The mountain air felt crisp against my face as I carried Isabelle down the winding path. She insisted she could walk, but I wouldn''t hear of it. After what she''d been through, thest thing I wanted was for her to exert herself. Besides, holding her close gave me a sense of reassurance that she was truly safe.


    "You don''t have to carry me the entire way," Isabelle protested weakly, though her arms remained firmly wrapped around my neck.


    "I know I don''t have to," I replied, my voice still rough with lingering rage. "I want to."


    She rested her head against my shoulder, a gesture that made something in my chest constrict. The kidnappers were dead, but my fury hadn''t dissipated. If anything, it had crystallized into something harder, more focused. Gideon ckwood would pay for this, and pay dearly.


    When we reached my car, I gently ced Isabelle in the passenger seat. As I rounded the vehicle to the driver''s side, I caught her watching me with an expression I couldn''t quite read.


    "What?" I asked, sliding behind the wheel.


    "I''ve never seen you like this before," she said softly. "You''re... different."


    I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles turning white. "Different how?"


    "Darker. More intense." She hesitated. "More dangerous."


    The engine roared to life as I turned the key. "They threatened you, Isabelle. They were going to..." I couldn''t finish the sentence. The thought alone made me want to kill those men all over again.


    "But you saved me," she said, reaching over to ce her hand on mine. "It''s over now."


    I nced at her. "No. It''s not over. Not until ckwood answers for what he''s done."


    The drive to the Ashworth Estate passed mostly in silence. I fought to contain the storm raging inside me, not wanting to frighten Isabelle with the depth of my anger. Once or twice, I caught her studying my profile, her expression thoughtful.


    "I''m sorry this happened," I finally said, breaking the silence as we approached her home. "This is my fault. ckwood targeted you to get to me."


    "Don''t apologize," she replied firmly. "You didn''t do this. He did. And from what those men said, it sounds like he''s been nning his revenge for some time."


    I nodded grimly. "A coward''s revenge—going after someone I care about instead of facing me directly."


    Her eyes widened slightly at my words, but before she could respond, we arrived at the gates of the Ashworth Estate. Security personnel swarmed around us immediately, their faces rigid with concern.


    As I helped Isabelle from the car, several prominent figures from Havenwood City rushed forward—business associates of the Ashworth family, politicians seeking favor, all pretending deep concern while really just wanting to be seen as helpful in a crisis.


    "Miss Ashworth! Thank heavens you''re safe!"


    "We were so worried!"


    "The entire city has been looking for you!"


    Isabelle straightened her spine, instantly transforming into the powerful,manding woman I knew so well. Despite her ordeal, despite the rope marks still visible on her wrists, she faced them with perfectposure.


    "Thank you all for your concern," she said coolly, "but as you can see, I''m perfectly fine. Mr. Knight has handled the situation."


    They turned their attention to me then, their expressions a mix of curiosity and wariness.


    "The threat has been eliminated," I stated tly, offering no further exnation. <em ss="frag-f381a6">Keep<i ss="node-sep"></i>us<i ss="node-sep"></i>going<i ss="node-sep"></i>by<i ss="node-sep"></i>reading<i ss="node-sep"></i>on<i ss="node-sep"></i>*.</em>


    Isabelle''s personal secretary pushed through the crowd, relief evident on her face. "Miss Ashworth, your father has already been informed of the situation. He''s mobilized contacts within the Eldoria Battle Zone."


    I raised an eyebrow. The Eldoria Battle Zone was a notorious district where conflicts between powerful families were often settled outside thew. If Isabelle''s father was involving people from that region, things were about to escte dramatically.


    "That won''t be necessary," Isabelle replied smoothly. "Please inform my father that I''m safe, and the immediate threat has been dealt with."


    She turned to the gathered crowd. "I appreciate your concern, but I need rest. You''ll excuse me."


    They had no choice but to disperse, though I could see the burning curiosity in their eyes. No doubt by morning, rumors would be flying throughout Havenwood City.


    When we were rtively alone, save for her security detail keeping a respectful distance, Isabelle turned to me.


    "You shoulde inside," she said. "You need rest too."


    I shook my head. "I should get home. It''s been a long night."


    Her eyes narrowed slightly. "You''re not going home."


    It wasn''t a question.


    "Isabelle—"


    "You''re going after ckwood," she stated. "Right now."


    I didn''t bother denying it. "He orchestrated your kidnapping. He needs to understand that was a fatal mistake."


    She studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Just be careful. Those thugs mentioned ckwood, but this feels... bigger somehow. I''m not convinced he''s working alone."


    Her intuition surprised me. "What makes you think that?"


    "Gideon ckwood is petty and vindictive, but this level of nning seems beyond him," she exined. "And why target me specifically? There are easier ways he could have struck at you."


    Her secretary approached again, looking nervous. "Miss Ashworth, I should mention that your father has also contacted the authorities. This is bing... quite significant."


    Isabelle sighed. "Of course he has. Tell him I''ll brief him personally in the morning."


    After the secretary retreated, Isabelle turned back to me. "Promise me you''ll be careful. If my instincts are right, there could be more at y here than just ckwood''s petty revenge."


    "I''ll be careful," I assured her, though we both knew I was lying.


    She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "If you find yourself in over your head, call me. My family has resources."


    I nodded, though I had no intention of involving her further. ckwood was my problem to solve.


    "I''ll check on you tomorrow," I promised, climbing back into my car.


    As I drove away, I watched her in my rearview mirror, standing tall andposed despite everything. My resolve hardened. ckwood would pay. Tonight.


    ---


    The ckwood family home was an ostentatious disy of wealth, though not nearly as impressive as the Ashworth Estate. I parked a block away and approached on foot, keeping to the shadows.


    Security was surprisingly minimal—either ckwood was overconfident or cutting costs. Either way, it made my job easier. I slipped past a dozing guard and disabled the simple rm system within minutes.


    Finding Gideon''s room wasn''t difficult. I''d done my research months ago, gathering information on all my potential enemies. Old habits from my days as a despised son-inw.


    As I approached his door, I could hear him inside, pacing and muttering to himself.


    "They should have called by now," he was saying, his voice tight with anxiety. "What''s taking so long?"


    I paused, listening.


    "Knight should have received the demands hours ago. Why haven''t they confirmed?" A pause in his pacing. "I need to know if he''s agreed to the terms. I need to know if—"


    I''d heard enough. With a single powerful kick, I shattered the door, sending splinters flying across the room.


    Gideon ckwood froze, his face draining of color as I stepped into his bedroom. He looked pathetic in his silk pajamas, with dark circles under his eyes and his hair disheveled from anxious pulling.


    "Knight," he whispered hoarsely. "How—?"


    "Your men won''t be calling," I said coldly, advancing toward him. "They''re dead."


    He stumbled backward until his legs hit the edge of his bed. "I don''t know what you''re talking about. What men? Who''s dead?"


    "Don''t insult me with lies," I growled. "Your kidnappers told me everything before I killed them."


    His eyes darted frantically around the room, looking for an escape or a weapon. "This is a misunderstanding. I didn''t—"


    "You targeted Isabelle." My voice dropped even lower. "You thought you could use her to get to me."


    "It wasn''t my idea!" he blurted out, hisposurepletely shattering. "I was approached! They said it would be easy, that we''d just scare you both a little!"


    I paused. "They? Who approached you?"


    "I can''t tell you," he whispered, his face contorted with genuine terror. "They''ll kill me."


    "I''ll kill you if you don''t speak," I countered, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him slightly. "Who else is involved?"


    Before he could answer, his bedroom window exploded inward in a shower of ss. Three ck-d figures rolled into the room, moving with the fluid precision of trained killers.


    "Step away from him, Knight," the leadermanded, drawing a curved de that gleamed in the dim light.


    I released ckwood, who copsed onto his bed, gasping.


    "The Eldoria Battle Zone sends its regards," the masked intruder continued. "This matter has been escted beyond your jurisdiction."


    I smiled thinly. "Is that so?"


    "Ashworth''s father has imed this as a family matter," the man exined. "ckwood will face their justice, not yours."


    Gideon''s face, already pale, now took on a greenish tint. "No," he whispered. "Not the Ashworths. Please, you don''t understand what they''ll do to me!"


    I considered the situation. Three trained assassins from the Battle Zone stood between me and my prey. I could fight them—might even win—but it wouldplicate matters unnecessarily.


    "Very well," I said finally, stepping back. "He''s all yours."


    As the assassins moved to secure a now-sobbing ckwood, I leaned in close to the leader.


    "Make sure he talks," I whispered. "I want to know who else was involved."


    The man nodded once. "Ashworth''s orders align with yours on that count. We''ll get answers."


    ckwood''s terrified screams followed me as I walked away. Justice would be served, though not by my hand. And soon, I would know who else had dared to threaten what was mine.


    But as I stepped into the cool night air, Isabelle''s words echoed in my mind. This felt bigger, more organized than ckwood could manage alone. Someone else was pulling strings from the shadows.


    And I would find them, no matter how deep they tried to hide.