Robbie's POV
Mum and I stood frozen. Even Dad seemed stunned by his own admission. He closed his eyes for a long second, exhaled deeply, and when he opened them again, the cold, indifferent mask was back. But I saw the crack.
My jaw hung slack. Twen, my son… he had him this whole fucking time?
Mum recovered first. Her voice trembled with fury. "What do you mean, Ric? Didn't you say you backed out?"
"I did," Dad said sharply, his jaw tight. "But Stephan didn't. You know damn well his import-export business was a cover for his smuggling operation. He's made a fortune trafficking drugs. I was afraid he'd… use something on the boy. So I stepped in and told him to hand Twen over to me."
"And Tony?" I snapped, my voice rising.
Dad turned to me, his eyes like ice. "What about him? I don't give a damn what happens to him. I didn't want the kid involved. That's all."
"So let me get this straight," Mum said, her voice shaking with barely contained rage. "You've known where Twen is this whole time, and you just lied?"
Dad didn't flinch. He stared at the far wall like we weren't even in the room. "I did what I had to do for this family. That omega was a threat to our legacy. I just removed the obstacle."
I stared at him, struggling to find any word strong enough for what I was feeling. Twen wasn't in Stephan's hands. Thank God. But Tony still was. And it had been nearly an hour. An hour in the clutches of a sick, twisted bastard. I clenched my fists until I felt my nails dig into my palms.
"Where's Twen, Ric?" Mum asked in a voice that could cut glass.
"At the farmhouse. Two guards are on him. I had Dr. Foster check him over. He's fine."
I nodded, barely able to contain the swirl of fury, dread, and relief inside me. Mum turned to me gently. "I'll go. You focus on finding Tony."
I met her eyes. There was steel behind them, despite the pain. I gave a tight nod. She left without another word.
Now it was just me and him.
I turned back to Dad. My voice came out low and flat. "Where is Tony?"
"I told you. I don't know."
"Stop fucking lying!" I slammed the table so hard the glass vibrated, and pain shot up my arm.
Dad jumped slightly.
"You said the same thing about Twen and had him all this time. So don't you dare lie to me again. Tell me where Tony is, or I swear to God, I'll destroy this precious fucking empire you care so much about."
His eyes burned into me. "I got back on the plan to get the kid. That omega?" He sneered. "I didn't stop Stephan. Why would I? He's been a thorn in my side from the start. I let Stephan take care of him. I don't know where he is, and frankly, I don't care."
The words hit me like a slap. My stomach turned. I could tell he wasn't lying.
I grabbed my phone, calling Fred. Praying to whatever power might listen that we could still save him.
"I hope you're ready to tell this story to the cops," I said coldly. "I'm abdicating. I'm done being your heir."
"What?" Dad hissed.
"You heard me. I'm done. I want nothing to do with this family, this business, or with you."
"You arrogant little— I raised you! I trained you! You think you can just walk away? This family—"
"I don't care!" I screamed, my voice cracking. "This isn't a family. You've never treated me like a son. Just an asset to groom for succession. I gave you everything. And you still put my partner and my son in danger just to cling to your ancient, rotting pride."
He was seething now. "So that omega means that much to you? Enough to throw away your own father? Your mother?"
"I'm not throwing away Mum," I said with bitter finality. "You broke this family. Not Tony. You spent your entire life worshiping tradition and image, never once looking at your own fucking family."
He opened his mouth, but I cut him off. "Tony didn't chase me. I chased him. From the beginning. And not once has he tried to use my money or my name. He never demanded a thing from me. He just wanted a quiet and safe life."
I paused, voice breaking. "And I couldn't even give him that."
The weight of it all came crashing down. My throat tightened, my eyes burned. Tony and Twen, everything I ever wanted to protect, were suffering because of me.
I turned back to Dad, rage flaring again. "I will never forgive you for this. If something happens to Tony, you'll lose your son. And everything you built."
I turned to make a call to Fred. Dad didn't move. He just stared at the floor, his fists clenched, his face shadowed by his hair.
"Robbie?" Fred's voice boomed in my ear. "Did you get anything? Did you find them?"
"Twen is safe. Mum's gone to get him. I'll send the address. Can you have Sam go too?"
"What about Tony?"
"No. He's not there." My voice cracked again. "Dad handed him over to a man named Stephan Olsen."
There was a pause. "Stephan Olsen? You mean that slimy politician?"
"Yes. Please, can you trace him?"
Fred sounded serious. "We'll try. But if it's Olsen… he would know how to cover his tracks."
"I'll send you the number and the car details—"
"That won't work."
It was Dad.
He didn't look up. His voice was low, flat. "Olsen doesn't use his own phone or car. Burners only. He's careful and calculating. If you want to find him, trace Amanda."
I blinked. "Amanda?"
"She was with him. The last time I saw Stephan, Amanda was there too."
I stared. For a second, I didn't recognize the man in front of me. His voice had no emotion. His eyes were bottomless.
"That's all I can do for your omega."
Fred's voice echoed through the phone. "Robbie? You good?"
"Yeah," I said quietly. "I'll send the info. Once you have a lead, loop in the cops."
"What about you?"
"I have someone I need to bring."
I hung up and looked at Dad. He was still turned away.
"You let Stephan borrow your people now? Amanda worked for you," I said coldly.
"She worked for him. I borrowed her to follow you."
My blood went cold. So even that was orchestrated?
"Of course. Makes sense. You always made sure my life stayed within your lines."
"I'm not asking you to come back," he said quietly.
"Good. Because I'm not."
I started to leave. But I stopped at the door.
"You once threatened to divorce Mum just to get me in line. I didn't know what she wanted then. But now I do." I turned slightly, voice firm. "Do it. Divorce her. Stop keeping her in this cold, lifeless shell of a marriage."
He didn't answer right away. Then, "Divorce would cause a scandal. It would tarnish the family name."
I gave him one last glance. "You can change the rules. You're the head of the family now. Stop hiding behind the ghosts of our ancestors and make a decision that's your own."
I walked out. I had someone to find.