Chapter Seventy Three

Chapter Seventy Three
Lincoln

“Why are you wearing the same thing?”
I look down at the picture Cyan was pointing at. We were in my room as he became curious of all the things that were in there. Namely all my accomplishments and awards. As I explained each and every obstacle I overcame to obtain them he finally pointed at one of me and Albert. I was around fourteen at the time.
“Because it was a uniformed school. We all had to wear the same clothing to represent the academy we were attending. It was school policy.” I explained.
“How come my school doesn’t do that?” He frowns while staring at us in the frame.
I smile. “Not all schools are the same. You attend a public one at the moment. But that’ll soon change when you officially start kindergarten next year.”
“Will my new school have uniforms?” He gazes up at me with curiosity.
Holding him in my arms I think about it. “Well, the school I would like for you to attend is one of the most sophisticated ones in the country. I want to make sure you get the best education there is to offer. But don’t worry. Your aunt and cousin will also be attending the same ones as you all grow older.”
I was going to make sure of that.
He beams hearing that. “Will I’ll be going to this school too?”
“Absolutely not.” I immediately shot down, my muscles tensing at even the thought of him attending that horrendous place.
The light in his eyes vastly dims. I take a deep calming breath. “This school is overseas, in a different country. And if you went there you would have to go alone since mommy and I wouldn’t be able to be with you. You wouldn’t want to be away from me and your mama now do you?”
He quickly shakes his head. “No. I don’t want to go anywhere that I won’t get to see either of you.”
I smile, rubbing the back of his head. “Good. Because neither of us would want to be away from you either.”
“I’ll be happy as long as Zacky and Shishi is with me.”
I couldn’t help kissing his temple. “Don’t worry munchkin, they will be.”
A sudden knock was at the door. I turn to see Axel standing in the doorway where I left it ajar. “Sorry to interrupt but I need to talk to you.”
His tone was serious and his expression bordered on anger, drawing up my defenses big time. Looking to my son I say gently. “I have to go talk with your uncle. Go find your mother and help him with whatever he needs.”
I put him down and watch him dash out of the room while crying out, “Hi Uncle Axel!”
“How serious is it?” I ask as we start walking to my study.
“Thomas found another note.” Was his reply, causing my heart to skip a beat and my anxiety to flare.
As soon as I walk in Thomas was already there waiting for us, seating in one of the chairs. Once he spots us he quickly stands. His face was grim, his lips thin and his eyes filled with worry. Something tells me this one was a lot worse than the others.
“What does it say?” I ask leaning against my desk to hear him out.
Instead, he hands me the note itself. Clenching my teeth I brace myself.
‘You have been warned many times now. You still refuse to stop all operations and drop all charges against the families accused of treason and embezzlement. Since you don’t want to comply we are now taking severe actions into our own hands and will no longer give warning. And to prove our words are true, Cornerstone Enterprises will be dealt a financial blow, in the next twenty-four hours if you don’t submit. This will be your last warning. We are not above to harm any of your family members, including that adorable Omega you have and the little boy that looks so much like you.’
My blood runs cold at the mention of Elliot and Cyan. The bastards were threatening my family. The family I finally just got back. My hands fist, crunching the paper in their grip as rage slowly boils within me.
“Calm down Lincoln-” Axel starts just for me to bite back.
“Calm down?! How the hell do you expect me to do that when these bastards are personally threatening my family?!” I slam the note down on my desk, rattling everything that was on it. “Not only that, but they’re also threatening the only company we have that took a chance on us after everything we’ve been through! We’re going to lose Cornerstone!”
“That’s not going to happen.”
I jerk at the voice coming from my business phone speaker.
Thomas clears his throat. “I was going to mention that Mr. Christian Cornerstone, President of the Cornerstone Enterprises was on the line.”
“We knew what we were getting ourselves into when we decided to collaborate with Nolan Corporations. I told you before Lincoln that these threats don’t scare me. Make no mistake, son, I hated your father with a passion. Even after years of trying to persuade me into following his illegal bullshit I always prided in myself that I never fell victim to him. I’ve dealt with nastier things than this mediocre nonsense. The day your father was finally caught and imprisoned I nearly threw a party in celebration. Having his son be the one to do it I did have a party in celebration. It was the icing on the cake. I didn’t back down to him and his goonies, and I refuse to back down now. Cornerstone Enterprises isn’t going anywhere, and we’ll stick by you to the very end.”
His words warmed my heart, and I felt a little less anxious. “Thank you Mr. Cornerstone, you don’t know how much that means to us.”
“Now, we need to figure out who is throwing these threats at the both of us. I don’t expect you to back down either. I refuse to let them win. Do we have any leads?”
I look to Axel who then says, “We have three hunches. It isn’t concrete but they’re definitely leads. We figured it has to be someone in one of the families we imprisoned along with Han.”
“That much is clear. But there were quite a few who got the backlash during the investigation.”
“Our second hunch is that it could be someone who got affected by reputation alone.” Thomas input.
“Again, not unexpected. But Han had a lot of dealings with a lot of people that benefited from his embezzlement.”
“Our third hunch is that it’s a Nepo. From the notes we’ve received they seem to be more of tantrums than actual thought out threats. I’m thinking someone who lost all his daddy’s money and is pissed about it.” I say next.
“Now that sounds plausible. Okay, let’s gather all the evidence each of us has and narrow down the nepo babies that got slammed from their blood money inheritance. I don’t want to discuss more over the phone. We’ll set up a time and place to meet.”
“Agreed.” I state.
Afterwards we say our goodbyes and hang up. I look to the two of them and say, “I want two to three guards to stay with each family every time they go out. No one is to leave this house alone. Is that understood?”
They both nod. “I couldn’t agree more.” Axel’s eyes turn slightly yellow as he crosses his arms. “No one threatens our family and walks freely. When we catch them they’re in for a severe beating.”
Walking towards the doors I grouch out, “A beating isn’t what they need to worry about, because if I catch them they’re going to wish they were never even born. They’ll be lucky if there is anything left of them when I’m through with them.”