Chapter 252
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AARON
Connor didn’t raise his voice when the confirmation came.
He didn’t need to.
The room had already gone still-the kind of stillness that only happens when everyone present knows they’re standing on the edge of something irreversible.
“It wasn’t Durrane,” Connor said, eyes fixed on the screen in front of him. “It was the other one. His partner p>
Julio.
The name settled like grit between my teeth.
Connor continued, methodical, precise. “He made contact ten minutes ago. Burn phone. Short call. Less than forty seconds p>
“Who did he reach?” Colton asked.
Connor’s fingers moved fast over the tablet. “Andrea. Or one of her handlers. We traced the bounce-three relays, two dead zones. But the call went through p>
I leaned forward, palms braced on the edge of the table. “So he talked p>
“Yes p>
“About Iris p>
Connor nodded once. “About what he thought we knew p>
That was the whole point.
All of it deliberate.
All of it bait.
“She called for the location to be changed,” Connor said quietly.
Colton exhaled, sharp and controlled. “How fast p>
“Immediately,” Connor replied. “No delay. No second verification p>
“Fast,” Colton muttered.
“Sloppy,” Connor added.
“And panicked,” I finished.
Connor finally looked up at me. “Exactly p>
The room shifted.
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That single decision-Andrea moving Iris without tightening every bolt-was the fracture we’d been waiting
for.
“She doesn’t know where they’re going yet,” Connor went on. “We tracked her outbound calls after Julio’s contact. She reached two people. Both burners. We can triangulate a general area, but nothing precise p>
“Meaning?” Colton asked.
“Meaning,” Connor said, “she gave the order, not the destination p>
I straightened. “So the move is already in motion p>
“Yes p>
“And they don’t know we know p>
“Not yet.
That was the window.
“Deploy everyone,” I said. “All teams. Trusted only p>
Connor nodded immediately. “Already done. They’re fanning out now p>
“Intercept, don’t engage unless necessary,” I added. “I want eyes before fire p>
Colton met my gaze.
“Understood p>
The room buzzed with movement-headsets adjusted, doors opening, boots hitting concrete. Controlled chaos.
The kind that felt earned.
I was about to follow when the phone rang.
Not my cell.
The landline.
The sound cut through the room like a blade.
Connor stilled. Colton’s head snapped toward me.
I stared at the phone for half a second too long before lifting the receiver.
“Hello p>
“Aaron p>
Venus’s voice came through, tight and breathless.
“Something’s wrong,” she said. “I know something’s wrong p>
My chest tightened.
“Slow down,” I said gently, turning away from the others. “Tell me what happened p>
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“She called,” Venus said. “Andrea. She said-“Her volce cracked. “She said we need to finalize the divorce tomorrow. Immediately. Or I’ll never see Iris again p>
I closed my eyes.
“She was angry,” Venus continued. “Not calm, not smug. Angry. Like something slipped p>
Good.
That meant Andrea was scared.
“She sounded livid,” Venus whispered. “Aaron, what’s happening p>
I pressed my fingers to the bridge of my nose, forcing my voice to stay even. “Nothing is going to happen to Iris p>
Silence on the line.
Then-“Don’t lie to me p>
“I’m not,” I said firmly. “Listen to me. Take a breath p>
I heard it-the shaky inhale, the restraint she was barely holding together.
“She wants the divorce now,” Venus said. “She said she was going to be there, In person. And immediately after it’s signed she’ll give iris back to me p>
Lies.
All lies.
She never planned to give Iris back after the divorce. She wouldn’t be moving her if she did.
“I know,” I said.
“You know?” Panic flared in her voice. “Aaron, what is going on p>
I turned back toward the room. Connor was watching me now, expression unreadable. Colton had gone still, listening without listening.
“Trust me,” I said quietly into the phone.
A pause.
Then, softly: “I am trusting you p>
The weight of that nearly knocked the breath from my lungs.
“I’ll be there tomorrow,” I said. “I promise. You’re going to be okay p>
“And Iris p>
“She’s coming home,” I said.
Another silence.
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“Okay p>
The call ended.
I lowered the receiver slowly.
When I turned back, Connor and Colton were already looking at me.
“She escalated,” Connor said.
“Yes p>
“And she wants to be present,” Colton added.
“Yes p>
Connor’s jaw tightened. “That complicates things p>
“No,” I said. “It clarifies them p>
I looked between them, the decision already made.
“Change of plans,” I said.
Colton’s brows pulled together. “Aaron p>
“I can’t go with you,” I said.
Connor stiffened. “You’re supposed to be at the intercept p>
“I know,” I said. “I want to be. God knows I want to p>
“But?” Colton asked.
“But if Andrea thinks she’s losing control,” I said, “she’ll tighten the leash. And if she tightens it too hard p>
“She hurts Iris,” Connor finished.
“Yes p>
I swallowed, the words bitter. “She needs to believe she still has the upper hand. She needs to believe Venus is isolated. That I’m distracted. That the divorce is real p>
Colton cursed under his breath.
“You’re asking us to do this without you,” he said.
“I’m asking you to bring my daughter back,” I replied.
Connor studied me for a long moment. “You’re sure p>
“I’m sure,” I said. “Andrea cannot be allowed to spiral p>
Colton stepped closer. “And you’re okay letting her think she’s winning p>
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“I’m counting on it,” I said.
Another beat.
Then Connor nodded. “We’ll handle it p>
Colton’s expression hardened into something lethal. “We’ll bring her back p>
1 let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
They turned to leave.
“Colton,” I said.
He stopped.
“Connor p>
Both of them looked at me.
“Bring her back to me,” I said.
“You have my word,” Connor said.
They were gone seconds later, the door slamming shut behind them.
I stood alone in the room, the hum of equipment and distant voices filling the space where certainty used to live.
I wanted to be there.
I wanted to be the one kicking down doors, pulling Iris into my arms, telling her it was over.
But this-
This was the part that mattered most.
If Andrea believed she still controlled the board, she would move predictably.
And predictable people made mistakes.
I picked up my phone and stared at it for a moment before slipping it back into my pocket.
How stupid could she be to not see that we could get to her the same way she got to us?
I was counting on that stupidity. God knows my whole plan would shatter if she suddenly grew smarter.
Tomorrow, I would sign papers I had no intention of honoring.
Tomorrow, Andrea would smile and think she’d won.
And tonight-
Tonight, my daughter was on the move.
I closed my eyes once, briefly.
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Then I straightened.
This wasn’t the moment for fear.
This was the moment for patience.
And when the moment came-
I would end it.
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Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.