Chapter Four
595 Words
"No." The word came out like a sob. "No, no, no."
Michael grabbed my face, forcing me to look at him. "Sophia, listen to me. We're going to get her back. I promise you."
"This is my fault," I said, tears streaming down my face. "This is all my fault."
"This is not your fault. This is my father. He took her to get to me. To get to us."
He started the car and we drove fast through the city. Lisa was all I had left after my mom died. She was my sister in every way that mattered.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"To the one person who might be able to help us. My brother."
I turned to stare at him. "I didn't know you had a brother."
"Half-brother. My father had him with his mistress. He kept him hidden for years. But Adrian knows things. Things that could destroy our father."
We pulled up to a warehouse on the edge of the city. It looked abandoned, but when Michael knocked on the metal door, it opened immediately.
A man stood in the doorway. He looked nothing like Michael. Where Michael was tall and dark, this man was lean with light hair. But his eyes were the same. Cold. Calculating. Dangerous.
"Brother," Adrian said. His voice was smooth. "What brings you to my door?"
"Father took someone. I need your help."
Adrian's eyes slid to me. "And who is this?"
"My wife," Michael said firmly.
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "The wife you were supposed to divorce?"
"Plans changed. Are you going to help or not?"
Adrian smiled. "Everything has a price, brother. What are you willing to give me?"
"Whatever you want."
"Careful with promises like that." He stepped back. "Come. Let's talk business."
Inside, the warehouse was beautiful. Modern. Expensive. High-tech computers covered one wall. This was Adrian's headquarters.
"Tell me everything," Adrian said.
Michael explained it all. Lisa. The car. His father's threats. Everything.
Adrian listened silently. When Michael finished, he leaned back.
"Father's getting sloppy. Kidnapping is beneath him. He must be desperate."
"Can you find her?" I asked, my voice breaking.
Adrian looked at me carefully. "Yes. But it won't be easy. And it won't be free."
"Name your price," Michael said.
"I want the company. When this is over, you give me controlling shares of Cross Industries."
Michael's jaw tightened. The company was everything to him.
"Done," I said before Michael could answer.
Both men looked at me.
"Sophia—" Michael started.
"Lisa is worth more than any company. If that's what it takes, then that's what we give."
Adrian smiled. "I like her. You chose well, brother."
He walked to the computers. "Give me an hour. I'll have her location."
While Adrian worked, Michael pulled me aside.
"You shouldn't have agreed to that."
"Why not?"
"Because the company is all I have to protect you with. Without it, I'm nothing."
I touched his face. "You're not nothing, Michael. You're everything."
He caught my hand, pressing it to his lips. "I'm going to fix this. I'm going to fix everything."
"I know. I trust you."
And I meant it. For the first time in six months, I believed in us again.
"Got it," Adrian called out. "Your father's holding her at his estate. East wing, second floor."
Michael's face went hard. "The estate. Of course."
"That's not all. He's calling a family meeting. Tonight. Everyone will be there."
"What kind of meeting?"
Adrian looked at me. Then at Michael.
"He's announcing your engagement to Vanessa."
- Writer
