THE EXPLOSION
1976 Words
“They haven’t found anyone alive.”
For a moment, I could not understand the words.
They sounded simple.
Normal.
Like something a person could say and another person could hear without the entire world changing.
I stared at Jonah.
“No.”
He did not move.
“No,” I repeated.
“Liora—”
“They haven’t finished searching.”
“No.”
“That means they don’t know.”
His face tightened.
I pointed at him.
“Do not look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like he is already dead.”
Jonah looked away.
That made something inside me snap.
I grabbed my phone from the sofa and called Soren again.
Straight to voicemail.
“This is Soren Kade. Leave a message.”
My throat closed.
I ended the call.
Called again.
Voicemail.
Again.
Nothing.
The security officers stood nearby, pretending not to watch me.
I hated them.
I hated Jonah.
I hated Soren.
Most of all, I hated myself for remembering the divorce papers sitting on the dining table.
Twenty-four hours ago, I had looked my husband in the eyes and told him I wanted to leave him.
Now I would have given anything just to hear him argue with me again.
“Where did it happen?” I asked.
Jonah hesitated.
“Near the coast.”
“I want to go.”
“That isn’t possible.”
“Why?”
“The area is secured.”
“I don’t care.”
“Emergency teams are working there.”
“Then take me somewhere close.”
“Liora—”
“Stop saying my name like I am going to break!”
My voice filled the room.
Nobody spoke.
My chest rose and fell too quickly.
I pressed one hand against my mouth.
“I need to see him.”
Jonah’s expression softened.
That somehow made everything worse.
“They have not recovered Soren.”
“Then there is nothing for me to see.”
“No.”
I held on to that word.
Nothing.
No body.
No proof.
No Soren.
That meant he could still be alive.
“He could have gotten out.”
Jonah lowered his eyes.
“Private jets have emergency systems.”
“Yes.”
“He could have survived.”
“It is possible.”
“You don’t believe that.”
His jaw moved.
“I believe we should wait for facts.”
I laughed once.
It sounded wrong.
“That is exactly what Soren would say.”
Jonah said nothing.
I stared at him.
Something about his face bothered me.
He had worked for Soren for almost eight years.
I had seen Jonah react when Soren had been injured before.
Once, Soren had been attacked outside a hotel in London. The cut on his shoulder had not even been serious, but Jonah had spent the entire night angry and pacing outside the hospital room.
Now his employer’s plane had exploded.
And Jonah looked…
Controlled.
Too controlled.
I stepped closer.
“Where were you?”
His eyes met mine.
“What?”
“Why weren’t you on the plane?”
“I had another assignment.”
“What assignment?”
“That is security information.”
I almost laughed again.
“Of course it is.”
“Liora—”
“No. I’m done with people telling me I cannot know things.”
I pointed toward the windows.
“My husband may be lying dead somewhere, and somehow I still don’t get answers.”
Jonah looked uncomfortable.
“Did you know about the threats?”
“Yes.”
“How serious were they?”
“Serious enough for us to increase security.”
“What kind of threats?”
“Messages. Unusual access attempts. Information leaks.”
“That is exactly what Soren told me.”
“He told you?”
“Last night.”
That surprised Jonah.
I noticed.
“He wasn’t supposed to?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t need to.”
Jonah’s phone rang again.
He stepped away before answering.
I watched him.
“Yes.”
Silence.
“When?”
Another pause.
“Keep the press away until the family is informed.”
My stomach turned.
“What happened?”
Jonah ended the call.
“They found part of the passenger cabin.”
I waited.
“And?”
“No survivors.”
The room tilted.
I grabbed the back of a chair.
“No.”
“They are still searching the wider area.”
“You said no survivors.”
“In that section.”
“That does not mean Soren was there.”
“No.”
Again.
That one small word.
I held on to it until it hurt.
My phone began vibrating nonstop.
Mother.
Theo.
Celeste.
Mara.
Unknown numbers.
News stations.
People I had not spoken to in years.
Everyone wanted something.
Confirmation.
A comment.
A piece of my grief.
I turned the phone face down.
“I don’t want to speak to anyone.”
Jonah nodded.
“I’ll handle it.”
“You?”
“Our team will.”
“No statements saying he is dead.”
“We won’t confirm anything until authorities do.”
“And tell Kade Global the same.”
Jonah looked at me carefully.
“That may not be your decision.”
I lifted my head.
“It is today.”
Something in my voice must have convinced him.
He nodded once.
“I’ll tell them.”
The penthouse doors opened again.
Celeste rushed inside.
Her face was wet with tears.
The moment she saw me, she stopped.
“Liora.”
I barely had time to move before she wrapped her arms around me.
For the first time since Jonah arrived, I broke.
I cried against my sister-in-law’s shoulder like my body had finally understood what my mind still refused to accept.
“No,” I whispered.
Celeste held me tighter.
“They haven’t found him.”
“I know.”
“He could still be alive.”
“I know.”
She was crying too.
That was when the fear became real.
Celeste loved her brother.
She worshipped him even while arguing with him every chance she got.
If she was crying like this, then everyone believed the worst.
I pulled away.
“Where is your mother?”
“At the estate. Elias is with her.”
“Does she know?”
Celeste nodded.
“She collapsed when they told her.”
I closed my eyes.
“God.”
Celeste looked toward Jonah.
“What are they saying?”
“Search is ongoing.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Jonah stayed silent.
Celeste swore.
She turned away and pressed both hands against her face.
I stared at the floor.
My mind kept showing me Soren from that morning.
Except I had not actually seen him.
I had heard him moving around the penthouse.
He had left.
And I had stayed in bed.
I had not said goodbye.
A terrible thought entered my head.
“What time did the plane explode?”
Jonah checked his watch.
“Approximately 4:56.”
I looked at the clock.
Almost an hour ago.
For almost an hour, my husband had possibly been dead while I sat here annoyed that he had not texted me.
I felt sick.
“I need air.”
“Not outside,” Jonah said.
I turned on him.
“Do not start.”
“There are already reporters downstairs.”
“How?”
“The news moved quickly.”
“Then close the curtains.”
One of the guards moved immediately.
I walked toward the balcony doors.
Jonah followed.
“I said I need air.”
“The balcony is visible from nearby buildings.”
“Jonah.”
He stopped.
Something passed over his face again.
Not grief.
Something else.
Fear?
Guilt?
I could not tell.
I stepped closer.
“You know more than you are saying.”
His eyes sharpened.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Liora, you are in shock.”
“Do not do that.”
“Do what?”
“Make me sound emotional because I am asking a question you do not want to answer.”
His expression changed.
That had been Soren’s habit too.
Maybe all powerful men used the same handbook.
“What exactly do you think I know?” Jonah asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Then you should wait.”
“For facts?”
“Yes.”
I stared at him.
“You and Soren really are made for each other.”
Celeste came closer.
“Liora.”
I shook my head.
“I’m fine.”
Nobody believed me.
I did not believe me.
Another call came through.
This time it was Mara Quinn.
I almost ignored it.
Then I remembered she was Kade Global’s chief lawyer.
I answered.
“Mara.”
Her voice was calm but strained.
“Liora, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t say that yet.”
Silence.
“They have not confirmed his death.”
“I know.”
“I need you to understand something before the news becomes worse.”
“What?”
“The board is already asking questions.”
I closed my eyes.
“Of course they are.”
“Kade Global’s stock is falling. There may be an emergency meeting tonight.”
“My husband’s plane exploded an hour ago.”
“I know.”
“And they are worried about a meeting?”
“They are worried about the company.”
I laughed bitterly.
Soren would have understood them.
That thought made my chest hurt.
“What do you need from me?”
“Nothing tonight. But do not sign anything.”
I frowned.
“What would I sign?”
“Anything Elias or the board sends you.”
My eyes moved toward Celeste.
“Why?”
“I will explain when I see you.”
Another person with secrets.
Perfect.
“Mara.”
“Yes?”
“Is there something in Soren’s documents involving me?”
A pause.
Too long.
“Mara?”
“There are things we need to discuss.”
My skin went cold.
“What things?”
“Not over the phone.”
I looked toward Jonah.
He was watching me.
Everyone around me knew something.
Everyone except me.
“When?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll come tonight.”
“Liora—”
“Tonight.”
She hesitated.
“Fine.”
I ended the call.
Celeste frowned.
“What was that?”
“Mara says the board is already moving.”
Celeste’s face hardened.
“Let them try.”
I looked at her.
There was suddenly something very Kade about her.
Cold.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
Then Jonah’s phone rang again.
This time he answered immediately.
“Yes.”
His face changed.
A long silence followed.
Celeste reached for my hand.
I held my breath.
Jonah finally lowered the phone.
“What?” I asked.
He looked directly at me.
“Search teams recovered personal items from the wreckage.”
My fingers tightened around Celeste’s.
“What items?”
Jonah swallowed.
Then he held out his phone.
A photograph filled the screen.
Blackened metal.
Broken glass.
Ash.
And lying beside the wreckage was a watch.
Silver.
Damaged.
But I recognized it instantly.
I had given it to Soren on our second wedding anniversary.
My knees almost gave out.
Celeste caught me.
“No.”
My voice was barely there.
Jonah took the phone back.
“The authorities want the family to prepare for the possibility that there were no survivors.”
I stared at the place where the photograph had been.
For the first time, I could not force myself to say Soren was alive.
And somewhere far away, hidden from every person mourning him, my husband was very much alive.
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