Chapter 394

Chapter 394
Carol's mother sat down beside her, worry etched on her face.
“What's going through your head, Carol? You're not going to do anything crazy like follow him, are you? What could you possibly do there, my dear?”
Carol composed herself, forcing a calm she didn't feel.
“Mom, I don't even know where they went. How could I follow them?”
Her mother nodded, relieved, and patted her hand before getting up to tidy the room. As soon as her father went upstairs, Carol saw her chance. A quick glance into the kitchen confirmed that she was alone. In one fluid, silent movement, she changed her shoes, grabbed her keys, and slipped out, the car engine coming to life on the street.

…

When the effects of the drug wore off, Liam woke with a jolt. Dust scratched his throat, and the air was heavy with the smell of mold. The place was strange, gloomy. Panic began to bubble in his chest.
“Well, well. The little prince is awake.” The voice made Liam cringe.
Joseph stood before him, a cruel smile on his lips. The memory flashed into Liam's mind like lightning: the image of Joseph, the push, the icy water of the lake swallowing him. This was the man who had hurt him before. Instinctively, he crawled backward, trying to melt into the cold wall.
“Are you afraid of me, Liam?” Joseph approached slowly, kneeling in front of him.
Liam was shaking violently. Seeing Joseph's hand rise, he lowered his head and held out his own hands in a futile gesture of defense.
The sound of Joseph's laughter was chilling.

“You have the same pathetic look as your father. It's disgusting.”
He reached out to touch Liam's face. The scream that tore from the boy's throat was shrill, a sound of pure terror.
The scream was the signal. Nathan and Stella burst through the door, drawn by the sound.
“Liam!” Stella screamed, her son's name torn from her gut. She tried to run toward him, but Joseph's men blocked her, creating an impenetrable barrier.
Her eyes, filled with tears, were fixed on her son cowering in the corner. She knew how terrified he was, and the helplessness of not being able to comfort him was physical torture.
“Mommy!” Liam's small, trembling voice cut through the air. He lifted his face, trying to get up to reach her, but Joseph was faster.
With a sudden movement, Joseph grabbed him and dragged him close to a large glass window.
“One more step and I'll throw him out of here!” he shouted, the threat hanging in the air. “Do you want to test my word?”
“No! Stop! We won't move!” Stella begged, paralyzed by fear.
Nathan hugged her, holding her in place.

“Joseph, we're here. Tell us what you want.”
“Calm down, the party isn't over yet,” Joseph sneered. “Where's Marlon? Isn't he coming to defend the honor of his beloved Carol?”
“Daddy... Mommy!” Liam's crying continued.
Stella's heart broke. “Mom.” The word she had longed to hear for so long, spoken like a sentence in the worst situation of her life.
“Liam, my love...” she whispered, her voice breaking.
Then footsteps sounded behind them. Marlon was there, standing next to Nathan, his face a mask of controlled rage.
“We're all here, Joseph. End this circus,” Nathan said, his voice low and dangerous.
Joseph didn't respond. He just signaled for one of his henchmen to hold Liam. Then he pulled out a gun and approached them, a sick smile spreading across his face.
“How about a game?”
“What kind of game, you bastard?!” Marlon exploded, unable to contain himself. “You're a coward who only uses women and children as shields!”
Joseph's smile disappeared. In the next instant, he lunged forward and struck Marlon's head with the barrel of the gun. The sound was sharp and hollow. Marlon fell to his knees, blood beginning to trickle down his forehead.
“I love games,” Joseph said, pointing the gun at Marlon. “And if you don't play, I'll just finish you off right here and now.”
With the pain subsiding, Marlon got up, staggering.
“Start,” Nathan said, his voice cold as steel.
“The three of us are going to play,” Joseph pointed to Nathan, Marlon, and himself.
Letting go of Stella, Nathan nodded.
“Stay here. Don't be afraid,” he whispered to her.
Joseph picked up an empty beer bottle and looked at them. “Russian roulette. Do you know the rules?”
Nathan and Marlon just nodded. Joseph sat down on the floor and motioned for them to do the same, forming a circle.
“You two... the two people I hate most in the world,” Joseph began, the gun resting on his lap. “Nathan, my old enemy. And Marlon... the man who stole my wife.”
“You have no right to say you love Carol,” Marlon spat.
“And why not?” Joseph turned to him, his eyes flashing.
“Because those who love don't hurt, don't force, don't destroy! You don't know what love is.”
“And you do?” Joseph challenged him. “Would you die for her?”
“Yes.” Marlon's answer was immediate, without hesitation.
Joseph narrowed his eyes, his finger moving closer to the trigger.
“Didn't you want a game?” Nathan intervened, breaking the tension. “Let's begin.”
Joseph's attention returned to the center of the circle. He opened the gun's cylinder, showed that there was only one bullet, and spun it, closing it with a metallic click.
“Let's spin the bottle. Whoever it stops on takes the gun and shoots themselves in the head. Understood?”
Without saying a word, Nathan reached out and spun the bottle. It spun and spun and stopped, the neck pointing directly at him.
Joseph threw the gun to Nathan.
With the cold weight of metal in his hand, Nathan discreetly scanned the room. Stella was immobilized by a man pointing a gun at her head. Liam was held by another, dangerously close to the window. In addition to Joseph, a third henchman was keeping them at gunpoint. He knew with terrible clarity that there was no escape. One wrong move, and he would lose everything.