Chapter 103
Sapphire.
I was happy. Truly, genumely happy. It was an emotion I had long thought foreign to me, but here was. Gooding ther of my ben te myself and humened sofly as i headed downstain, my steps light and
The house was still quiet, Charlie was still asleep, and I had the rare luxury of a peaceful morning to myself. I made my way to thinking of what I might cook when Charlse woke up. Pancakes! Maybe something unery. The thought brought another i
Aragon and Marcel were out of the house for pack business and Leah had business in town so she went early-
As Innmmaged through the fridge, I heard formeps. I froze, frowning as I glanced toward the empty doorway. There was po hean gave a small thurd of uncase, but I shrugged it off. It was probably just my imagination.
there Sange. My
Curiosity got the better of me, though, and I stepped out of the inches to check. I scanned the hall and saw nothing. The house was still a dental before, but that faint feeling of being watched lingered. I shook my head and turned to go back into the kitchen when something struck me hand en the back of my head.
Pain exploded through my skut, and my world went dark
When I came to my head throbbed painfully, and my vision swam. I blinked several times, trying to make sense of the blurry shapes in front of me. Slowly, the room came into focus, and the first thing I saw was ber.
I chuckled batterly, even as my head pounded. “Why am I not surprised to see you?” Traped.
Her glane was ice cold, but could see the barely restrained fury in her eyes. Without a word, she slapped me, hard. My head snapped to the side, the sling radiating across my cheek.
“Undo whatever it is you did to my company!” she snapped.
I groaned, resting my limbs only to realize I was ned securely to a chair. “I have no idea what you’re alling about.” I said, keeping my voice as callm as I could manage despite the growing ache in my skull..
She scoffed, stepping closer. “Don’t play dumb, Sapphire. Did you really think I wouldn’t find out! You called one of my board members, didn’t you?
I narrowed my eyes, masking my confusion. “Who?” I asked, keeping my tone light. “You’ve got so many enemies, Benita, Is it that hard to keep
Her eyes flashed dangerously, and she nodded at one of her goons. He stepped forward, holding my laptop. My stomach tightened, but I didn’t let in
show.
She showed the laptop in front of me. “What’s the password?” she demanded.
I stared at her for a long moment, then sighed dramatically. “Fine “I muuered, eading off the password. She smirked triumphantly and began typing furiously, no doubt Expecting to find the evidence she was so sure had hidden
I hit back a smirk as I watched her face twist in frustration. The only things on that haptop were work documents and a collection of funny cat videos
She wasn’t going to find anything there.
I wasn’t stupid and even if she got the best of trackers, they won’t uncover anything. I was the best there is.
Her glare turned sharper as she looked up at me. “Where is it“”
“Where’s what?” Lasked. feigning innocence.
Her hand came down again, another slap that sent a fresh wave of pain across my face. I winced but refused to give her the satisfaction of crying
“Don’t play games with me, Sapphire,” she hissed. “Undo a. Whatever you did to my server–fis it”
I rolled my eyes, despite the ache in my face. “I genuinely have no idea what you’re calling about, Benima. And honestly, why met You’ve got a laundry list of people plotting to bring you down. Maybe you should be interrogating one of them instead of wasting your time with me. Listen. I get that you are obsessed with me but I didn’t do this. I do not have the time for you, remember! You are the one that keeps calling me. All I want to do is take care of my haby and my mate.”
Her eyes surrowed, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of doubt cross her face. “Are you really not the one behind this?” she asked, quieter now, as if she was starting to believe her own paranola might have gotten the better of her.
I raised an eyebrow, gesturing with my head toward the laptop. “You kidnapped me, searched my laptop, and slapped me around a bit. What do you think”
Her jaw clenched, and she turned to her goon, muttering something under her breath. He looked uneasy as he nodded and stepped back
Texhaled quietly, trying to ignore the tight ropes digging into my wrists. If I could beep her distracted long enough, maybe I’d find a way to get out
of this me
“You’ve got to admi,” I said, breaking the silence, “this is a new low, even for you. Kidnapping me right from the pack house!
don’t you think!”
Kind of desperate
Her glare returned hall force. “You think this is a joke? You love no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into, Sapphäre.”
Hraned back in the chair as much as the ropes allowed, meeting her gaze had on. “06, I think I have a pretty good idea. You’re panicking because anmedine’s finally named the tables ou you. And you can’t handle the fact that it might not be me
She didn’t respond, but the way her lips pressed into a thin line told me I’d lát a nerve.
“Face it, “I contimiri, “you’ve made so many enemies over the years, Benita. It was only a matter of time before someone decided to come alter you. But here the thing if you’re too by chiming alter the wrong person, you’ll never figure out who the real culprit is.”
ne, her expression unreadable. Then she turned away sharply, muttering under her breath. I saw her hand twitch as
if die waited to slap mor again, but she didn’t. Instead, she gestured for her goon to follow her
“Warcher die borked over her shoulder as the sorbed out of the
The door slammed shunt behind her, and let out a dow, measured breails. My beam was will racing, but I allowed myself a small, triumphant smile She was doubting herself now, which meant fil bought myself some time.
Now, I just lod to figure out how to time it,
Aragon
There was a spring in my step as opened the door to my room. I couldn’t keep the grin off my face. Everything was filling into place. After everything we’d been through, I was finally ready to tell Sapphire the news. She would be moving into my room, permanently. No more nights apart, no more distance. I waurdler lay my side every second of the day. That’s where she belonged, and I wasn’t going to waste another momeer without ber
I turned around and grade my way to her room, anticipation buzzing in my vein, hut when I opened the door, the room was empty,
“Strange,” I neirmured to myself, stepping inside. The bed was neatly made, and her things were still there, but there was no sign of Sapphire
A flicker of messe crept up my spine, Telecked the adjoining bathroon Empty. The closet. Nothing My chest tightened. Where could she be
Tholted downtain, nearly colliding with Marcel in the billway. He stepped back, eyebrows raised in confusion.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“Sapphire,” I said breathlessly, seaming the room as if she if appear any second. “I can’t find her. Have you seen her
Marcel shook his head. “No, not since we put back. Why! What’s happened?”
ed in his
lignoring him, I harried toward the living room, where I spotted Curlie utting in the corner, his all frame hunched over, his face tuned in knees. Something about the way lils shoulders shook stoppedline cold.
“Charlie,” I said, rushing to hirn and dropping to my knees, “Charlie, what’s wrong?”
He lifted his fear streaked face to look at me, his big, brown eyes red and poly. He sniffled, his lower lip trembling as he tried to speak.
“I–I came downstairs to find Momany,” he stammered. “And and a man came up behind her. He he hit her on the head, and she fell
My blood ran cold. “What?” I asked, gripping his small shoulders. “What mast What happened next?”
He began to cry harder, cheching at my shin. “He camed her outside to a car wanted to scream, but.. but there was no one here to help. I didn’t
know what in dol
My heart pounded in my ciest, anger and fear swirling together in a storms of emotibus I could barely contain. I pulled Charlie into my arms, helding kuma tigdely as bestmall body shook with sobe.
“Inokay, Clure,” Tail Tix clls. I promise you. I’ll get Mommy back.”
Marcels wire cur through the chaos, his tour sharp. “Aragon, what’s going on?”
Inmed to face him, my jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. “Benita has her,” I said, the words coming out as a growl. “That snake finally made her
Marcel crossed his arm, his expression unimpressed. “Of course, she did. How many times have I tokl you it was only a matter of time before she went after Sapphire directly! And yet, here we are.”
“This un’t the time for your lectures, Marcel,” I sapped, still holding a trembling Cluelle in my arms.
“No,” be uid. “This is the perfect time. Because if you don’t do something about Benita once and for all, she’s going to keep doing this. You’ve let her get away with too much for too long. Aragon.”
I stood, handog Charlie off to Marcel “You’re right,” I said “This tiene, I’m going to put an end to it.”
Marcel raued an ryrlow, looking almost amused despite the situation. “Oh, now you’re serious! And how do you plan on doing that!”
Ident amwer hun. My mind was already racing, formidating a plan. If Benita thought she could take Sapphire from me and walk she was alineat to learn just how wong she was.
away
unscathed,
“sory with Charlie,” told Marcel as I headed toward the door.
“And where are you going?” he called after me.
“To end this Tuand wethout looking back
The drive to Botas estate was a blur, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. By the time I arrived, my Bary freshed a finaling point. Ididnt bother with subtlety. Istormed through the gates, ignoring the started guards who scrambled so stop me. A
Chapter 103
quick jab to the first one’s gut and a well–plated kick to the second cleared in path.
“Rental” 1 roared.
a
She appeared at the top of the staircase, her expression simigas always, “Argon,” she said coully. “What a surprise.”
“Where is shr!” I demanded.
Benita rited her head, feigning innocence. “I’m afrable
you’re referring to
“Don’t play games with met” 1 shouted, taking a step forward. “Where Is Napphire
She sighed dramatically, descending the staircase with an air of boredom “Honestly. Angon, you’re so predictable. Always rushing in without a plan. It’s no wonder you’ve never been able to best ur
I clenched my fists, every muscle in my body coded like a spring, “This is your last chance, Benita. Tell me where she is, or
“Or what?” she interpted, arching an eyebrow, “You’ll hit me? Kill me? Mease, Aragon. We both know you don’t have the stomach for it
She was trying to provoke me, to make me lose control. But I couldn’t afford in lose focus now, Sapphire’s life depended on it.
“Where is she?” I repeated.
Benita’s smirk
red, just for a moment. Then she gestured toward one of her men, who stepped forward holding a phone. He pressed a button. and the screen lit up, displaying a live feed.
My heart stopped when I saw Sapphire, tied to a chair, her fee pale bain defiant. She was alive, but for how long!
“You see?” Benita said, her tone almost casual. “She’s perfectly fine. For now. But if you don’t bark off, well necklerts happen.”
I lunged forward, hit her guards were faster, grabbing me and hekling me back. I struggled against their grip, but it was no use.
“You’ve crossed a line, Benita,” I said. “You’ve made this personal
She leaned in close, her smile as cold as ice. “I was always personal, darling.”
The rage inside me burned hotter than ever, but I forced myself to think I couldn’t let her win. Not this time.
“Let her go.” I said, meeting her gaze with steely determination. “And I walk away. No retaliation, in corpsequences.
She laughed a sharp, cruel sound. “Do you really think I’m that stupid? No. Aragoi You’re going to play my game now. And if you’re lucky, I might let her live.”
I swallowed my pride, my Bary, my fear, I had to play this carefully, For Sapphire’s sake, I had to win. But one thing was certain, 1 without her.
