Rhydian POV
Thorne stands between us and escape, smiling like he's already won.
"I asked you a question, little brother." His voice is silk over steel. "Where are you going at four in the morning? With my accountant's daughter?"
I step in front of Thessaly, shielding her. "Leave, Thorne. This is private property."
"Your property?" Thorne laughs. "I know about all your little hideaways, Rhydian. Did you really think you could keep secrets from me?"
My blood runs cold. If he knows about this house, what else does he know?
"You had my father's car sabotaged," I say flatly. Not a question. An accusation.
Thorne's smile widens. "Car accident. Tragic. These things happen." His eyes slide to Thessaly. "Especially to people who make poor choices."
Thessaly pushes past me before I can stop her. "Is he alive? My father—is he alive?!"
"For now." Thorne examines his nails casually. "The doctors say the next few hours are critical. Of course, he'd have better care if his daughter wasn't consorting with criminals."
"You monster," Thessaly breathes. "You almost killed him to get to me?"
"I didn't do anything." Thorne's voice hardens. "But accidents do tend to happen around people who betray the Vex family. You should remember that, girl."
I grab Thessaly before she can do something stupid like attack him. She's shaking with rage, tears streaming down her face.
"Let me make this simple," Thorne continues. "You have two choices, Ms. Crane. Come with me now—alone—and I'll make sure your father gets the best medical care money can buy. Maybe he even survives."
"And if I don't?" Thessaly's voice is raw.
"Then accidents keep happening. To your father. Your mother. Anyone you've ever cared about." Thorne's smile is pure evil. "I'm very good at making people disappear, dear. Ask my brother."
He's threatening her family. Using her father as bait. And the worst part? It's working. I can feel Thessaly pulling away from me, ready to sacrifice herself.
"She's not going anywhere with you," I say coldly.
"That's not your decision." Thorne signals his men. They move closer, hands on weapons. "The girl comes with me, or people die. Starting with her father."
Thessaly looks at me, eyes desperate. "Rhydian—"
"No." I grip her hand tighter. "You go with him, you disappear. I know my brother. He won't just threaten you—he'll destroy you."
"But my father—"
"Is already at the hospital getting care," I interrupt. "Thorne's lying. He needs you scared and compliant."
Thorne's smile fades. "You think you know me so well?"
"I know you're desperate." I smile back, cold and sharp. "You wouldn't be here at 4 AM with armed men if you felt in control. You're afraid. Of what we might find. Of what Thessaly knows."
For just a second, something flickers in Thorne's eyes. Fear.
Then it's gone, replaced by rage.
"Larkin!" I shout.
From the darkness behind Thorne's men, lights blaze. Three vehicles—Larkin and my security team, armed and ready. We're outnumbered, but not helpless.
Thorne's face goes dark. "You called for backup?"
"I'm not stupid enough to stay anywhere without protection." I pull Thessaly toward my car. "We're leaving. Try to stop us, and this becomes a bloodbath. Your choice, brother."
The standoff stretches. Thorne's men and mine face off, hands on weapons, waiting for an order.
"This isn't over," Thorne finally says. "That girl belongs to my family—"
"That girl belongs to herself," I interrupt. "And she chose me."
"Then you've both chosen death."
We get in the car. Larkin's team provides cover as we speed away, Thorne's vehicles following but keeping distance. For now.
Thessaly sits rigid, silent. Then suddenly she's sobbing, broken sounds that shred my heart.
"He almost killed my father," she gasps. "Because of me. Because I chose you."
"Because Thorne's a monster," I correct. "This isn't your fault."
"How is it not my fault?!" She turns on me, eyes wild. "I kissed you! I agreed to help you! I started this war!"
"No. Thorne started this war fifteen years ago when he framed me and stole my inheritance." I keep driving, heading toward the hospital despite the danger. "You're just caught in the middle."
"Then let me go! Drop me off, end this, before anyone else gets hurt!"
"I can't."
"Why not?!"
"Because I won't let him win!" My voice is harder than I intend. "Thorne destroys everyone who defies him. If you go back, he'll break you. Use you. Maybe even kill you once you're no longer useful. I won't allow that."
"You barely know me!"
"I know enough." I glance at her, this brave, broken girl who chose fire over safety. "I know you're stronger than you think. I know you deserve better than Jett, better than your father's disappointment, better than Thorne's threats. And I know—" I stop, the words catching.
"Know what?" she whispers.
That I'm already falling for you. That the thought of Thorne hurting you makes me want to burn the world down. That you've woken something in me I thought was dead.
But I can't say that. Not yet. Not when she's vulnerable and scared and I'm twenty years older and she's only choosing me because I'm the only option left.
"I know you're not alone anymore," I finally say. "Whatever happens, we face it together."
We reach the hospital. I park far from the entrance, watching for Thorne's men.
"He's here somewhere," Thessaly says quietly. "Waiting."
"Probably." I pull out my phone, texting Larkin. "But we're not walking into his trap blind."
My phone rings immediately. But it's not Larkin. It's an unknown number.
I answer. "Yes?"
"Mr. Vex?" A doctor's voice. "This is Dr. Walsh. I'm calling about Andrew Crane."
Thessaly grabs my arm, listening desperately.
"He's stable," the doctor continues. "The accident was serious, but he's going to survive. He's asking for his daughter."
Relief floods Thessaly's face. "He's okay. He's okay!"
"Can we see him?" I ask carefully.
"Of course. But Mr. Vex?" The doctor's voice drops. "There's something strange about his accident. The brake lines were cut. Cleanly. Professionally. This wasn't an accident—it was attempted murder. I've already called the police."
I meet Thessaly's eyes. We both know who cut those brakes.
"We'll be right there," I say.
As we walk toward the hospital entrance, Larkin appears from the shadows.
"Boss. We've got a problem."
"Just one?" I ask bitterly.
"Thorne's not here. None of his men are." Larkin looks worried. "They've vanished. No cars, no security, nothing."
My skin prickles. That's wrong. Thorne should be swarming this place.
"It's a diversion," I realize. "He's not after Thessaly right now. He's after—"
My phone rings again. This time it's my gallery's security system.
"Alarm triggered," the automated voice announces. "Multiple intruders. Police have been notified."
"The gallery," I breathe. "My files. Evidence. Everything I've collected on Thorne—"
"He's stealing it," Thessaly finishes. "While we're here, he's destroying your proof."
I have seconds to decide. Go to my gallery and save fifteen years of evidence? Or stay here and protect Thessaly?
Before I can choose, Thessaly makes the choice for me.
"Go," she says firmly. "Larkin's here. The hospital's safe. You need that evidence."
"I'm not leaving you—"
"You have to!" She pushes me toward the car. "This is bigger than me. If we lose that evidence, we lose everything. GO!"
She's right. And I hate that she's right.
"Larkin, don't let her out of your sight," I order. "Anyone tries to touch her, shoot first."
"On it, boss."
I'm running for my car when Thessaly calls out: "Rhydian!"
I turn.
"Come back," she says simply. "Please. Come back."
The desperate hope in her voice nearly breaks me. "Always."
I drive away, heading for the gallery, leaving her behind.
Three blocks away, my phone buzzes. A text from an unknown number.
I open it.
It's a photo of Thessaly walking into the hospital with Larkin. And a message:
Wrong choice, little brother. While you save your files, I take your girl. Checkmate.
My blood turns to ice. I spin the car around, tires screaming, racing back to the hospital.
I call Larkin. No answer.
I call Thessaly. No answer.
I call the hospital. "Andrew Crane's room—connect me NOW!"
The receptionist stammers. "Sir, Mr. Crane checked out ten minutes ago. Against medical advice. His daughter signed him out."
"Describe the daughter."
"Um... red hair, green eyes, young—"
"That wasn't his daughter!" I roar. "That was an imposter! Where did they go?!"
"I—I don't know! Security escorted them out to a private ambulance—"
I hang up, slam my fist against the steering wheel. Played. I've been completely played.
Thorne never wanted my evidence. He wanted me away from Thessaly.
And now she's gone.
My phone rings. Thorne's number.
"Hello, Rhydian," he purrs. "Looking for something?"