Chapter 179: Boiling rage

“Did you say safe?” he snapped. “You call this safe?!”

His hand slammed against the desk, drawing attention from across the room.

“How did my son get kidnapped in the first place?!”

The officers remained calm. They are used to this kind of reaction.

“Mr. Westman, there’s an ongoing investigation, we…”

“I don’t care about your fucking ongoing investigation!” he cut in harshly. “This wouldn’t have happened if he weren’t mixed up with that Alex!”

His jaw clenched tightly.

“I can bet my life that it's because of Alex,” he spat the name out like poison.

“And Lucas, where is he?” he continued, shaking his head in frustration. “That stubborn son of mine! I warned him. I warned him something bad would happen!”

The officer tried to interject, “Sir, your son is an adult…”

“And that makes this okay?” he snapped back immediately. “That makes it fine for him to be dragged into nonsense like this?”

His breathing was heavy now, anger mixing with fear he refused to show.

“Where is he?” he demanded again.

“We saw him last when he left the hospital before midday,” the officer replied.

Lucas’s father let out a sharp exhale, running a hand through his hair.

“Unbelievable…” he muttered.

Then louder, “If anything happens to him again…” he stopped himself.

His jaw tightened because the truth was that he was already scared it might.

The drive home was a blur.

Lucas’s father gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. His anger and fear collided inside him with every passing second.

Kidnapped because of that son of a gun. The word wouldn’t leave his head.

By the time he pulled into the compound, he didn’t bother to compose himself.

He stormed inside, screaming, “Where the heck is he?!”

His voice echoed through the house, sharp and furious.

Upstairs, Emily froze. Then she rushed down, her heart already racing at the tone in his voice.

“Dad,” she started, breathless. “He called. He said there’s nothing to worry about…”

“What?!” he snapped, cutting her off. “There is everything to worry about!” he thundered, pacing, his frustration spilling over. “How dare he lie like that? Call him. Tell him to come down immediately.”

Emily hesitated, confused. “Dad… he’s not home. We only spoke on the phone.”

Her father stopped mid-step and

turned sharply.

“Don’t tell me he went back to that Alex,” he said, disbelief laced with anger. “What is wrong with that boy?”

“Dad, why are you this angry?” Emily asked, her voice rising slightly, unsettled. “What did he even do?”

For a second, he just stared at her. Then he let out a harsh breath, running a hand over his face.

“I guess he didn’t tell you,” he said bitterly.

Emily frowned. “Tell me what?”

“It’s not what he did,” he replied,  “It’s what happened.”

A beat of silence.

“Your brother was kidnapped.”

The words hit like a bomb.

“It's all because of Benson's son.”

Emily’s eyes widened instantly.

“What?!” she exclaimed, her voice breaking with shock.

Her father nodded sharply, anger flaring again as he grabbed his phone from his pocket.

“Yes,” he snapped. “Kidnapped. And he thinks there’s nothing to worry about.”

His fingers moved quickly over the screen, already dialing.

Meanwhile, as the night slipped in, Lucas had decided to pick up his car so he took a cab to the company.

The parking lot was nearly empty now, lit only by a few dim overhead lamps. His footsteps echoed faintly as he made his way to his car. His shoulders were tense, his mind still replaying everything that had happened. His wrist wasn't hurting much, so he believed he could handle it.

He unlocked the door and slid into the driver’s seat. He exhaled deeply, gripping the steering wheel for a moment before starting the engine. The low hum of the car filled the silence, grounding him just enough to move.

The city lights blurred past as he drove back to the hotel. His expression was distant with tangled thoughts. He barely noticed the traffic, his mind too occupied, his kidnappers, the police, Alex, the masked man, and his worried family. Everything felt like it was closing in at once.

Then, his phone buzzed.

The sharp sound cut through the quiet like a blade.

Lucas’s eyes flicked to the screen. The name flashing there made his chest tighten instantly.

For a split second, he considered ignoring it, but the phone kept vibrating.

His jaw clenched.

“Damn it.” He muttered audibly as his heart pounded in his chest. He was hesitant because he didn't know if this call would make things better, or tear everything apart even further.

From his house, his father was still pacing.

“This ends today,” he muttered under his breath, jaw set.

“If he thinks he can keep running around as if nothing happened, then he needs to think again.”

The phone rang, and rang.

His expression darkened further with every second.

“Pick up,” he growled, pacing again. “Pick up, your gaddamn call, Lucas.”

Lucas’s phone buzzed again.

He exhaled slowly before answering. “Hello, Dad.”

“Where are you?” his father’s voice came sharp, no greeting, no softness.

Lucas paused before responding. “I’m somewhere close.”

“Then start heading home. Now.”

Lucas frowned. “Dad, why do you sound annoyed?”

A bitter scoff came through the line. “Annoyed? Oh, I’m more than annoyed right now.”

Lucas’s grip tightened on the phone.

“How could you go through something like kidnapping because of that Alex, and still have the nerve to stay with him instead of coming home? When will you start using your head, Lucas?!”

Lucas’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Damn it, how did he find out?” He muttered under his breath.

“Dad, I’m not with Alex. And, how did you even know about this?”

“Good thing I went to the police,” his father snapped immediately. “Because clearly, you were planning to hide it.”

Lucas closed his eyes briefly. “Damn it…” he cursed again.

“Kidnapping is not something to take lightly!” his father went on, the fear beneath his anger now unmistakable. “What if something worse had happened? What if you didn’t make it out? Have you thought about that?”

“Dad, I’m fine,” Lucas said, trying to steady his voice. “And I told you I’m not with Alex, okay?”

“Then come home,” his father fired back instantly.

Lucas hesitated. The room felt smaller suddenly.

“I’ll be home by morning,” he said finally.

“Morning?” his father repeated sharply. “No. Come back now.”

Lucas rubbed his temple, exhaustion creeping in. “Dad, I just need some rest, and I'm driving”

“I said come back now, Lucas!” his father snapped, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Silence hung between them.

Lucas exhaled slowly, staring ahead on the road.

“Fine,” he said at last, though the reluctance was clear in his tone. “I’m coming.”

“Good.”

The call ended.

Lucas disconnected the call, his jaw tightening as he pulled over by the roadside.

For a moment, he just sat there.

Then he leaned back, staring out at the night light as vehicles zoomed past him.

He just needed to rest and have a little peace, yet it seemed impossible.

The instant he pulled out of the roadside, another call entered, startling him. It was Alex.

His stomach tightened.