Anyone who dared kidnap his first love and his son without meticulous nning was simply courting death.


    Joshua sat quietly on the side the entire time-saying nothing, making noments, and not once trying to excuse himself to leave. He was doing everything possible to keep suspicion away from himself.


    Another two hours passed before the kidnappers finally called.


    "Mr. O''Brien, have you managed to gather the money?"


    "It''s ready."


    "Good. Have your ex-wife deliver it to the address we send you. She''s got thirty minutes. And remember-shees alone. If she brings anyone else, I''ll kill one of them. If she brings more than two... well, then don''t bother trying to ransom them at all."


    Haynes was silent for a moment.


    Ste spoke up. "Fine. But I want proof they''re both still alive and unharmed."


    "Of course," the kidnapper replied.


    A momentter, a video call came through.


    On the screen, Keen and Rachel were tied to separate chairs. Keen''s eyes were red and puffy-he''d clearly been crying, but thankfully there were no obvious injuries. Rachel, on the other hand, looked much worse. Her hair was a tangled mess, her cheek badly swollen, streaked with blood and dirt.


    The kidnapper grinned at the camera. "Say hello to your family."


    Keen, still just a child andpletely unprepared for a real kidnapping, was trembling with silent tears in his eyes. "Daddy... please, save me..."


    Rachel lifted her head to the camera, wanting to speak, but her words dissolved into sobs. She looked utterly helpless.


    Haynes'' eyes darkened. "If you have a problem, take it out on me. What kind of coward targets a woman and a child?"


    The kidnapper gave a chillingugh. "Oh, I''d love toe after you directly, but you''re not exactly easy to get to. So, I had to start with the vulnerable ones."


    Haynes clenched his fists but said nothing more.


    Ste stood abruptly. "Enough. Let''s not waste any more time. I''m leaving now."


    Keen''s eyes lit up when he heard Ste''s voice, and the tears spilled over. "Mom!"


    In that terrifying moment, Keen missed his mother more than ever, and every memory of her kindness flooded back. He felt lost, suddenly unable to remember why he''d ever thought she was annoying. In that instant, regret overwhelmed him.


    Ste''s voice was gentle and steady. "Keen, don''t be scared. Your father and I areing to get you."


    Her words seemed to wrap him in a warm embrace, and Keen nodded obediently, feeling braver already.


    The kidnapper turned the camera


    them.


    away. "Alright, you''ve seen them.


    Ms. Cameron, you''d better get going.


    Don''t bete-I hate people who


    can''t keep a schedule."


    And with that, he hung up before anyone could say another word.


    Foreman''s men followed the GPS coordinates, but once again, the ce was deserted.


    Five minutester, Ste arrived at a Jeep parked by the curb. In the back was a duffel bag stuffed with the two hundred million dors for the exchange.


    Just as she was about to head out, Haynes called after her.


    "Star."


    She turned, anxiety still clouding her face. "What is it?"


    Haynes looked at her with an intensity that caught her off guard. For the first time,


    he realized that she wasn''t as indifferent to Keen as she pretended to be.


    Without warning, he stepped forward and wrapped her in a brief, gentle hug.


    Ste stiffened in surprise, instinctively about to push him away when she felt something heavy slip into the pocket of her jacket. He was pressing something into her hand.