Chapter 241
CMWMBS 43
+25 Sonus
CMWMBB 43
VENUS
I didn’t drive far.
Just far enough to feel like I’d slipped her air.
At the first intersection after the restaurant, I pulled over-hands shaking. My phone sat in my palm, heavy, familiar, a tether to a life that wasn’t safe anymore.
I stared at it. Then opened the door and dropped it into the gutter.
It landed with a dull, unimpressive sound.
No drama. No symbolism. Just removal.
I didn’t look back.
The burner was already in my coat pocket. I pulled it out, fingers clumsy, and typed Colton’s number from memory. One message. No embellishment.
> She escalated.
I need you.
Now.
The reply came less than a minute later:
> I know where.
Make sure you’re not being followed.
The place he chose was nothing like Andrea’s careful neutrality.
An old parking structure near the docks, half-abandoned, concrete stained dark by decades of oil and saltwater. One working light flickered near the entrance. The smell of rust and sea hung heavy in the air. No cameras. No foot traffic. No pretense.
This was where you went when you wanted truth more than comfort.
Colton was already there, leaning against his car, arms crossed, posture alert. He straightened the moment he
saw me.
I barely parked before I was out of the car.
Pacing immediately. Back and forth. Back and forth.
My hands dragged through my hair. My chest felt too tight, like I’d been breathing through fabric for weeks and only just realized it.
“Well?” I snapped. “Do you have anything? Anything at all p>
1/4
Colton didn’t answer right away.
That silence told me everything.
I laughed a sharp, ugly sound. “Unbelievable p>
“Venus”
“No,” I cut in. “Don’t soften your voice like I’m fragile. I already am. Just tell me why you still don’t know where my daughter is p>
He stepped closer, hands raised, not in surrender, but in honesty. “We’re still on it p>
“How?” I demanded. “Weeks have passed. I know nothing. I’m destroying my marriage, my reputation, my sanity, for what? So you can keep saying ‘soon p>
His jaw tightened. “Because Andrea isn’t working alone p>
“She’s partnered with someone smart. Clean. They don’t leave trails. We’re chasing shadows, Venus p>
“What do you mean shadows?” I whispered.
“So far, we’ve tracked her movements, her finances, her contacts. But if she hadn’t told you-if she hadn’t let you know she had Iris-we wouldn’t even know your daughter was in her custody p>
My legs gave out. I sank onto the concrete barrier.
“So you’re telling me,” I said numbly, “the only reason you even know Iris is alive… is because Andrea wants me to know p>
Colton didn’t deny it.
My breath hitched, Then my chest collapsed inward like something finally gave way.
“I’m so tired,” I whispered.
And then I broke. No restraint, no silence, no composure-just raw, animal grief pouring out of me like I’d been
cut open.
“I can’t keep doing this,” I sobbed. “I can’t keep pretending. I can’t keep hurting him. I can’t keep waking up every day not knowing where my baby is, if she’s scared, if she thinks we abandoned her p>
Colton crossed the distance in two steps and pulled me into his arms.
No hesitation or stiffness, he just held me.
“I know,” he murmured. “I know, Vee p>
That name-old, familiar-nearly broke me all over again.
“I’m exhausted,” I said against his shoulder. “I don’t know how much more I have p>
“You hang in there a little longer p>
I pulled back, eyes burning. “You keep saying that.” 1
“And I’ll keep saying it,” he replied steadily. “Because we’re not giving up. Not now. Not ever p>
I nodded, though belief felt like a luxury I couldn’t afford.
I reached into my coat and pulled out the folder.
“She wants more p>
Colton frowned as I handed it over. “What is this p>
“Her next demand p>
He flipped through the pages. His expression darkened.
“This is calculated,” he muttered. “Jesus p>
“She wants an interview,” I said. “About Aaron p>
Colton looked up sharply. “What kind of interview p>
“The kind that sounds sympathetic,” I replied. “The kind that destroys him without ever raising my voice p>
He exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through his hair. “This is bad p>
“I know p>
“She’s trying to weaken him publicly. This is strategy p>
“I told her no p>
“And she showed you Iris,” he guessed.
I nodded.
Silence pressed down, heavy.
Colton closed the folder carefully. “You can’t do this alone p>
“I don’t have a choice p>
“You do,” he countered. “You just don’t see it yet p>
I studied him-the tension in his jaw, the exhaustion he tried to hide, the way his grip on the folder was just a little too tight.
“You’ll go through it?” I asked.
“Every word,” he said. “We’ll figure out how to minimize damage p>
I wiped my face with my sleeve, spine straightening.
“I can’t tell Aaron p>
“I know p>
3/4
“And if this destroys him p>
Colton interrupted gently. “Then it won’t be because you didn’t love him p>
The most dangerous thing he could’ve said.
Because it was true.
I tucked the folder under my arm.
“I have to go. If I’m gone too long, she’ll notice p>
Colton nodded. “Be careful p>
I paused, then turned back. “Colton p>
“Yes p>
“If this ends badly… promise me you won’t let Iris believe I didn’t fight for her p>
His expression softened, fierce and protective.
“I promise,” he said. “We’ll 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.