Adrian's POV
I pushed past three doctors and two nurses to get into Damon's hospital room.
Valeria sat beside his bed, holding his hand. Her dress was covered in blood. Her makeup was ruined from crying. She looked up when I entered.
"Adrian? How did you—"
"I bribed the front desk." I pulled up a chair on the other side of the bed. "How is he?"
"Stable. The knife missed anything vital." She wiped her eyes. "He saved my life."
"I know. I saw." I looked at Damon's unconscious face. "Stupid heroic idiot."
"Don't call him that."
"It's true though. He jumped in front of a knife without thinking. That's the definition of stupid heroic idiot." I sighed. "It's also why everyone loves him."
Valeria's fingers tightened around Damon's hand. "I can't believe Sarah did that. She looked so scared. So hurt."
"She was being used. Someone sent her to attack you." I pulled out my phone and showed her a message. "My security team tracked the car that dropped her off. It's registered to one of Elias Ward's shell companies."
Her face went pale. "Elias made her do it?"
"Probably threatened her. Maybe promised her money. Either way, Sarah's in police custody now." I put my phone away. "But Elias is still out there. And he's not done."
"Why does he hate me so much? I never did anything to him!"
"You existed. You were married to Kane. That made you part of Elias's target." I leaned forward. "Val, this isn't just about money anymore. Elias wants revenge. He wants to hurt everyone connected to his failed plans."
"Then I should leave. Go somewhere safe until—"
"No." Damon's voice was weak but clear. His eyes opened slowly. "Don't run."
"Damon!" Valeria nearly jumped out of her chair. "You're awake! Oh thank God, you're awake!"
"Hard to sleep with you two yelling." He smiled despite the pain. "Hey, Val."
"Hey yourself." She laughed and cried at the same time. "You scared me to death."
"Sorry. Didn't mean to." He looked at me. "Cross. Thanks for coming."
"Don't thank me yet. I'm about to make you angry." I stood up. "Valeria needs better protection. Someone who can actually defend her without getting stabbed."
Damon tried to sit up and groaned. "I defended her just fine."
"You got stabbed."
"But she's alive."
"Barely! If that knife had been two inches to the left—" I stopped myself. Took a breath. "Look, I'm not saying you're not brave. I'm saying you're one person. Valeria needs a whole team."
"She has Lucien's security guards."
"Who couldn't stop Sarah from getting within stabbing distance." I turned to Valeria. "I have a private security company. The best in the country. Let me assign them to you."
"I don't need—"
"Yes, you do." I grabbed her shoulders gently. "Listen to me. These people are serious. They sent Sarah to stab you in front of hundreds of witnesses. That's bold. That's dangerous. That's someone who doesn't care about consequences."
Tears filled her eyes again. "I'm so tired of being scared."
"I know." I pulled her into a hug. She stiffened for a second, then relaxed against my chest. "I know you're tired. I know this is overwhelming. But you're not alone. You have people who care about you."
"Adrian's right." Damon's voice was tight. "Accept his help, Val. Please."
I looked at him over Valeria's head. His jaw was clenched. His eyes were hard.
He hated this. Hated me holding her. Hated needing my help.
Good. Maybe he'd finally admit how he felt about her.
Valeria pulled back and wiped her eyes. "Okay. I'll accept the security team. But only until Elias is caught."
"Deal." I smiled. "I'll make some calls. They'll be in place by tonight."
A knock on the door interrupted us.
Lucien walked in, followed by someone I didn't expect.
Kane.
Valeria gasped. "What is he doing here?"
"I brought him." Lucien's face was unreadable. "He says he has information about Elias. Information we need."
Kane looked terrible. His suit was wrinkled. His face was bruised. His hands were handcuffed.
"Val," he started. "I know you don't want to see me, but—"
"You're right. I don't." She stood up, putting herself between Kane and Damon's bed. "Get out."
"Please. Just listen. Five minutes."
"No."
"People are going to die if you don't!" Kane's voice cracked. "Elias has a plan. A big one. And you're right in the middle of it."
I moved closer to Valeria. "What kind of plan?"
Kane looked at me, then at Lucien. "Can we talk privately?"
"Anything you say to me, you say in front of them." Valeria crossed her arms. "Speak or leave."
Kane took a shaky breath. "Elias isn't working alone. He has partners. Rich, powerful people who want to take down the Arden family."
"Why?" Lucien demanded.
"Because your family controls too much. Too many businesses. Too much influence." Kane's handcuffs rattled as he gestured. "These people want that power. And Elias promised he could deliver it."
"How?" I asked.
"By destroying Valeria's reputation. By making the Arden name worthless." Kane looked at Valeria with something like regret. "The attack today was just the beginning. They're planning something bigger. Something at the Grand Gala tomorrow night."
Valeria's face went white. "The gala. That's where they want me to bring the money."
"What money?" Lucien's voice dropped dangerously low.
She explained about the threatening message. The demand for ten million dollars.
Lucien's face turned purple with rage. "And you weren't going to tell me?"
"They said no police. No guards. No family." Valeria's voice shook. "They said they'd kill people if I didn't come alone."
"It's a trap," Kane said quickly. "Obviously. But it's worse than you think. Elias isn't planning to just take the money. He's planning to—"
The lights went out.
Complete darkness.
Someone screamed in the hallway.
"Stay down!" Lucien shouted.
I grabbed Valeria and pulled her to the floor.
Glass shattered. The window exploded inward.
Something small and round rolled across the floor.
"Grenade!" Damon yelled from the bed.
My heart stopped.
I threw myself over Valeria, covering her completely.
But the explosion never came.
Instead, thick smoke poured out of the device. Filling the room. Choking us.
Valeria coughed beneath me. "Adrian, I can't breathe!"
"Don't breathe it in!" I pulled off my jacket and covered her face.
Footsteps in the smoke. Moving fast.
Someone grabbed my shoulder and yanked me backward.
I swung blindly. Hit nothing.
"Valeria!" I shouted. "Where are you?"
"Here! I'm here!" Her voice came from the wrong direction.
More footsteps. Running.
The smoke started to clear.
I could finally see again.
Damon was on the floor beside his bed, trying to stand despite his wound.
Lucien was by the door, unconscious.
Kane was gone. His handcuffs lay empty on the ground.
And Valeria...
Valeria was gone too.
"No." I ran to the broken window. Looked down.
A black van sped away from the hospital.
"They took her!" Damon limped over, blood seeping through his bandages. "We have to go after them!"
My phone buzzed.
A video message. I opened it.
Valeria appeared on screen, tied to a chair in a dark room. Tape covered her mouth. Terror filled her eyes.
Behind her stood Elias Ward. Smiling.
"Hello, Adrian. Hello, Damon. Hello, Lucien." He waved at the camera. "Don't bother looking for her. You'll never find this place. But don't worry. If you follow my instructions exactly, she might survive."
He leaned down and whispered something in Valeria's ear.
She started crying.
"Here's what's going to happen," Elias continued. "Tomorrow night at the gala, you will all attend. You will act normal. You will smile and talk and pretend everything is fine. And at exactly midnight, you will transfer fifty million dollars to an account I provide."
He pulled out a knife and pressed it against Valeria's throat.
"If you involve the police, she dies. If you try to rescue her, she dies. If you miss the deadline by even one second..." He dragged the knife lightly across her skin. A thin line of blood appeared.
Valeria whimpered behind the tape.
"She dies." Elias's smile widened. "See you at the gala, gentlemen. Don't be late."
The video ended.
I stared at the blank screen, my hands shaking with rage.
Damon collapsed against the wall, his face gray with pain and fear.
Lucien groaned and sat up, blood running from a cut on his head.
"They took her," I said numbly. "They took Valeria."
"Then we get her back." Damon pushed away from the wall. "Whatever it takes. We get her back."
"How?" I demanded. "We don't know where she is. We have less than twenty-four hours. And if we mess up, they'll kill her!"
"So we don't mess up." Lucien stood on shaky legs. "We play their game. We follow their rules. And then we destroy them."
My phone buzzed again.
Another message from Elias.
Just three words:
Kane sends regards.