LIAM'S POV
The photo on my phone isn’t just an image; it’s a living crime. Maya’s confused profile, Leo’s drowsy head against her arm, the blur of highway asphalt. The text below it is a calculated strike: Let’s negotiate.
My fingers don’t shake. They turn to stone. I hit ‘call’ on the number.
It rings twice. A voice answers, breathless, strained. “Liam.”
It’s Daniel. Of course it is.
“Where are they?” My voice is low, a growl in the empty hospital corridor.
“Somewhere safe. A specialized facility. They’ll get the rest Leo needs, away from… all this drama.” He’s reciting a script. I hear the lie in the over-explanation.
“You kidn*pped your wife and son. Cut the corporate speak, Daniel. What do you want?”
A pause. I hear him swallow. “Elise called me. She told me you have a documen
