Family Secret: Claiming My Father's Toy

The Plan

I made it through my afternoon class on autopilot, my mind racing the entire time.

Tomorrow. I had to meet Dante tomorrow. Alone.

The smart thing would be to tell Silas. To let him handle it. To trust that he'd protect me.

But Dante had cameras everywhere. If Silas's security team started tearing the house apart looking for them, Dante would know. Would release everything before we could stop him.

No. I needed a different approach.

After class, Marcus drove me back to the mansion. Julian's car was in the driveway, along with several others I didn't recognize.

"Mr. Kingston is in a meeting," Thomas said when I walked in. "He asked that you wait for him in your room."

"Both of them?"

"Both of them."

I went upstairs, but instead of going to my room, I detoured to Silas's bedroom. The scene of Sunday night's threesome. Where Dante claimed to have cameras.

I walked in slowly, scanning the room. The smoke detector in the corner, like the one in the library. I pulled out my phone, turned on the flashlight, angled it just right.

There. A tiny glint of glass. A lens.

My stomach turned. Dante had been watching. Had video of everything.

I checked the other rooms methodically. Guest bathroom, camera in the air vent. Hallway, camera in the decorative light fixture. Living room, camera hidden in a bookshelf.

He had the whole house wired.

How long had they been there? Since before I arrived? Or had he planted them recently?

And more importantly, could I use this?

An idea was forming. Dangerous. Reckless. But possible.

I went to my room, pulled out my laptop, and started researching. Wireless security cameras. How they transmitted data. How to hack into feeds.

If Dante was watching through cameras, those cameras had to send footage somewhere. A receiver. A server. Something I could potentially access.

I just needed the right equipment. And someone who knew what they were doing.

My phone vibrated. Julian.

Julian: Meeting's running long. Dad says to order dinner without us. We'll be another few hours.

Me: Everything okay?

Julian: Just business. Dante's been quiet. Too quiet. Dad's getting paranoid.

Me: Can't imagine why.

Julian: Miss you. Wish I was there instead of in this boring meeting.

Me: Miss you too.

I set down my phone and went back to my research.

By the time I heard voices downstairs three hours later, I had a plan. It wasn't perfect. It required lying to both Silas and Julian. It required meeting Dante alone and hoping I could handle whatever he threw at me.

But it was a plan.

I found them in Silas's office, both looking tired.

"Hey," I said from the doorway. "Long meeting?"

"Productive meeting," Silas corrected. "We've narrowed down potential leak sources. Thomas is running final checks now."

He didn't know. Didn't realize the leak wasn't a person but cameras planted throughout his house.

"That's good," I said. "I'm glad you're making progress."

Julian stood, walked over, pulled me into a hug. "How was the rest of your day? Classes okay?"

"Fine. Normal. People stared but no one bothered me." I looked at Silas. "Can I talk to you? Both of you? About something important?"

"Of course." Silas gestured to the chairs. "Sit."

I perched on the edge of the leather sofa instead. "I've been thinking about the Dante situation. About how to handle it."

"Elena, we've discussed this. You let us handle Dante. You stay out of it."

"I know. But what if there was a way to draw him out? To get him to make a mistake?" I took a breath. "What if I contacted him? Offered to meet?"

"Absolutely not," both men said simultaneously.

"Hear me out. He wants me, right? That's been clear from the beginning. What if I used that? Met with him, wore a wire, got him to confess to something you could use against him?"

"No," Silas said flatly. "I'm not using you as bait."

"Just this one time. Plan it properly. Have security nearby. But let me do this. Let me help end this instead of just hiding and hoping he goes away."

"Why?" Julian asked. "Why do you want to do this?"

"Because I'm tired of being the victim. The damsel. The thing you two fight over and protect. I want to be part of the solution." I looked at Silas. "You said I was an asset. So use me like one."

Silas walked to the window, stared out at the grounds. "If we did this, and I'm not saying we are, it would have to be completely controlled. My location. My security. My rules."

"Dante won't agree to that. He'll want it on his terms."

"Then we don't do it at all."

"Silas--"

"No, Elena. I'm not negotiating on this. Either we control every variable or you don't go anywhere near him." He turned to face me. "Is that clear?"

I nodded, pretending to accept defeat. "Clear."

"Good. Now, have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

"Then let's have dinner. All of us. Like a normal family." His smile was dry. "Or whatever we are."

We ate in the smaller dining room, the conversation carefully avoiding Dante, the FBI, or anything stressful. Julian told stories about his campus polo team. Silas talked about an art acquisition he was considering. I pretended everything was fine.

But underneath the table, my phone buzzed.

I ignored it through dinner. Through dessert. Through Julian's suggestion we watch a movie.

Finally, when I excused myself to use the bathroom, I checked it.

Dante: Tomorrow. 2 PM. Address below. Come alone or I release everything. And Elena? I know you're thinking about telling them. Don't. I'll know.

An address followed. Some warehouse in the industrial district.

I stared at the message, my heart pounding.

This was it. Decision time.

Tell them and risk Dante releasing the videos.

Or go alone and hope my half-formed plan was enough.

I deleted the message, flushed the toilet for sound, and went back to join them in the screening room.

Julian pulled me onto the couch between them. Silas's arm draped over my shoulders. Julian's hand rested on my knee.

Like a normal relationship. Like three people who cared about each other watching a movie together.

Except nothing about this was normal.

And tomorrow, it was going to get a lot more complicated.

Halfway through the movie. I pulled my phone out subtly. I texted Jess.

Me: Hey, random question. Do you know anyone who's good with tech? Like, hacking, security systems, that kind of thing?

My pulse quickened.

Jess: Why?

Me: Long story. Someone's been stalking my friend. We think he put cameras in her apartment. Need someone who can find them and maybe trace where the feed is going.

Jess: Actually, yes. I might know someone. Can I call you tomorrow?

Me: Sure. Thanks.

I set down my phone, my mind racing.

Jess knew someone with tech skills. Someone who could help me trace Dante's camera feeds.

But that would mean bringing someone else into this. Trusting them. Risking exposure.

"You okay?" Julian whispered. "You seem distracted."

"Just tired. Long day."

"Want to go to bed?"

I nodded.

We said goodnight to Silas, who had work to finish, and went upstairs together.

In my room, Julian pulled me close. "Come to my place tonight. Stay with me."

"I can't. I have an early class tomorrow."

"So? I'll drive you." His mouth found my neck. "I want to wake up with you. Want you in my bed. Just us."

"Julian, your father--"

"Knows we're together. Approved it, remember? So come with me. Please."

I shouldn't. I had planning to do. Research to finish. Dante to prepare for.

But Julian was looking at me with those eyes, and some part of me wanted one more normal night before everything went to hell.

"Okay," I said. "Let me grab some things."

His smile was brilliant. "I'll wait in the car."

After he left, I packed quickly. Laptop. Charger. The research I'd printed earlier hidden in a textbook.

Downstairs, I stopped by Silas's office.

"I'm going to Julian's for the night," I said from the doorway.

He looked up from his work. "Alright. Thomas will follow you. Stay safe."

"I will." I hesitated. "Silas? Thank you. For everything. For trying to protect me."

His expression softened slightly. "You're welcome. Now go. Julian's probably getting impatient."

I left before he could see the guilt on my face.

At Julian's apartment, he immediately pulled me into bed, his hands and mouth urgent.

"I've been wanting this all day," he murmured against my skin. "Just you and me. No sharing. No audience."

We made love slowly, intimately, completely different from Sunday night's intensity.

Afterward, lying in his arms, I almost told him everything. About Dante's messages. About the cameras. About tomorrow.

But I didn't.

Because if I told him, he'd try to stop me. Would tell Silas. Would take away my choice.

And I'd come too far to give up control now.

"I love you," Julian whispered against my hair.

The words froze me. "Julian--"

"I know. I know it's complicated. I know you're with my father too. I know this whole thing is f****d up. But I need you to know. I love you. Have for weeks. Maybe from that first night."

I turned to face him. "You don't love me. You love the idea of winning me from your father. There's a difference."

"Maybe it started that way. But it's not that anymore." His hand cupped my face. "You don't have to say it back. I just needed you to know."

I kissed him instead of answering.

Because I didn't love him. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

But I cared about him. Cared what happened to him. Cared that my choices tomorrow might destroy him.

We fell asleep tangled together.

And when my alarm went off at 6 AM, when I slipped out of bed and got ready for campus, Julian barely stirred.

I left him a note: Early class. See you later. - E

Then I left, Thomas trailing behind me in his discrete security vehicle.

At campus, I went through the motions. Attended my morning class. Met Jess for coffee.

"So about that tech person," I said. "Can your friend meet me today? Around noon?"

"Yeah, I think so. Why? You need help with something?"

"Maybe. I'll explain when we meet."

At noon, Jess introduced me to Blake Morrison. Julian's best friend. Polo team captain. And apparently, a computer science genius with questionable ethics.

"Elena Chen," Blake said, his eyes traveling over me with interest. "Julian's girlfriend. Or is it Silas's girlfriend? I can never keep track."

"Both," I said flatly. "Jess said you're good with security systems."

"The best. What do you need?"

I took a breath. This was it. The point of no return.

"I need to find some cameras. And trace where they're sending footage. Can you do that?"

"Depends. Are these cameras you own or someone else's?"

"Someone else's. Someone dangerous."

Blake's eyes lit up. "Now you've got my attention. Tell me more."

And I did. Not everything. But enough.

Enough to make him want to help.

Enough to set my plan in motion.

Enough to ensure that when I walked into Dante's trap this afternoon, I wouldn't be completely alone.

At 1:30, I texted Thomas that I was staying on campus to study. That he could take a break, grab lunch, I'd call when I needed a ride.

He hesitated but ultimately agreed.

At 1:45, I got in my car and drove toward the industrial district.

Toward Dante.

Toward what came next.

My phone buzzed. Silas.

Silas: Where are you? Thomas says you're at the library but campus security doesn't show your car in the lot.

My hands tightened on the wheel.

This was it. Last chance to turn back. To tell the truth. To let them protect me.

Instead, I turned off my phone.

And kept driving.