Loyalty's Cost

Cole's POV

The video ceased, but the quiet that followed was more deafening than any scream.

Bound, beaten, and terrified, Thomas.

With a dull thud, the phone fell from my grasp and onto the floor. Aria hurried over and grabbed it, playing the message again as if she needed to make sure it wasn't a deranged hallucination.

It wasn't.

Her voice wavered as she questioned, "Who sent that?"

Still paralyzed, I muttered, "I don't know." "However, I have a very accurate guess."

Aria's eyes widened as she gazed up at me. "Your dad?"

I didn't respond.

Because it became real if I stated it aloud.

She said, "I thought he was done." "After everything, I thought—"

I snarled, my rage building like a fireball in my chest, "He's never done." "He wins. Not without blood.

Now I could sense it. Disguised as a business negotiation, Kaitlyn's nuanced warning. This has nothing to do with contracts or business heritage. Control was at issue here. About proving to me that I could never really get away.

I made a decision. The agreement was ruined by me.

He was now going to hold me accountable.

Aria grounded me by placing a hand on my chest. "We'll make a police call. The press will be consulted. He cannot simply kidnap someone and escape punishment.

"No police," I snapped. "Thomas might not live long enough to be discovered if he is aware that we are going public."

She nodded despite flinching. "So, what should we do?"

My jaw was so tightly clenched that I could feel my teeth grinding as I gazed into the fire. "I locate him. And I'll stop now.

"Cole—"

I gave her a look. Observe her closely. "Business is no longer the only factor in this. It's a message. He's trying to remind me who is actually in charge. He wishes to issue a warning through Thomas.

Aria took a deep breath. "Then we return one."

I blinked.

"What?"

She took a step forward. Her voice was angry and low. "Your father believes that I am the weak link. that you're disobeying him because of me. This is the reason Kaitlyn returned. This phrase is in place for that reason. He believes that you will crawl back if he can scare me away or get rid of me.

"You're not his target," I blurted out. "I own you."

"I'm not interested." She reached out and squeezed my hand. "We are fighting this together."

Something broke inside of me.

I wasn't worthy of her. I needed her, though.

I gave her a single nod and drew her close to me. She didn't fight back. Like she was securing us to something that hadn't yet collapsed, she put her arms around my torso and held me.

My mind was already racing when we started to back off.

I said, "I have a guy." I was a member of my security team once. He's the best tracker I know, but he's off the books now.

"What is he going to need?"

Only a name. And I possess that.

I took another look at the screen. A short, but noticeable to trained eyes, reflection had been visible in the window behind Thomas. A hazy figure. Not tall enough to be my dad.

However, perhaps...

Another player?

There was another person involved.

I gave Liam a call.

The second ring caught his attention. "Creed, this has to be important."

"Thomas is with them."

Quiet. A quick breath followed.

"Where?"

"I'm not sure. I need you to track down a video that I received. I'll send it on right away. Furthermore, Liam, whoever is doing this isn't merely issuing a warning. They have a long game to play. There may be more besides my father.

Liam's voice shifted. Don't make jokes. No smugness. Only steel.

"I'm working on it. Avoid making any foolish decisions.

I turned back to Aria after hanging up. We must remain silent until Liam responds to me. No appearances in public. No leaks.

She gave a nod. "Whatever it takes."

I looked at her for a while. Her power. Her composure. Even when the earth was tilting, she didn't flinch.

I muttered, "You don't have to stay in this." "No one would hold it against you if you left now."

Eyes flaming, she took a step closer. "You believe that matters to me? Cole, it wasn't your safety that made me fall in love with you. The man who destroyed everything for me won my heart. Therefore, you dare not expect me to run right now.

My heart struck my ribs hard.

She had stated it.

With you, I fell in love.

I grabbed her face and gave her a passionate, urgent kiss. As if she were the only breath I had left and I was drowning. With her hands entangled in my hair and her body pressing into mine as if we could outrun fate together, she returned my kiss with the same intensity.

We were out of breath when we eventually separated.

The moment was broken by a knock at the door.

Slowly, I turned. Naturally, Aria moved behind me.

With his phone in hand, Liam stood there.

"I follow the signal."

My heart leaped. "And?"

He had a somber face. The structure is located downtown. Abandoned warehouse. I know where it is. You must hear the whole, though.

"What?"

"An additional phone was used. One for organizing the video drop. It's not your dad's burner.

"Then whose?"

Liam showed me the contact he had located by holding up his phone.

My blood froze as well.

Dawson, Kaitlyn.