ALEXANDER
Raina’s heart was like a fortress–strong, impenetrable, and maddeningly difficult to move. But giving up? Not a chance. Especially not with someone like Nathan lingering around her, poisoning her mind and her heart
checked my watch for the third time, imitation brewing Dominic was late. He’d been punctual up until now, and his tardiness set me on edge. These secret meetings weren’t exactly safe. Every second of delay increased the risk of being found out, and the last thing we needed was Nathan catching wind of what we were doing.
Dominic had warmed the early on that Raina wasn’t going to change her mind easily. She trusted Mathan, and convincing her otherwise would take more than just evidence–it would take timing, precision, and a hell of a lot of patience.
I drummed my fingers on the table, my frustration growing. When it looked like Dominic wasn’t going to show, I pulled out my phone and dialed his number.
The line rang twice before cutting off.
“Great,” muttered under my breath, shoving the phone back into my pocket
“Relax, I’m here.”
The voice from behind startled memed quickly to see Dominic standing there, looking compound but wary
“Well, you’re late,” I snapped, standing to meet him.
He raised a hand, his expression calm now. I had a tall Took me a while to shake them off.”
My brows furrowed as I glanced around the quiet café, “A tail? Are you?”
Dominic nodded, sliding into the seat across from me. “One of my guys spotted a car following me. We blocked the road, board him in. Some strange man, didn’t put up much of a fight”
“And you’re just brushing this off? Tasked, my voice sharp.
“It’s been handled,” Domine replied firmly, “He won’t be tollowing anyone anymore.”
I leaned back in my seat, unease gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. “Nathan has to know we’re onto him.” Why else would someone be talling Dominic in the middle of the night?
Dominic shook his head. “I don’t think he knows anything yet. He’s just_watching. It’s what he does. He gathers intel, waits for the right moment. 11’s annoying, but it gives us time to act.”
The idea of Nathan decling us like a volture only made my resolve stronger. I needed to get to her, fast.
“Let’s get down to business,” Dominicultered firmly, pulling out a small flash drive and sliding it across the table.
I picked it up, tuming it over in my hand. “What’s on this?”
“Everything you need to understand why Raina resents you,” Dominic replied, his voice lowand steady. My stomach recoiled. I thought she only hated me became
of our past. There was more?
My crip tightened on the drive, “And what does this have to do with Nathan?”
Dominic’sexpression darkened. “Nathan’s going to represent her in court again. You know how good the Is, Alex” Yes, unfortunately the bastard was really good at his job. “Even if custody casesaren’t his speciality, he’ll still win if we don’t act fast.”
I drew in a deep breath, the weight of his words sinking in. “Then we have to make her see him for who he really is before the heating.”
Dominicleaned forward, his gaze sharp. “Don’t forget why we’re doing this, it’s about exposing Nathan, not about you getting Raina back Cause technically speaking, you are no better. You’ve made your own mistakes, and she hasn’t forgotten them.”
The reminder stung, but I nodded. I knew he was right
Thad barely stepped through the front door of my home when my mother blocked me, her face set in an expression I knew all too well. This wasn’t going to be a casual conversation
“You need to counter–file for custody over Ava,” she declared, her tone not leaving any fur argument. “Raina is being difficult, and you can’t let her walk all
My voice was sharp as turned to face her fully, “I’m trying to bring this family together, and
Toor, irritation simmering beneath my skin. “Are you still on t
ne you still on this?” M you’re suggesting tear it apart even more?”
She straightened her posture, her expression something I couldn’t recognier. “I’m suggesting you protect what’s yours, Alex. If Haina thinks she can just –
I cut my mother oft, my hand raised to stop her mid–sentence. “Enough. I’m not doing it,” I snapped, my tune final “This isn’t about a custody batite; it’s about fixing what’s broken. And you’re not helping”
Without waiting for her response, I walked away, heading straight for my office and slamining the door shut behind me. The tension in my chest felt suffocating, but pushed it aside as I sat down at my desk, pulling the flash der from my pocket.
Dominic’s words rang in my ears as I plugged the drive into my laptop. If you want to understand why Bains resents you, then you need to see this
The screen flickered to life, the recording grainy but clear enough to reveal the sterile setting of a hospital room. Liam lay in the hospital bed, his trail body hooked to monitors that beeped steadily. The dim lighting added to the tension in the air.
The camera wobbled slightly, indicating the person filming Raina–was holding it covertly. The lens focused on Eliza, standing near Liam’s bedside. Herhand hovered dangerously close to the life–support machine.
“Eliza.“Rama’s voice whispered softly behind the camera, trembling but resolute. “What are you doing?”
Eliza didn’t flinch Instead, she Ime for a second, her fingers stalling mid–air before curling into a fist. Slowly, she turned her head, her expression venomous.
“I’m doing what needs to be done,” Eliza spot, her voice icy. “This boy is nothing but a burden. You think he’s ever going to have a normal life? He’s holding everyone back. Especially Alexander.“What the forld!
Raina’s breathing quickened, audibly through the recording. “Step away from the machine, get away from my son.” she commanded, her voice gaining strength.
Eliza laughed bitterly, shaking her head. “You think you’re in control here? Her fingers hovered again over the machine’s switch. “It should’ve been gone lone ago. Do you know how much simpler things would be without him?”
The camera jolted slightly as Raina stepped closer, her voice low but full of fury. “Don’t you dare touch him.”
liseerd, her gaze flicking back to Liam. “Alexander doesn’t even see what I do for him. I clean up his messes, deal with his chaos. And you? You’re just the mistake that won’t go away.
Raima moved fast, herhand gripping Eliza’s wrist and packing it away from the machine. “You’re the mistake, Eliza,” she hissed, her face now partially visible in the frame.“And I’m done letting you run lives.”
The camera clattered as it was set on a nearby surface, its view now capturing a tilted angle of the room. Raina’s grip on Eliza’s wrist tightened, and for a moment there was silence except for the tension cracking between them
“What are you going to do?” Eliza snarled, leaning closes, her tone dripping with mockery.” Alex? Cry about how I’m the bad guy? He’ll never believe you
Raina’s jaw clenched, her voice cold and tim
and tim. “I don’t need him to believe me. I have this” she pestored to the recording device with a sharp tilt of her head.
Eliza’s eyes flied to the camera, her face contorting in rage. “You bitch!” she hissed, wrenching her am fere.
Before Raina could tract, liza’s hard flew through the air, striking her hard across the face. The sound echoed through the small coom, followed by a sharp from Raine
Raina stumbled back, her head hitting the edge of the doorframe with a sickening thud. The camera wobbled again as it was knocked from its resting place, landing on the floor. The view turned sideways, capturing Rain crumpling to the ground, unconscious.
stood over her for a moment, breathing heavily, her hands trembling. “Pathetic,” she muttered before glancing at Liam’s bed. Her eyes narrowed, but the sound of footsteps in the hallway seemed to jolt her back to reality
The recording ended abruptly as the screen went black, leaving me staring at my laptop, frein shock.
I stared at the screen, my breath caught in my thenat. My hands trembled as I reached out to pause the recording, even though it had already stopped.
All these years, she had been the one hurting Liam, and I had ber
my life, and she had betrayed not only me but my son
bertoo blind to see it. The guilt crashed over me like a tidal wave. I had trusted her, allowed her into
The memory of Eliza’s lake concem for Liam when he was taken from the hospital played in my mind. She had asked where he was, acting as if she can, but now I saw it for what it was—a façade
It was no wonder she wanted to know what hospital he had been taken to. Fuck!
Esilently thanked Rainsforsting Liam be taken to safety then. If I had been stubborn, if I had ignored her instincts, he might not even be alive today.
My fists cleard at my si anger bubbling to the surface. I understood now why Rains hated Eliza, why she couldn’t stand the sight of her. It wasn’t just personal; it was survival.
And it wasn’t just Nathan who needed to be exposed in court. Eliza peeded to face the consequences too.
Grabbing my phone, I called Dominic. He answered on the second cine
Do you understand now?” His voice came through, calm but weighted.
I nodded, eventhough he couldn’t see me. “I understand, I muttered, my voice thick with barely suppressed cage. “What do we need to do to run them?
Dominic exhaled on the other end of the line. “We wall. Tining is everything, Alex. When we’re in count, we’ll have the evidence we need. Until then, don’t tip your band-
“Don’t Tip my hand?” I repeated, my voice rising. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to sit on this? To know what they’ve done and not act?”
“You think I don’t?” Dominic’s voice sharpened. “We’re not doing this for your ego, Alexander. This is for Haina and the kids. You act too soon, and you risk mining everything
-25 Bonus
oedsel to take a deep breath, the logic in his words cutting through my anger. “Fine,” ground out.
- t. “But when the time comes, I want Eliza and Nathan both destroyed”
minic’s voice softened. “We will. But there’s something else–meet me tomorrow. I found something from the guy talling me.”
Thestrated. “Does it involve Nathan?”
“Yes,“Dominic replied curtly. “See you tomorrow,”
The next evening, I amived at our usual spot early, my mind racing with possibilities. Dominic was already waiting, leaning against his car with a grim expression.
was audious all day. Talk to me?” asked, skipping pleasantries.
Dominic nodded, passing me a file. “Well, you’d be pleased to know that
the man who
was tailing me worked for the same people as Nathan.”
1 freas, flipping through the pages. “SoNathan isn’t the mastermind? There was someone else.
“Doesn’t seem like it,” Dominic confirmed, his tone hitter. “He’s taking orders. Someone else is pulling the strings from what I can tell.”
I gritted my teeth, slaning the tile shut. “who and where do we find them?
Dominic shook his head, his expression darkening. “We can’t Undortunately our tail killed himself before my team could get more out of him.”
The weight of her words hin
like a punch to the gut. “So we’re back to square one?”
Not entirely.” Domine replied. “We know Nathan isn’t working alone. That’s something. But the trail’s gone cold. Hopefully someone fucks up and we pick on it.”
hair, frustration clawing at my chest. “How the hell are we supposed to find this mastermind now?
Before Dominic could newer, a voice from behind started us
We both tamed sharply to see standing there, her arms crossed, her gaze piercing Shit!
