Chapter 11
1157 Words
CHAPTER 11
The drive back to the warehouse was silent.
Alex had fallen asleep against Nathan's shoulder before they even left the docks. His small fingers still clutched the front of Nathan's jacket, as though letting go would make everything that had just happened real.
Nathan didn't move.
He sat in the back seat with Alex in his arms, staring out of the rain-speckled window.
Across from him, Dante glanced at the phone they had recovered from the kidnappers before looking back at Nathan.
"We've locked down every route out of the city."
Nathan gave a small nod.
"No one leaves."
"The men are already checking everyone who knew Alex's schedule."
Nathan's expression remained unreadable.
"It wasn't just his schedule."
Dante frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"They knew exactly where the security gap was."
Silence settled over the SUV.
That wasn't information outsiders could have guessed.
Someone had handed it to them.
Someone Nathan trusted.
His jaw tightened.
"They didn't just take my son."
"They tested me."
...
Ava was pacing the warehouse for what felt like the hundredth time.
Every few minutes, she glanced toward the entrance.
Every sound outside made her heart race.
Marco and Leon stood nearby, pretending not to notice her anxiety.
"They've been gone for almost two hours."
"They'll be back," Marco assured her.
"You don't know that."
"I do."
She sighed.
"I wish I had your confidence."
Before he could answer, headlights swept across the warehouse doors.
Several black SUVs rolled inside.
Ava was already moving before the engines stopped.
The rear door of the first vehicle opened.
Nathan stepped out first.
Alex was asleep in his arms.
The moment Ava saw the boy, relief washed over her.
She hurried over.
"Is he okay?"
Nathan looked down at Alex before answering.
"He's exhausted."
Ava brushed a strand of hair away from Alex's forehead.
A bruise colored the side of his face.
Her chest tightened.
"Oh, sweetheart..."
Nathan watched her carefully.
There was no fear on her face.
Only concern.
Real concern.
It did something strange to him.
Without thinking, he shifted Alex slightly.
"You can carry him if you want."
She blinked.
"Are you sure?"
Alex stirred before Nathan could answer.
Half asleep, he mumbled,
"...Ava?"
"I'm here."
His tiny hand reached toward her automatically.
Nathan carefully transferred Alex into her arms.
The boy immediately rested his head against her shoulder and sighed.
Like he belonged there.
Several of Nathan's men exchanged amused glances.
Dante smirked.
"Guess you've been replaced, Boss."
Nathan ignored him.
But the corner of his mouth twitched.
...
The warehouse had several private rooms on the upper floor.
Nathan led Ava to the quietest one.
She laid Alex gently on the bed and covered him with a blanket.
He didn't wake.
She sat beside him, absentmindedly stroking his hair.
Nathan stood near the doorway.
Watching.
"You stayed."
She looked at him.
"Of course I did."
"You could've gone home."
"And leave while I didn't know if he was alive?"
Nathan lowered his gaze.
"Thank you."
She smiled faintly.
"You don't have to thank me."
"I do."
She looked back at Alex.
"He's just a little boy."
Nathan didn't answer.
He knew that better than anyone.
...
An hour later, a doctor arrived to examine Alex.
Apart from bruises and dehydration, he was physically unharmed.
"He'll recover," the doctor assured them.
"He may have nightmares for a while."
Nathan nodded.
"I understand."
After the doctor left, Ava walked into the small kitchen to make hot chocolate.
She found instant cocoa, milk, and marshmallows tucked away in one of the cabinets.
Nathan raised an eyebrow when she returned with two mugs.
"You keep marshmallows?"
"They're Alex's."
She handed Nathan one.
"You look like you need it more."
"I don't drink hot chocolate."
"You do tonight."
For a second, neither of them moved.
Then Nathan accepted the mug.
Dante happened to walk past the room.
He stopped dead.
"Did I just witness someone ordering Nathan Walker to drink hot chocolate?"
Nathan slowly looked at him.
"Leave."
Dante laughed.
"Yes, Boss."
He disappeared before Nathan could throw something at him.
Ava couldn't stop herself from laughing.
Nathan looked at her.
"What?"
"I didn't think you had friends."
"I don't."
"So Dante?"
"He's tolerated."
She laughed again.
The sound made the room feel lighter.
...
Downstairs...
The atmosphere couldn't have been more different.
Romano spread photographs across a large table.
Every employee who had access to Alex's schedule.
Drivers.
Security guards.
Office staff.
Bodyguards.
Nathan joined them a few minutes later.
His warmth vanished instantly.
He became the man everyone feared again.
"Talk."
Romano pointed to the photographs.
"We've narrowed it to eight people."
Nathan looked over each face.
"No."
Romano frowned.
"No?"
"They're looking in the wrong direction."
Dante crossed his arms.
"You think it's someone higher?"
Nathan didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he picked up one photograph.
Then another.
Finally, he placed them aside.
"The leak didn't come from security."
"It came from someone who knew I would trust security."
Understanding spread across the room.
Whoever betrayed Nathan wasn't just close.
They were intelligent.
Very intelligent.
Nathan slipped the recovered phone into his pocket.
"Keep digging."
"What happens when we find them?" one of the men asked.
Nathan met his gaze.
The room fell completely silent.
"When?"
His voice was calm.
"We won't hand them to the police."
Nobody spoke.
"We won't negotiate."
Still silence.
Nathan buttoned his suit jacket.
"They endangered my son."
His eyes turned cold.
"They've already chosen their punishment."
No one questioned him.
Because everyone in that room knew exactly what Nathan meant.
---
Upstairs, Ava stood beside the window, looking out at the rain.
She didn't notice Nathan enter.
"You should get some sleep."
She turned.
"So should you."
"I have work."
She smiled knowingly.
"That's your excuse for everything, isn't it?"
He considered that.
"Usually."
She walked over to him.
"You don't have to carry everything alone."
Nathan looked at her for a long moment.
"You'd be surprised what I'm capable of carrying."
"I already am."
Their eyes met.
For a brief second, neither of them spoke.
Then, a sleepy voice interrupted them.
"...Dad?"
Nathan was at Alex's bedside before the boy could say another word.
"I'm here."
Alex rubbed his eyes.
"Can Ava stay?"
Nathan looked at Ava.
She smiled.
"If it's okay with you."
Nathan nodded once.
"It's okay."
Alex reached for both of their hands.
Without thinking, Nathan took one.
Ava took the other.
Within minutes, Alex had fallen asleep again.
Neither of them moved.
Outside, the rain continued to fall.
Downstairs, Nathan's men searched for a traitor hiding in the shadows.
And somewhere else in the city...
The person responsible for Alex's kidnapping smiled at the news that the rescue had been successful.
Because losing Alex...
Had never been the real objective.
Nathan Walker had been distracted.
And while all eyes were on the rescue...
The next move had already begun.
- Writer
