Elara's POV,
"...the boss is agitated. I heard he's wondering about the hacker's next plan." One of my co-workers says. I think he's the logistics manager, I can't remember his name.
"Yeah. I heard he went on a rampage in his office yesterday because the person he'd hired to find the hacker didn't do the job." Another chimes in and I inwardly roll my eyes. These people never come to work to…well, work.
"Shh, he's passing." One of them says in hushed tones and we all stand up as Lucien Kòrvac passes without a glance at us. From my seat, I can see the frustration and anger on his face.
Pfft, he should at least be happy I've stopped.
It's been a week since that night I found out the truth.
Lucien never married Anya.
So I'd just been tormenting an innocent company. I stopped only to find out that it made Lucien angrier. Apparently, he'd been so close to finding the person and when the person suddenly stopped, leaving no traces, he'd gone on a rampage firing all his best cyber agents and computer wizards.
He finally passes into the elevator and everyone heaves a huge sigh. They start whispering, "I heard he fired Monica yesterday because she looked at him."
"What do you mean 'looked at him'? You mean wrongly?"
"No, he just looked at him."
~ ~
I work harder than usual after that day to replace every stolen dollar and every rerouted transaction.
One afternoon, I'm in my study, fingers flying over my keyboard, when the door burst open.
"Mama!"
Asher crashes into me with the force of pure joy, small arms wrapping around my waist. I laugh despite myself, instinctively closing my laptop halfway and Camilla leans against the doorframe, arms crossed.
"You're welcome," she says dryly.
"For what?" I ask, kissing the top of Asher's head.
"For being so beautiful and hot. My credit card declined and some kind sir bought him a cake. Because he wanted my number, obviously."
I blink. "A what?"
"A man," she says, rolling her eyes. "Tall, expensive shoes, perfume and ridiculously handsome."
I raise a brow. "Camilla."
She scoffs. "Relax. If I liked men, I'd let him ruin my life. I almost asked for his number."
I laugh it off, shaking my head. "I thought he was the one who wanted your number."
""Potato, potahto."
Asher pulls back, grinning.
"He was nice, Mama. He bought me chocolate cake."
"That's good," I say softly. "As a good boy, I hope you said thank you."
Then, two weeks later, Asher comes home with a flier clutched proudly in his hands.
"My new principal gave me this!" he announces.
I frown, taking it. Inter-school spelling competition.
"He's five," I mutter.
Camilla shrugs as she sets her bag down. "Apparently he's a genius."
When she leaves, Asher crawls onto the couch beside me.
"Mama," he says. "The principal did something weird."
I freeze for a moment. "What kind of weird?"
"She made us all spit in cups."
I blink. "…Um, what?"
"All of us," he insists. "She said it was for something important."
I force a laugh. "Schools do strange things these days, baby."
But something cold slides down my spine. What is he talking? A new principal?
Before enrolling him in that school, I had done my research. It was owned by a simple, minimalist man. So, what new principal. I shrug it off and get ready for the next day at work.
Next day
Lucien Kòrvac calls me into his office.
I freeze because here's the thing: the boss never called me.
My hands shake on their own as I walk down the hallway. They know, my mind screams. They've finally caught you. Matteo has finally seen you.
When I enter, he is on a call, looking angry, sharp, and dangerous. He doesn't even look at me. He just slams a document onto his desk and gestures for me to open it.
I do.
And my heart stops.
My vision is blurred. My lungs forget how to work and the world tilts.
Lucien Kòrvac is the masked man from six years ago. But how...? This is impossible. Was this planned? Has he known all along?
No, he can't have known. I'm sure he doesn't even know it's me.
I look up slowly to see he is already staring at me, dark blue eyes burning like fire.
"So," he says coldly, ending the call, "why did you hide him from me?"
I can't speak.
He slams the desk hard, and I don't even flinch. I was frozen. I needed to think. What do I do? What do I do?
"Speak now, Solis," he says, voice low and lethal, "and I'll consider letting you remain his parent."
"What…?" My lips tremble.
"I don't know how it happened," he continues, pacing. "I remember every woman I've slept with. Maybe I was drunk. Maybe you drugged me. But hiding my child under my nose?"
He walks closer, backing me into the wall. "That's arrogance."
Yes, he doesn't recognize me.
The realization steadies me.
Good.
I lift my chin. "So now you want to claim him? You can't just waltz in and—"
"Unfortunately," he interrupts, "I can do whatever the fuck I want. You have twenty-four hours. Bring my child to me."
Something in me snaps, and my eyes flare.
"And who the fuck do you think you are?"
As soon as the word leaves my lips, his hand comes up and wraps around my neck.
Fear claws up my throat. I know exactly who Lucien Kòrvac is, but he doesn't know I do. Something tells me I'm about to find out why they called him the Young Wolf.
His hand tightens around my neck.
"If I don't see my son tomorrow," he whispers, "you won't have this pretty mouth anymore."
I see that he isn't bluffing, so I do the unthinkable.
I spit in his face and slap him.
The sound echoes.
Shock flickers across his features as I bolt from the office. Everyone sees me running, but I don't care.
I go straight home, driving through the road like a mad woman. To my surprise, I see that I'm not followed. When I get home, I throw essentials into a bag, hands shaking. Then, I drive to Noemi's place and lie without blinking about my mother in Canada falling sick, about urgency, and about leaving tonight.
They believe me, of course, and Carla even gives me snacks for the trip.
I don't have time to feel guilty. I don't have time to even think about the next lie I would tell them when I can't come back. I could fake our death.
Yes, I'd do that.
I call Camilla and tell her not to pick Asher up, that I'll do it myself.
And when I get close to the school gate, I don't see the bike rushing in.
Just metal, impact, and finally… Darkness.
~ ~
I wake up upside down.
I'm tied and gagged. My breathing becomes shallow in the dark, suffocating room.
My mind spirals. Asher.
The metal door creaks open, and the light stabs my eyes.
"I can't believe you tried to escape," a familiar voice says coldly. "Just who do you take me for?"
Lucien emerges from the shadows looking furious as hell and somehow completely calm.
That's what terrifies me most.
I buck violently, throwing my body around in the air, screaming through the gag until my throat burns. I don't care how unhinged I look. His face twists in disgust.
He gestures once.
In seconds, hands are on me. The ropes fall away, and the gag is yanked out of my mouth.
I don't hesitate.
I launch myself at him, nails raking blindly.
"You monster!"
His men catch me before I can reach his throat, but I kick, thrash, and scream like a wounded animal.
"Where is my child?" I shriek. "Give me back my child!"
Lucien steps forward and grips my jaw so tightly my teeth ache. He forces my face up until our lips are a breath apart.
"You don't scare me," I spit. "So go on, kill me."
It wasn't a bluff. He didn't scare me. Death didn't scare me. The only thing I was afraid of was anything that would harm my son.
He studies my face for a long moment, then smirks.
"At least smile, Solis," he murmurs. "It's the longest moment you have."
My heart slams against my ribs. He was such a monster. All of them are the same, I remind myself.
I refuse to flinch and instead scoff in his face.
His lips twitch, and he nods to his men. I'm tied upside down again.
"You won't get away with this," I snarl, and they put on the gag.
"I already have."
They leave, and silence swallows the room.
Hours pass. Or minutes. I don't really know. I force myself not pass out from the blood rushing to my head and just think of the flawless escape plan.
It doesn't even have to be flawless. Even if I had to draw blood, I'd do anything to get to Asher.
Then I hear laughter.
My son.
My breath catches painfully as I hear his tiny footsteps close by.
"Asher!" I scream through the gag, my whole body shaking, and that's when Lucien chooses to return. Taking his precious time.
"Relax," he says calmly. "He's having fun."
Fun?!!
My entire body shakes violently.
"How ironic," he continues. "You ran. You hid him from me. And still, you end up right here."
His fingers slide through my hanging hair as if he owns it, and a chair is brought in.
He sits and opens a document.
"I don't need a wife, but I won't leave my son unprotected." A pause. "I'll give you this. You're strong."
I don't react.
He signals, and the gag is removed again.
"You think I'd sign myself into a cage? How pathetic do you think I am?" I hiss, and he nods once, clearly rage-baiting me.
"No. You'll sign because you have no choice. You're going to die, Solis."