Chapter 103
Chapter 103
AARON
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The tires shrieked as I pulled into the lot of Ashford Holdings’ secondary facility, a brutalist slab of cold steel and gray concrete. No logos. No windows. Just silence and intimidation. The kind of building designed to keep secrets locked in and souls locked out.
I didn’t wait for clearance or introductions.
I walked past security like a storm that couldn’t be stopped.
My phone buzzed in my palm-Jane.
“No new sightings. Still scanning east-side feeds p>
“Keep going,” I said, and hung up.
Two suits stepped in at the entrance, but they didn’t speak. Maybe it was the look in my eyes. Maybe it was the scent of wa radiating off me like heat. Either way, they parted. Smart men.
Inside, the facility was cold and clean. Chrome lines. Fluorescent lights. Silent surveillance cameras blinking like eyes that knew better than to question authority.
And there he was.
Colton Ashford.
Sitting behind a matte black desk like the king of a shadow empire. His gaze lifted the second I entered, surprise flickered, quickly replaced by annoyance… and then something sharper.
“Sinclair,” he said, rising. “What the hell is this p>
I didn’t waste breath.
“Where is she p>
His brow furrowed. “Who p>
“Venus. She’s missing. And your facility was the last place her ca tracker pinged before it went dark p>
A lie but one he didn’t know was a bluff. I wanted to see how his face moved.
And for one fraction of a heartbeat-it paled.
Just for a second.
But I saw it.
“What?” he rounded the desk fast. “She came here? I haven’t heard from her. You think I have her p>
“I don’t know what to think.” My voice was calm, but deadly. “You had her followed p>
He stepped closer, chest rising.
“And after our meeting, I called my men off. I gave her space. I thought she was still in London. And if something’s happened to her now? That’s on you.” His voice sharpened. “You think she ran because of me? Did you even tell her about me? That she has a brother p>
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“You’re deflecting”
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“No. Sinclair.” His voice cut through steel. “I’m threatening. If 1 and out you’re the reason she disappeared-if something you did drove her off or put her in danger-I don’t care how many buildings bear your name. I will tear you and your empire down to its foundation p>
I didn’t flinch.
He paced once, then stopped cold. “And now there’s the scandal This contract you had her sign? The press is eating her alive. They’re calling her a mistress. A gold-digging schemer. She’s trending on every feed, in every tabloid p>
I said nothing.
His face twisted in disgust. “You really think she disappeared? Or did she run p>
The question hit harder than I wanted to admit.
“Venus isn’t like that,” I said. “She wouldn’t just leave p>
He took a step closer, his voice lower. Sharper.
“You think you know her p>
“And you do?” I shot back. “You found out about her a month ago. That doesn’t make you family p>
His jaw clenched. My words stung but not enough to silence him.
“You saw the side she let you see. But if she ran… it’s because she thought she had no choice p>
The room suddenly felt smaller. The weight of my mistakes pressing against my chest like iron plates.
“I didn’t protect her p>
Colton scoffed. “No. You didn’t. And now we both have to find her before someone else does p>
I stared at him.
The brother she never knew. The enemy I never chose.
But right now? An unlikely ally.
“Then let’s find her,” I said. “Before it’s too late p>
A silent truce.
We weren’t friends. We’d probably never be brothers. But for her? We’d burn the world together.
The drive to Dorian’s condo was a blur of rage barely held in check. If Colton was fire-vengeful and barely human- Dorian was a snake. Venomous. Patient. Capable of smiling while sinking a knife between your ribs.
Upper East Side. The bastard’s penthouse.
Slick marble. Gold trim. Overcompensating in every direction. man with too much money and not nearly enough identity.
His guards moved to intercept. I didn’t slow.
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“Mr. Sinclair-
“Get out of my way p>
The clevator doors opened directly into his apartment. And there he was. Shirtless. Silk pants. Holding espresso like some
villain on vacation.
He smiled slowly, like a spider who just felt its web tremble.
“Well, well. If it isn’t the lion on a leash. My little brother. Welcome, welcome”
“Where is she p>
His brow rose. Mocking.
“Ah. So it’s true. Venus left you p>
He walked toward me slowly, dragging the silence like a blade. #heard she vanished. Tragic. Though not altogether unexpected. After all, Sinclair, you’re not exactly built for…. delicate things p>
“Don’t play coy, If you took her p>
“Please,” he snorted, cutting me off. “If I took her, you’d know. I’d post it on billboards. I’d write it in the sky. I’d have her sipping wine on my balcony just so you’d see her smile and know it wasn’t for you p>
He moved closer. “But no, Aaron. I didn’t take her. I wouldn’t waste my time with that girl. You did that yourself. Whatever happened? That’s on you little brother p>
I studied him. Looking for the twitch. The lie. But there was none.
He wasn’t lying.
And Dorian didn’t not lie. But when he did, it was theatrical. Brag-worthy.
If he had Venus, I’d already have gotten a damn postcard.
“You leaked the contract p>
He grinned. “Of course I did. She gave it to me.” A lazy shrug. “Makes me wonder why you’re worried she’s gone and the leak? That was a gift, really. Watching the empire you built get a little hairline fracture right in the heart p>
“You think you’ve won p>
He laughed. “Oh, Aaron,I guess you’ll find out very soon p>
I stared him down a second longer. Let the fury rise, then tamped it down like a storm behind steel bars.
“You’re going to regret this,” I said quietly.
“Probably,” he said. “But not today p>
I turned to leave, but paused at the door. My voice cut sharp as glass.
“If I find out that you, Richard, or Caroline had anything to do with her disappearance. I won’t spare any of you p>
No more words.
I walked out.
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By the time I got back to the penthouse, my thoughts were threadbare. Hollow.
I took the elevator up. The doors slid open to warm light and voces.
Connor.
And my mother.
“He hasn’t slept,” she was saying. “He’s tearing himself apart p>
She stood in the center of the room, wrapped in cashmere, her posture a sculpture of cold elegance and restraint. But her eyes, those eyes had seen everything.
“Aaron p>
Connor stood. “He’s tried everything,” he said softly. “Still nothing p>
I tossed my coat on the chair, exhaustion dragging behind me like chains.
“What are you doing here?” I asked my mother.
She stepped closer. Not a hair out of place. “I saw the news p>
Of course she did. The world had seen the news.
“Your PR team is spinning it, but they can’t keep the wolves back for long,” she said. “And Venus p>
“Is missing,” I finished for her.
She nodded. “Connor filled me in p>
She looked at me for a long time. Her gaze never faltering.
She stepped closer. Calm. Composed. “What happened Aaron p>
My voice came out rough. Broken.
“I didn’t believe her p>
She closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, they limmered with steel.
“She trusted you p>
“I know p>
She walked to the windows, her voice quieter now.
“You’re your father’s son p>
“Excuse me?” I snapped, insulted.
“You build walls when you’re scared. You lash out when you’re hurt. And when the dust settles, you’re alone-and you wonder why p>
I flinched. Because it was true. And because I hated it.
Silence.
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She still humanized him after all he did to her.
And that was the one flaw Rosemary Carter had.
She was empathetic to a fault.
Connor didn’t speak. He knew better.
She turned to me. Eyes blazing. “You want to find her p>
“I’ll burn the city down if I have to p>
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“No,” she said. “You’ll listen. You’ll stop treating her like collateral. Stop chasing her like prey. And start asking why she ran Not where p>
The truth cracked me open.
“I don’t want her to be alone,” I whispered.
“Then stop making her feel like she is p>
The words hit harder than anything Dorian or Colton could throw at me.
Connor cleared his throat. “We’ve got eyes on ports, transit cam, private airstrips. If she’s moving, we’ll find her p>
Rosemary touched my shoulder.
“And when you do p>
“I’ll fix it,” I said.
“Not with flowers,” she said. “Not with apologies. With change p>
She kissed my cheek and walked toward the elevator. “Call me when you have news p>
The doors closed behind her.
Connor waited in silence.
“So,” he said. “What now p>
I stared out at the glittering skyline. The city was alive. But I wasn’t.
“Now?” I said.
“Now we find her p>
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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.