ck Gate had be the center of a perfect storm, with yers from every side suddenly involved. At first, it seemed like the whole mess was about Susanna.


    But in a blink-


    Most of ck Gate''s key resources were snatched away, right under their noses!


    Derek hadn''t slept a wink all night.


    Leroy stepped into the study, Caden-Derek''s right-hand man-trailing behind.


    "Sir, Caden''s here," Leroy said respectfully.


    Derek, exhausted, had only managed to drift off just before dawn. He opened his tired eyes at Leroy''s voice and waved him away.


    Leroy nodded, about to close the door, then hesitated, remembering something. "Sir, Adelle waited up for you all night."


    Derek''s head already throbbed. Leroy''s words only made it worse. He waved his hand impatiently, not even bothering toment about Adelle.


    He didn''t have time to babysit anyone right now-not even Adelle.


    Leroy took the hint and quietly shut the door, leaving Derek and Caden alone. Caden''s expression was grim. "No sign of anyone in their hands," he said.


    He was talking about Dan, Finch, and Adelle.


    With ck Gate under fire, Derek''s old allies suddenly seemed less dependable. He couldn''t be sure who had taken Susanna anymore he just wanted her found, fast.


    Hearing Caden''s report, Derek''s face grew even darker.


    "Nothing?" he bit out, jaw clenched.


    Caden nodded. "That''s right. Neither Adelle nor either of the boys have any trace of them with them."


    "So what if... they were never taken by any of them?" Caden suggested, thinking aloud.


    Derek''s frustration boiled over. "Then where the hell are they?"


    Caden just shook his head, at a loss.


    Derek pressed, "You''ve checked everywhere?"


    "Yes, sir. Every angle."


    The study fell into a heavy silence.


    Derek lit a cigarette, taking a couple sharp drags, trying to tamp down his anger.


    "If none of them have her, why are they all breathing down my neck, demanding


    to know where she is?"


    What kind of twisted mess was this?


    Caden added, "Dan''s people are secretly digging into you, Adelle, and


    Finch that tells me they''re just as


    clueless Susanna isn''t with Dan either."  s


    Derek''s frown deepened.


    If Dan''s crew was snooping around, there was no way Susanna was with him.


    So who the hell did have her? Finch? Or... Adelle?


    Derek''s stomach


    twisted at the


    thought of Adelle. He didn''t want to believe she could be involved. She''d


    been in his life for years and was thest person he''d suspect but this, situation was too urgent for trust-so he''d had Caden check anyway.  s


    "And Finch''s people are digging into Dan, too," Caden said.


    Derek''s eyebrows shot up. "Finch is investigating Dan?" "Exactly."


    So the boys could be ruled out. That left... Adelle?


    The idea hit Derek like a punch to the gut. His heart pounded painfully in his chest.


    He shook his head, almost


    desperate. He


    couldn''t-wouldn''t-believe Adelle


    could do something like this. She<fnd675> Fresh chapters posted on </fnd675>


    Was the kindest person he''d ever


    known, the woman who''d lived in his heart for years.  s


    After a long beat, Derek''s voice cut through the silence, cold and sharp. “Then


    who the hell took Susanna and her mother?"


    He was losing his patience—someone had grabbed them, then turned around and


    pinned it on ck Gate, just to stir up trouble.


    Caden shook his head. "Honestly... we don''t know. Things are a mess right now. We''re still in the dark on a lot of points."


    Derek''s eyes narrowed. "Get Dan in here. Now."


    "On it," Caden answered, nodding, and left to carry out his orders.