Ava

“No amount of security can keep her from me.”

My pulse roared in my ears as I stared at the message on my screen, drowning out the words Rose had been saying. Fear coiled deep in my chest, quickly replaced by the surge of fury that left my hands trembling.

I shot to my feet, the chair scraping against the floor in a grating screech. Rose’s eyes widened, her hand halfway to a stack of documents, concern etched into every line of her face.

“What is it?” she asked, but her voice felt distant—muted.

I couldn’t form the words. Couldn’t explain the terror clawing at me. My thumb hovered over the screen, barely believing what I was seeing. The words taunted me, echoing through every doubt and nightmare I’d tried to bury.

Then, as if to twist the knife deeper, another message came in. This time, a picture.

My sister. Tied to a chair. Her head lolled to one side, hair obscuring part of her face. She was alive—she had to be—but the image sent a wave of nausea crashing over me.

I stumbled back, my fingers fumbling to dial the number associated with the texts. Rose’s voice rose in pitch, laced with panic. “What’s happened? Talk to me!”

The line rang. No answer. I dialed again, desperation seeping into every motion. Nothing.

“Pick up!” I screamed at the phone, barely aware of Rose moving closer, her hands fluttering as she tried to understand. “Pick up!”

The call connected. There was no greeting, just the faint crackle of someone on the other end. I pounced on the silence, my voice raw. “Where is she? What have you done to her? How did you get to her?”

A low, cold laugh seeped through the receiver. It was a sound that sent a chill skittering down my spine. “Calm yourself,” the voice drawled, each word a deliberate dagger. “You’re reacting exactly as I hoped.”

Behind me, Rose was already on her phone, calling the hospital. Her voice was strained, demanding answers. I forced myself to focus on the caller, even as my heart raced. “You think this is a game? Tell me where she is!”

Another laugh, mocking and dark. “The feeling you had when you saw that picture… savor it. Because soon, it will be your reality.”

The line went dead.

“Ma’am!” Rose’s urgent tone snapped me out of my haze. She held her phone up, her face pale but relieved. A picture displayed on the screen showed my sister, asleep and unharmed, in her hospital bed.

I stared at it, struggling to process what I was seeing. “It’s a trick,” I whispered, fury boiling over. “Whoever that is was toying with you.”

Rose’s voice was soft but steady. “She’s safe. The guards confirmed no breach. This… it’s a sick game.”

I turned back to the phone, rage eclipsing every other emotion. The person picked immediately, I Could hear the mockery behind his silence.

“Whoever you are,” I spat into the silence, “whatever twisted game this is—you’re not going to win. How much did Orion pay you for this stunt?”

The voice returned, colder now. “Orion? That child couldn’t afford my services. I’m not doing this for money.” There was a pause, as if he enjoyed my confusion. “Consider it charity.”

I clenched the phone, wishing I could strangle the man through the line. “What do you want?”

“To watch you break,” he replied, and there was genuine pleasure in his voice. “Hold onto that fear. That moment you thought your sister was gone? It will come again—this time for real. Prepare yourself.”

The call ended, leaving a hollow silence in its wake.

My hands shook. Rage, fear, and helplessness crashed over me like a wave. This wasn’t just an attack—it was a declaration of war. I would find him. I would end him. But as I stared at the phone, a deep, unshakable dread took root. This wasn’t just about me. He was coming for the only person I care about.

And he wasn’t done yet.

I forced myself to breathe, to slow the frantic pace of my heartbeat. Rose was speaking again, her words urgent but calming. “We need to get to the hospital,” she said firmly. “Even if she’s safe, we can’t take any chances.”

I nodded, the motion jerky. My legs felt like lead as I grabbed my coat, but a single thought pushed me forward—Holly needed me. Whoever this twisted monster was, he wanted to see me fall apart. I refused to give him that satisfaction.

The ride to the hospital was a blur of flashing city lights and the low hum of Rose’s voice, keeping me focused on anything but the image burned into my mind—Holly bound, hurt, vulnerable. I couldn’t shake it, no matter how much I wanted to believe it was just a sick ruse. I would see her with my own eyes.

When we arrived, the guards gathered immediately, ushering me past the lobby with grim expressions. “Everything’s under control,” one said, but I barely heard him. My feet carried me down the hallway as if on autopilot, my mind racing with every possible scenario.

I burst into Holly’s room. The sight of her lying in bed, peaceful, felt like a cruel trick. My breath caught, and I took a hesitant step closer. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. There was no blood, no restraints—just my sister, alive.

How could it be? The voice was the same with the person that called me weeks ago. I thought it was my father…but no.

The tension in my body unraveled, leaving me weak. I stumbled to her bedside, brushing her hair from her face. She stirred slightly, eyes fluttering open. “Ava?” she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.

Tears burned my eyes. “I’m here,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m right here.”

Behind me, Rose spoke quietly to the guards, confirming their patrols and tightening security. I tuned them out, focusing on Holly. She reached for my hand, her touch grounding me. “You're here. Had a bad dream about me?” she asked, sensing my unease but too groggy to understand.

“Something like that,” I said, forcing a smile. “I’ll keep it away, I promise.”

She drifted back to sleep, and I stayed by her side, every nerve on edge. I couldn’t let my guard down. This wasn’t over. The bastard behind the threats had promised more, and I believed him. I squeezed Holly’s hand gently, a silent vow forming in my mind.

If he wanted to break me, he’d chosen the wrong target. I’d burn his world to the ground before I let him hurt my sister.