The Long Game

The Long Game
~James POV

I couldn't sleep.

The sun was coming up over the city now. Jennifer Hayes has her deadline. Vanessa missing. Elena is lying but I can't prove it. And Anna—God, Anna had almost been taken from me.

I poured myself coffee that had gone cold hours ago and stared at the stack of files on my desk. Files on Elena. How on earth will I figure something out?

My phone rang. Marcus.

"Hey"

"You sound like hell," he said without preamble.

"I feel worse." I set down the mug. "Tell me you found something."

"On Elena? James, the woman's a ghost when it comes to dirt. She's careful. Calculated. Everything she touches is legal—at least on paper."

"What about her father? Sebastian Santos?"

Marcus was quiet for a long moment. "That's a different story. But it's also almost impossible. The man's practically untouchable. Seen as a god in Brazil, with connections to politicians, judges, and law enforcement worldwide. You can't just dig into someone like that and expect to come out clean."

"So what do I do? Let Jennifer Hayes destroy me and Anna in—" I checked my watch, "—we are running out of time."

"No. You get smarter." I could hear the shift in Marcus's tone, from investigator to strategist. "You can't attack Santos from the outside. But from the inside? As family? That's different."

"What are you suggesting?"

"I'm suggesting you stop fighting Elena and start playing the role she wants you to play. The devoted fiancé. The grateful son-in-law. The perfect husband."

I laughed, bitter and tired. "You want me to actually go through with this wedding, Marcus this is an opportunity to take her down—."

"I want you to get close to them. Really close. Close enough that Sebastian starts trusting you, confiding in you. You're already rich, successful, American—everything his daughter could want in a husband. If you play this right, they might actually let you into the inner circle."

"And then?"

"Then you document everything. Every illegal deal, every bribe, every threat. You become their inside man while building a case that could bring down the entire family."

I stood, pacing to the window. The city was waking up—people starting their normal lives, and here I am trying to play James Bond.

"That could take months," I said.

"Better than losing everything." Marcus paused. "James, I know this isn't what you want. But Elena could have destroyed you already if she wanted to. She has enough on you and Anna to bury you both. The fact that she hasn't tells me something."

"What?"

"You just focus on this, I will figure the rest."

"And what about Anna?"

"Anna stays safe because you're playing by their rules. For now." Marcus's voice softened. "Look, I know you love her. But if you really want to protect her, you need to think long-term. This isn't about winning tomorrow. It's about winning eventually."

I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of it settle on my shoulders. "What about Jennifer Hayes?"

"Call her. Tell her you'll give her something better than a scandal about you and Anna. Tell her you'll give her Sebastian Santos."

"She'll never believe I can deliver that."

"Then make her believe it. You have more time to convince her that waiting for the bigger story is worth killing the smaller one."

"This is the worst plan I've ever heard," I said.

"I know."

"I'll do it."

"Exactly. Play the loving husband. Make them trust you. Keep Anna as far away from this as possible."

I looked at the photo on my desk—Anna at her college graduation, bright and beautiful and full of hope. Before I'd complicated everything by falling in love with her.

"If it keeps her safe? I'd do worse."

"Then call Jennifer. Make the deal. And James?" Marcus's voice held something I rarely heard from him, sympathy. "Don't lose yourself completely in the role. You're going to need something real to come back to when this is over."

I hung up and stared at my phone. Jennifer Hayes's number was already pulled up, waiting.

Eighteen hours left.

I pressed call.

\=============================

Anna's POV

I woke up and, for a moment, I had forgotten I had almost been kidnapped.

Then it all came back—the gun, the man's cold voice, and Jamal.

I checked my phone. 7:23 AM. No new messages from Jamal. The police detective's last text was from yesterday: ' Will update you when we have more information. '

Nothing from James. Not that I expected anything. Not after I'd hung up on him.

I could hear Daisy moving around in the kitchen, the smell of coffee drifting through the apartment.

When I emerged, she was already dressed for work in her sharp blazer and heels, looking far too put-together for someone who'd gotten maybe three hours of sleep.

"You're going to work?" I asked. "After everything that happened?"

"Life doesn't stop because—" She paused, softening. "Besides, someone important is coming to the office today. My boss has been freaking out all week."

"Someone important?"

She shrugged, pouring me coffee. "Some big investor or board member. You know how it is—rich people drama."

I tried to smile. "Your life is so normal. I'm actually jealous."

"Right, because my life is so boring compared to yours." Daisy leaned against the counter, studying me. "One of the best MMA fighters in the country saves you from kidnappers, you're about to be a leading actress on a major tour... Girl, you are on top of your game."

"Doesn't feel like it."

"That's because you're also in love with—, well you're allowed to not feel like a winner right now." She reached across and squeezed my hand. "But I need you to check in with me every hour today, okay? I need to know you're safe."

"The police said they handled it—"

"I don't care what the police said. Every hour, Anna."

"Yes, mom," I said, and we both laughed.

After Daisy left, the apartment felt too quiet. Too empty.

I tried to distract myself—cleaned the kitchen, did laundry, reorganized my suitcase for the tour. In four days, I'd be on a bus to Boston with the entire cast, performing Seline in a real theater for paying audiences.

It should have been exciting. Instead, it felt like running away.

My phone buzzed. Dwayne.

Quick check-in: You're all set for departure Monday morning, right? Bus leaves at 6 AM sharp. Don't be late!

I'll be there, I typed back. See you Monday.

Three more days of this limbo. Three more days of waiting for threats that might never come, for phone calls from people who'd disappeared from my life, for answers that nobody seemed to have.

I curled up on the couch and pulled a blanket over myself, suddenly exhausted despite having just woken up.

My phone buzzed again. For a desperate moment, I thought it might be James.

It was Daisy: Someone saw your performance photo go viral. You're going to crush this tour. Love you.

I smiled despite everything. At least I had that—my best friend, my talent, my future that I'd built
with my own hands.

Even if it felt like everything else was falling apart, I still had theater.

I had to believe that would be enough.