Chapter 003
Olivia's POV
"You are not allowed to play Ethan's saviour. Not when you were the cause my life initially collapsed.
Driven by the still-present adrenaline, the words flew out of me before I could stop them. As we turned into the poorly lighted alley behind the Sinclair Tower, my hands were trembling, my heart beating, and my breath was laboring. Every walk seemed like a countdown to our discovery, the disarray of the workplace ambush still audible in my ears.
Ethan turned to me, his jaw rigid and his piercing blue eyes flashing with equal parts rage and something softer—something I didn't want to describe. His low, harsh voice stated, "I'm not your savior." But I will be damned if I let anyone harm Amelia or you.
Her name set off a trigger, and I moved forward, jabbing a finger into his chest. "You have no right to pronounce her name like that. Ethan, you know nothing about her. About my last four years of existence, you know nothing.
And whose fault is that? he said, his voice rising. "You went, Olivia." You hurried without giving me time to clarify—"
Ask what you mean? I cut him off, angry voice shaking. "What did you share with your secretary from bed? That the life we were coining mattered so little to you?
His face darkened, and for a second he seemed as though he may blow up. Then he inhaled deeply, looking aside and gently slumping his shoulders. "It wasn't what you think," he murmured softly, the fury in his voice replaced by something raw and vulnerable. But you never let me tell you that.
My tongue opened to answer, but the words froze in my throat. I stammered for a single second as his look and the genuineness in his speech weighed me. Then I thought of the suffering, the treachery, the evenings I had grieved myself to sleep with Amelia in my arms, and the fire in my breast came back on.
"You never get to rewrite history, Ethan," I stated coldly. You devastated us. And no half-truth or apologies will make that different.
Ethan retreated, his fists closing at his sides as he battled emotional control. Our conflict was a live, breathing entity that permeated the little lane with its weight. From his gaze, I could see the struggle between his pride and his eagerness to help me to comprehend.
I , however, afford to show concern. not now. Not when we were both under hunt.
I turned away, trembling hands and pulling my phone from my pocket. The messages from the past still lingered on the screen, mocking me with their cryptic warnings. The weight of the risk we were under sank down on me like a vise, and for the first time in years I felt really helpless.
Ethan murmured, his voice shattering my thoughts, "We need to move." " Whoever comes after you won't stop. And should they also know about Amelia—"
"They don't," I said firmly, whirling to face him. "They can't."
"You don't know that," he said, his voice once more rising. "You have been hiding secrets, Olivia, and now those secrets endanger all of us."
"I'm hiding secrets??" I turned back, my voice quivering with rage. "That's rich, coming from you."
His jaw closed, but he said nothing. The quiet that followed was deafening, the unsaid accusations hovering between us like a storm just ready to strike.
His voice slicing through the stillness like a razor, "Who are they, Olivia?" he said. "Why are they hunting for you? And just what the devil does this have to do with me?
My voice cracking, I answered, "I don't know." "I have no idea their name or desire. I know they have been observing me for weeks; suddenly, they are becoming more aggressive.
And you didn't think to inform me? he said, his eyes narrowing. "You didn't believe I deserved to know my daughter was in danger?"
"She's not your daughter," I said, with hatred in my voice. "You are not entitled to claim her just because it would be handy for you."
"That's not what this is about, and you know it," he continued, his voice perilously low. "This relates to safeguarding her." About safeguarding you. And I'm not walking away whether or not you enjoy it.
I laughed cruelly, the sound empty and years of suffering filling it. Ethan, you already turned away. The minute you decided on your desire instead of us, you turned away.
He trembled; the words pierced more than I had meant. But the sound of approaching footfall sent a shudder down my spine before he could answer. The alley.
Ethan grabbed my arm and dragged me behind him while he looked across the alley for the noise source. Every muscle in my body tightened as the darkness surrounding us appeared to shut in. My heart was hammered.
"Stay near," he said, his voice almost audible.
My breath stopped as a person emerged from the darkness and the footsteps got louder, nearer. I assumed it was one of the office guys for a second, but my blood went cold as the man entered the low light.
It was a female. tall, strong, and shockingly familiar.
"Hello, Olivia," she murmured, her voice both threatening and silky. It has been a long time.
Ethan stood rigid beside me, his gaze narrowing as he moved forward. " Who the hell are you?"
The woman ignored him, her eyes fixated on me like a predator weighing up its prey. "You did not think you could hide forever, did you?"
"What do you wish for?" I questioned, my voice trembling even with my best attempts to seem robust.
She grinned, the sort of smile that chilled my spine. "Oh, Olivia,," she whispered gently. "It's not about my preferences here. It relates to what you possess.
Ethan moved between us, his body poised for conflict. "You're not receiving anything from her."
The woman inclined her head, her smile broadening. Mr. Sinclair, I am not here to negotiate. Here I am to transmit a message.
Her reaching into her coat stopped my heart as she drew out a tiny black gadget. She touched a button, and the sound of the calm alley cracked on a tape.
That was Amelia's voice, shaking and afraid. "Mommy, where are you?"
My blood became ice, and the earth appeared to slink toward its axis. Ethan's face reddened with wrath, his fists closing at his sides.
He hissed, his voice low and lethal, "you touch her," then said, "I'll destroy you."
The woman chuckled; the sound seemed icy and cruel. "That's up to her," she nodded toward me. "You know, Olivia, what we are looking for. You have twenty-four hours to deliver; your daughter bears the cost.
She turned and vanished into the darkness with that, leaving us startled quiet as the weight of her warning dropped all about.
Ethan never hesitated. He was already on his phone yelling commands to someone I couldn't hear on the other end as the woman vanished into the darkness. His voice was harsh, forceful, every sentence tinged with an intensity fit for the tempest blazing inside my chest. I , however, concentrate on him. Amelia's voice was all I could hear; her terror sliced across me like a razor.
"Mommy, where are you?"
The words kept coming back to me, trying to drag me down. My legs collapsed, and I slid down from my back against the chilly brick wall until I was seated on the floor. My breaths were short, terrified gasps, and I battled to stop the tears from pouring over.
"Olivia!"— Ethan's voice, harsh and forceful, broke through the cloud of fear. Grasping my shoulders, he bent in front of me. "Look at me.."
I pushed myself to look at him; his eyes seemed to be an anchor dragging me back from the edge. He said confidently, "We're going to get her back." Still, I want you to concentrate. Tell me what you know about these folks.
I faltered, my voice almost above a whisper: "I—I don't know." For weeks, they had been trailing after me giving mysterious messages. Thought: I reasoned that they would stop if I neglected them. I had not considered they would—"
"You didn't think they would take Amelia?" he said to me, his voice growing in fury. "You felt you could manage this on your own?"
"I had no option!!" I snapped, my own resentment blazing to life. "What was Ethan meant to do? Ask you? The man who turned on me? The guy ignorant of even her existence?
His jaw clenched, and for a brief instant I feared he may shout back. Then he inhaled sharply, his eyes softening just enough to catch me off-target. "We don't have time for this," he replied, his voice now softer but no less strong. "Olivia, they granted us 24 hours. Before it's too late, we have to find out their wants and how to stop them.
I nodded, swallowing hard to help me to control my shaking hands. "They said I have something they need," I responded quietly. But I have no idea what it is.
Ethan scowled, his mind racing obviously. "Had they not been confident you had it, they would not have followed after you. See, Olivia. Is there anything, anything at all, they could be after?
A shrill beep on Ethan's phone before I could reply. Glancing at the television, his face darkened. "They just emailed me a video.".
My heart came to a standstill. "What?," asked
He opened the file without waiting for my clearance; his expression stiffened as the movie started to run. As the TV came up, I peered over his shoulder and felt knots in my gut.
Amelia was shown on the video seated in a dark area fiercely hugging her knees. Her face was pale, and she glanced up at someone off-camera with wide-open terror. She whimmed, her voice just audible, "Please." "I wish for my mother."
I grabbed my lips to stop a cry, tears obscuring my sight. Ethan gazed at the television, his fingers tightened into a fist and his knuckles white.
The camera swung to show a guy wearing a mask looming over her. His voice came out artificial and distorted. "24 hours, Olivia," Bring what we need; else, you will never see her again.
The video shut off leaves us in stifling silence. My voice shaking with desperation, I went to Ethan. "What would we do?"
His jaw set, his eyes burning with will, he stared at me. "We combat."