Thessaly POV
Everything happens too fast.
One second I'm walking into the hospital with Larkin. The next, someone grabs me from behind, hand over my mouth, dragging me backward.
I try to scream. Try to fight. But whoever has me is strong, professional. They shove a cloth over my face—sweet-smelling, chemical—and the world goes fuzzy.
The last thing I see is Larkin on the ground, bleeding.
Then darkness.
I wake up in a chair, hands zip-tied behind me, head pounding. My mouth tastes like metal and chemicals. The room is dark except for one lamp shining directly in my face.
"She's awake."
I know that voice. Thorne.
He steps into the light, looking exactly like what he is: a monster in an expensive suit.
"Where am I?" My voice cracks. "What did you do to Larkin?"
"Your guard dog is alive. Unfortunately." Thorne sits across from me, studying me like I'm an insect. "My brother always did have loyal employees. Foolish, but loyal."
"Where's my father?!"
"Hospital. Safe. For now." Thorne smiles. "Though that could change depending on your cooperation."
Terror claws through me. "What do you want?"
"Information." He leans forward. "My brother has been building a case against me for years. Evidence of my business dealings, financial records, witnesses. I need to know what he has. And you're going to tell me."
"I don't know anything!"
"Liar." His voice goes cold. "Rhydian doesn't trust easily. The fact that he took you to his safe house, that he's protecting you, means you're important to him. Which means he's told you things. Shown you things." Thorne's eyes narrow. "What has he told you about the family?"
My mind races. If I tell him nothing, he'll hurt me. Maybe kill me. But if I tell him what I know, I betray Rhydian.
"He... he said you framed him," I stammer. "Fifteen years ago. That you lied about him stealing from the family."
"And you believed him?" Thorne laughs. "Poor naive girl. Rhydian is very good at playing victim. But the truth is, he WAS stealing. From our father's company. Millions of dollars."
"That's not what he said—"
"Because he's a liar!" Thorne's voice cracks like a whip. "He stole from us, got caught, and ran away rather than face consequences. Everything he's told you is a manipulation. He's using you to hurt my son, to hurt this family, to get revenge for crimes he actually committed."
I want to believe Rhydian. But doubt creeps in. What if Thorne's right? What if I've been stupid, believing a man I barely know?
"I see the doubt," Thorne says softly. "Good. You're smarter than you look. So let me make you an offer: tell me what Rhydian's planning, help me stop him, and I'll make this all go away. Your father keeps his job. Jett forgives you. Your life goes back to normal."
"Normal?" I laugh bitterly. "Jett cheated on me, abused me, tried to destroy me—"
"Because you humiliated him!" Thorne interrupts. "You kissed his uncle in public. What did you expect?"
"I expected him not to cheat on me on my birthday!" My voice breaks. "I expected to matter!"
Something flickers in Thorne's eyes. Not sympathy. Calculation.
"You feel used," he says quietly. "Abandoned. I understand. Rhydian made you feel special, didn't he? Made you feel seen. Wanted. Important." He leans closer. "But let me tell you what my brother really is: a master manipulator. He finds broken girls like you and uses them. When he's done, he discards them. Just like he'll discard you."
Tears burn my eyes. Because what if he's right? What if Rhydian's just using me?
"Where are his files?" Thorne asks gently. "His evidence against me. Tell me, and this ends. You go home. Everyone stays safe."
I look at this man—Jett's father, Rhydian's brother—and I see the same cruelty in his eyes that I saw in Jett's. The same coldness.
And I realize: even if Rhydian is using me, at least he treats me like a person. Thorne treats me like a tool.
"I don't know where his files are," I say clearly. "And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you."
Thorne's face hardens. "Wrong answer."
He stands, walks to the door. "Bring him in."
Two men drag someone into the room. My heart stops.
It's my father. Unconscious, face bruised, clearly beaten.
"Dad!" I scream, fighting against the zip ties. "What did you do to him?!"
"Convinced him to leave the hospital," Thorne says calmly. "Against medical advice. He was very worried about his daughter." He crouches by my father's unconscious body. "Last chance, girl. Tell me what Rhydian's planning, or your father pays for your stubbornness."
"Please," I beg. "Please don't hurt him. He didn't do anything wrong!"
"Neither did you. At first." Thorne pulls out a knife. "But you made choices. Actions have consequences."
He presses the knife to my father's throat.
"WAIT!" I scream. "Okay! Okay, I'll tell you!"
Thorne pauses. "I'm listening."
My mind races. What can I tell him that sounds real but doesn't actually betray Rhydian?
"He... he has files on your money laundering," I stammer. "Companies that don't exist. Fake transactions. He showed me documents from my father's work—"
"Where are these documents?"
"His gallery. Hidden in the back office. Behind a painting of a phoenix."
It's a lie. Complete fabrication. But Thorne doesn't know that.
His eyes narrow. "If you're lying—"
"I'm not! I swear! That's where he keeps everything!" Tears stream down my face. "Please. Please just let my father go."
Thorne studies me for a long moment. Then he pulls out his phone, makes a call.
"Check the gallery. Back office. Behind the phoenix painting." He listens. "Do it now."
We wait in horrible silence. My father doesn't move. I pray he's breathing.
Thorne's phone rings. He answers, listens, and his face goes dark with rage.
"There's nothing there," he says quietly, dangerously. "No safe. No documents. Nothing."
My blood turns to ice. He knows I lied.
"Last mistake you'll ever make, girl." Thorne moves toward me with the knife.
The door explodes inward.
Rhydian stands there, gun raised, eyes burning with fury. Behind him, a dozen armed men.
"Step away from her," Rhydian says, voice deadly calm. "Now."
Thorne spins, grabbing me, knife at my throat before anyone can react. "One step closer and I kill her!"
I feel the blade press against my skin. Feel warm blood trickle down my neck.
"Let her go, Thorne." Rhydian's gun doesn't waver. "This is between us. Not her."
"Everything became about her when you involved her!" Thorne's hand shakes with rage. "You couldn't just stay away, could you? You had to come back. Had to poison my son's girlfriend against him. Had to try to destroy everything I built!"
"Everything you STOLE!" Rhydian moves closer, carefully. "You framed me, brother. Lied to Father. Turned the family against me. Took my inheritance. My life. Everything!"
"You were weak!" Thorne screams. "Soft! Father would have chosen you to lead, and you would have destroyed us with your conscience! I saved this family!"
"By becoming a monster?" Rhydian's voice breaks. "By hurting innocent people? By almost killing a girl who just wanted to be loved?"
The knife presses harder. I gasp as more blood flows.
"She's leverage," Thorne says coldly. "The only thing keeping you from pulling that trigger. So here's the deal: walk away. Leave Crescent Bay. Never come back. And I let her live."
"Don't listen to him!" I choke out. "He'll kill me anyway!"
"Quiet!" Thorne snarls.
Rhydian's eyes meet mine across the room. In them, I see pain. Regret. And something else.
Love? Can he actually love me after four days?
"I'm sorry," Rhydian says softly.
I don't understand. "For what?"
Then he pulls the trigger.
The bullet passes so close to my head I feel the wind. It hits Thorne in the shoulder. He screams, dropping the knife and me.
Rhydian's men swarm forward, grabbing Thorne, pulling him away. Someone cuts my zip ties. Someone else tends to my father, who's waking up, groaning.
And Rhydian drops his gun, crossing to me, pulling me into his arms.
"I'm sorry," he repeats into my hair. "I'm so sorry. I should never have left you."
"You came back," I sob against his chest. "You came back."
"Always." He pulls back, checking the cut on my neck. It's shallow. Not serious. "I will always come back for you."
Police sirens wail outside. Someone called the cops.
Thorne laughs from where he's restrained, blood soaking his expensive suit. "You think this is over? You think arresting me changes anything? The family will destroy you both. You've signed your death warrants!"
"Maybe," Rhydian says calmly. "But you're going to prison. For attempted murder. Kidnapping. Everything." He looks at me. "Thessaly has evidence. Don't you?"
I stare at him, confused. Then I understand. The files. My father's files.
"Yes," I say clearly. "I have everything."
Thorne's face goes white. "You're bluffing."
"Am I?" I meet his eyes. "My father kept copies. Of every transaction. Every lie. Every crime. And I know exactly where they are."
It's partially true. Dad does keep backup files. I just don't know exactly where.
But Thorne believes me. I see it in his face—pure terror.
Police flood the room. Detective Chen leads them, taking in the scene.
"Someone want to explain what happened here?" she demands.
Rhydian and I exchange glances.
Then together, we tell our story.