Chapter 5 - The Man Who Took My Son
Three days later, Serena noticed the first sign.
A car.
Black SUV.
Parked across from the pediatric clinic.
She was leaving with Adrian after an appointment.
The security guard opened the door.
Serena glanced across the street.
The SUV was there.
She stopped.
“Tomas?”
He stepped out of the second car.
“What?”
“That vehicle.”
He followed her gaze.
His expression changed.
“Stay inside.”
He moved toward it.
The SUV pulled away.
Tomas returned two minutes later.
“Plates are fake.”
Serena's hands tightened around Adrian's blanket.
“Victor?”
“We don't know.”
She called Lucian.
He answered immediately.
“Where are you?”
“Clinic.”
“Leave.”
“Already outside.”
“Serena, listen to me.”
“I am.”
“Someone tried to access Adrian's medical records.”
Her blood ran cold.
“What?”
“Someone used a false authorization.”
“Who?”
“We're investigating.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I didn't want to panic you.”
“You don't get to make that decision.”
“I know.”
She hung up.
That night, they moved Adrian temporarily to Marcus's secure residence.
Serena hated it.
But she did it.
The next morning, she found a folded note beneath the windshield of her car.
Your husband chose her.
Soon he'll choose what is left.
There was no signature.
Serena brought it to Marcus.
He looked grim.
“This is escalation.”
“I know.”
Lucian arrived that afternoon.
He looked like someone had stripped the last layer of patience from him.
“I want you and Adrian moved.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“You're not taking me anywhere.”
“I am asking you.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn't.”
That stopped her.
Lucian looked at Adrian.
“Not until I earn it.”
He sat down.
“I found Victor.”
Serena's pulse jumped.
“Where?”
“New Jersey.”
“Did you arrest him?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“He escaped.”
She stared at him.
“What happened?”
“He took one of my men hostage.”
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
“And Victor?”
“Gone.”
Serena closed her eyes.
“What does he want?”
“South Harbor.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It does if Victor believes he can cripple me.”
“How?”
“By taking you.”
The room went silent.
Lucian looked at her.
“He knows you control the assets.”
“He knows about the divorce?”
“He knows everything.”
Serena's mind raced.
“Where is he now?”
“We don't know.”
Then Adrian started crying.
She picked him up.
Lucian watched.
“I don't want him growing up around this.”
“I know.”
“Then end it.”
Lucian nodded.
“I will.”
The next forty-eight hours became a chess game.
Lucian froze accounts.
Serena's lawyers secured corporate records.
Marcus worked with authorities.
Tomas tracked communications.
And Victor sent one message.
To Serena.
Bring the South Harbor transfer documents.
Come alone.
Or your husband loses everything.
Serena read it twice.
Lucian immediately said no.
“You are not going.”
“They're asking for me.”
“Exactly.”
“Then they'll believe I'll come.”
“I'll go.”
“No.”
“Serena.”
“They want someone they can use.”
“Then let me be the target.”
She looked at him.
“You're the reason they know about me.”
“I know.”
“And the reason they think I will sacrifice myself.”
“I know.”
She stepped closer.
“Then don't ask me to do the same thing you did.”
Lucian's face changed.
“You mean choosing someone else over family.”
“Yes.”
He absorbed it.
Then he said:
“You're right.”
He looked at Tomas.
“We'll build a trap.”
Serena nodded.
“I have one condition.”
“What?”
“No one dies.”
Lucian looked at her.
“Even Victor?”
“Even Victor.”
He nodded.
“Okay.”
The plan was simple.
Victor believed Serena would come alone.
She would appear to surrender the South Harbor documents.
Instead, the papers would contain a hidden tracking device.
Law enforcement would monitor the location.
Lucian would remain away.
Serena insisted.
He wanted to object.
He didn't.
The meeting happened at an abandoned warehouse near the river.
Serena entered alone.
Victor stepped from the shadows.
He looked older than the photographs.
“You came.”
“Yes.”
“Where is Lucian?”
“Not here.”
“You're smarter than he gave you credit for.”
“I've always been smarter than he gave me credit for.”
Victor smiled.
“Give me the documents.”
She handed him the folder.
He opened it.
Nothing.
He frowned.
“You think I'm stupid?”
“No.”
“You expect me to accept this?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Serena looked at him.
“I expect you to tell me why you did it.”
Victor laughed.
“Why?”
“Yes.”
“Because men like Lucian are useful.”
“And women like Bianca?”
“Useful too.”
“She loved him.”
Victor shrugged.
“She loved what he could provide.”
Serena swallowed.
“What did you promise her?”
“A life.”
“She wanted my life.”
“No.”
Victor looked at her.
“She wanted the version of you she believed she could become.”
Serena felt strangely sorry for Bianca.
Then Victor said:
“You know the funniest part?”
“What?”
“You could have stayed married and owned everything.”
Serena stared.
“I know.”
“You were never the obstacle.”
“What was?”
“Lucian's pride.”
Before she could respond, sirens sounded.
Victor looked toward the doors.
“You set me up.”
“Yes.”
He reached into his jacket.
Serena froze.
Before anything happened, Lucian appeared from the side entrance.
“Victor!”
Victor swung toward him.
Police flooded the warehouse.
Tomas tackled Victor before he could draw his weapon.
Serena stepped back.
Lucian ran to her.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
He looked at her.
“You said no one dies.”
“No one did.”
Victor was arrested.
Bianca was arrested two days later.
Daniel's murder was linked to a third party working for Victor, not Lucian.
The immediate danger was over.
But the emotional damage remained.
Lucian sat beside Serena in the hospital cafeteria that evening.
“Can I ask you something?”
“What?”
“When did you stop loving me?”
She looked at him.
“I didn't.”
His face fell.
“That isn't what I expected.”
“I stopped trusting you.”
“Is that worse?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
She continued.
“Trust is the part that lets love live somewhere safe.”
Lucian stared at his hands.
“I want to rebuild it.”
“It won't be quick.”
“I know.”
“You can't buy it.”
“I know.”
“You can't intimidate it.”
“I know.”
“You can't demand it because you are his father.”
“I know.”
She looked at him.
“Then maybe you understand.”
“I do.”
She smiled faintly.
“Good.”
He reached for her hand.
Stopped.
Waited.
Serena eventually moved her fingers toward his.
Their hands touched.
Not forgiveness.
May you like
Not reconciliation.
A beginning.
