to voicemail.
Again.
“Piccola, please. I know you’re upset. I know I’ve been avoiding you, but I can explain everything. Just… Please call me back.”
I ended the call and stared at my phone. She’d never sent me to voicemail before. Never.
Even when she was angry with me, she always answered.
I tried again.
Nothing.
My chest tightened.
Something was wrong. My office phone rang. I grabbed it.
“What?”
“Sir.” Marcus’s voice was more careful than usual. “There’s something you need to see. Urgently.”
“What is it?”
“Garage security footage. I’m sending it to your computer now.”
My screen lit up with a notification. I clicked on it.The video loaded.
It showed the penthouse garage. Time stamp from forty minutes ago.
Melissa appeared on screen, running. Her face was…
My blood went cold.
She looked terrible. Tears streamed down her face. Her whole body was shaking.
She was fumbling with her car keys, dropping them, picking them up.
Then Jason appeared. Blocking her path to the car.
Then Diana. They were talking. I couldn’t hear the audio, but I could read their body language.
Diana was pleading. Reaching for Melissa.
Jason was standing there with his arms crossed.
And Melissa…
Melissa looked like her entire world was ending. She kept shaking her head. Backing away from them.
Then Diana said something. Something that made Melissa’s knees buckle.
Jason caught her before she fell. I watched Melissa’s face crumple. I watched her start crying even harder.
What the fuck had they told her?
The video continued. More talking. Diana was crying now too.
Then Melissa stood up. Got into her car. Diana tried to stop her. She was shouting something.
But Melissa drove away.
The video ended.
I was already dialing her number again before the screen went black.
Straight to voicemail.
“Fuck!”
I tried again.
And again.
And again.
Nothing.
I called Marcus.
“Where is she now?”
“I don’t know, sir.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
“I lost track of her.” Marcus’s voice was tense. “Her car has GPS, but it’s showing up at a location that doesn’t make sense. And her phone is off.”
“Find her.” My voice came out deadly calm. “I don’t care what you have to do. Find her. Now.”
“Yes, sir.”
I hung up and tried calling Melissa one more time.
Voicemail.
My hand clenched around the phone so hard I heard the case crack.
What had Diana told her?
What had Jason said?
And why did Melissa look like someone had just told her…
I stood abruptly, my chair slamming back into the wall.
I needed to get home. I grabbed my coat and headed for the door.
The penthouse was dark and empty when I walked in.
“Diana?” I called out anyway.
Silence. I walked through the living room. Her room. The kitchen.
Nothing.
No sign of her. I was about to call her when I noticed an envelope on the dining room table.
My name written across the front in Diana’s handwriting.
I picked it up slowly and then opened it. Inside was a flash drive and a handwritten note.
Gavin, By the time you read this, I’ll be gone.
You never knew who I really was, did you? Never knew that John Hayes…the man you killed twenty years ago…was my husband. Melissa’s father. I sought you out. All for this moment.
The flash drive contains evidence of your involvement in Senator Morrison’s death. Together with security footage. By now they’ve received an anonymous tip. You’ll be arrested within the hour.And Melissa knows everything. What you did to her father. Who you really are. And don’t think that’s the only thing I have on you.”
You’ve lost everything that matters, Gavin.
Enjoy your fall.
\- Diana
I set the note down.
Reached into my pocket. I pulled out my cigarettes and lighter. Lit one .Took a long drag and smiled.
How naive.
I took another drag, letting the smoke curl around me.
My phone rang again. I answered without looking.
“Marcus, have you found her?”
“No, sir. There’s still no trace of her.”
I took another drag of my cigarette.
“Keep looking.”
Then I hung up.
——-
Sophia pov
Melissa’s breathing had finally evened out.
I sat on the edge of the bed, my hand still gently stroking her hair. The poor thing had cried herself into exhaustion, her face blotchy and swollen, tear tracks still visible on her cheeks.
So beautiful even in her devastation. So perfectly broken.
I continued the soothing motion until I was certain she was deeply asleep. Her body had gone completely slack, her mouth slightly open, soft snores escaping every few breaths.
I stood carefully, making sure not to jostle the mattress. I walked quietly out of the bedroom and closed the door with barely a sound.
Once in the living room, I let the mask slip.
I pulled out my phone and a cigarette, lighting it as I scrolled to a specific contact.
The call connected on the second ring.
“Stephan,” I said, exhaling smoke toward the ceiling. “The bunny just stepped into our trap.”
“Already?” His voice was smooth. Pleased. “I thought it would take longer.”
“Diana played her part better than I expected.” I took another drag. “Told the girl everything about her father. She ran right to me.”
“And she has no idea?”
“None.” I smiled. “She thinks I’m just a kind stranger who happened to be in the right place at the right time. Poor thing was so desperate for comfort she didn’t question it.”
Stephan laughed. Low and dark. “My brother really is losing his touch.”
I walked to the window, looking out over the glittering city. “Which makes this so much sweeter.”
“Where are you?”
“The penthouse. Upper West Side. The one under the shell company.” I gave him the exact address. “You can come get her before morning. I don’t want her dirtying my house any more than necessary.”
“She’s that bad?”
“She cried for an hour straight, Stephan. An hour. It was pathetic.” I tapped ash into a crystal tray. “But it worked perfectly. She’s exactly how we need her.”
“And Gavin?”
“Diana’s evidence will keep him busy. Between the fabricated murder charge and trying to find Melissa, he’ll be too distracted to think clearly.” My smile widened. “By the time he figures out what’s really happening, it’ll be too late.”
“Father will be pleased.”
“Father is already pleased. I called him an hour ago.” I took another drag. “Zeus sends his regards, by the way. Says to tell you well done.”
Stephan was quiet for a moment. “What time should I come?”
“Four AM. She’ll still be sleeping. I gave her something to help with that.”
“You drugged her?”
“Barely. Just enough to keep her under for a few more hours.” I stubbed o ut my cigarette. “I’m not a monster, Stephan.”
He laughed again. “I’ll be there at four. Have her ready. And thank you. For playing your part so well.”
“Please. This is as much my revenge as it is yours.” My voice hardened.