Lucian’s POV
Aria’s eyes were searching mine,she looked worried and scared.
"Don’t do that with Lucian.Tell exactly what you did"
I felt the weight of those words settle on my chest. She deserved the truth,every ugly piece of it but I wasn’t going to tell her now. With her still hooked to monitors and fighting to breathe without pain,I couldn’t lay such a heavy burden on her.
I pulled my seat closer to her"Everything’s okay," I said, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. "You have nothing to worry about, I promise."
Her brows drew together. "Lucian—"
"Shh." I pressed my finger gently to her lips. "Rest and just focus on getting strong enough to leave this place tomorrow. I’ll just hurriedly go to work and be back soon okay?"
She stared at my face for another long second. I held her gaze, letting her see the calm I forced onto my features even though inside my pulse was hamring like war drums.
Finally, she exhaled, "Okay,but make sure you co back tonight."
"You’ll see before the sun sets Aria" I agreed, pressing my lips to her forehead one last ti.
I stood and left the room,I didn’t look back for fear of being held back by the guilt of the lie I just told her
I took the service elevator down to avoid the lobby press pack still lingering near the front entrance. By the ti I reached the garage, my hands were steady again.
I got in the car and drove to Northbridge industrial . If I know Ethan well,he doesn’t make empty threats. As luck would have it,traffic was light so I got to the warehouse in less than fifteen minutes.
Mike was already there when I arrived, leaning against the black van with his arms crossed. He straightened when he saw pull in.
"Boss." he bowed slightly
"What’s the status?" I asked,as I stepped out of the car.
"Just the usual with any of these bastards. Always asking for water and trying to bargain his way out of here."
I nodded once. "Stay out here. I don’t need any interruptions no matter what."
Mike didn’t argue.
I pushed through the side door. Victor sat exactly where I’d left him yesterday with his wrists zip-tied behind the chair back, ankles bound to the legs and his head bowed.
When the door clanged shut behind , his head jerked up.
"Lucian." His voice cracked on my na. "Thank God. Listen to please,whatever this is, we can talk. I’ll step down and hand over the proxies. Just untie please."
I didn’t answer right away. I walked slowly to a stack of old crates, dragged one over, and set it directly in front of him. Then I sat close enough that our faces were level.
Victor’s eyes were red and tired, pupils blown wide with panic. Sweat darkened the collar of his shirt,it was as if he had grown twenty years older than he was yesterday.
"Please," he pleaded again. "I have a family and grandkids waiting at ho for . Forgive just this once for old tis sake."
"Dont be pathetic Victor,it doesn’t suit you" I replied with a smirk.
He swallowed hard. "I never ant for anyone to get hurt. Ethan never even told about the accid—"
"Stop." I cut in imdiately. "I don’t want your excuses."
He stared at , his entire body was shaking so bad that one would think he was running a fever.
I pulled my phone from my pocket, opened the contacts and scrolled to Ethan’s na then I turned the screen so Victor could see it.
"You’re going to call him right now and tell him that you’re fine. Find an excuse for not picking his calls,maybe that you stepped away for personal reasons or you took a vacation, anything.."
Victor’s mouth worked soundlessly for a second. "And if I don’t?"
I leaned in until our faces were inches apart. "Then I stop being polite and you’ll stop breathing."
He flinched like I’d slapped him."Okay...I’ll...do it" he stamred.
I hit dial and put the phone on speaker.
Ethan answered imdiately. "Victor? Where the hell are you?"
Victor’s eyes flicked to , pleading.
I nodded once signalling him to talk.
"I—I’m fine," Victor continued to stamr. "I... had a business ergency so had to make a quick trip last night. I’ll be back soon. You have nothing to worry about."
There was silence on the line then Ethan spoke. "You sound off Victor. What’s going on?"
"Nothing," Victor said quickly. "I’m just... tired. I’ll explain later, don’t worry."
Another pause. "You better. We’ve got the board breathing down our necks. If you’re pulling so stunt—"
"I’m not," Victor cut in. "I swear I’ll be back before you know it."
Ethan exhaled sharply. "Fine. But if you’re not back by Friday,I’ll co get you myself."
The line went dead.
Victor let out a shaky breath.
"Good boy," I said softly.
I reached out and patted the top of his head twice, like you’d pat a dog that finally learned a trick.
Victor jerked away from my touch, tears spilling over now.
"Lucian... please I’m begging you. Let go. I’ll do any other thing you want to do."
I stood slowly. "You already did enough."
I turned and walked toward the door.
Behind , Victor’s voice rose, calling on desperately. "Lucian! Wait—please! Don’t leave here! Lucian!"
I didn’t look back.
The door clanged shut behind , muffling his pleas to dull echoes.
Outside, the midday sun had beco so brutal that Mike, who was leaning against the van, imdiately rushed to where I stood with an umbrella.
With him close,I pulled out my phone and opened the photos app. Scrolled to the image I’d taken from Aria’s old social dia yesterday. A photo of Mia next to Ethan smiling at a company event.
I turned the screen toward Mike.
"Her na is Mia sotis. She is Aria’s forr secretary to my wife. No one knows where she is but find her and bring her to alive."
Mike studied the photo for a long second, morizing the face,then he nodded and gently shoved the phone back to .
"Consider it done boss."
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