Page 44 of Arranged with Twins
“You never meant to get caught.” I cut him off. “You were perfectly happy to let Adrian eliminate me as long as you could inherit my territories through Sienna’s marriage claim.”
“That’s not true.” He looks wounded, but it’s all bullshit.
“Isn’t it?” I pull out the intercepted communications and throw them at his feet. “These transcripts show you discussing succession plans with Adrian’s people, including how my shipping routes would be redistributed after my death, and how the Denisov territories would fold into Cooper holdings.”
Vincent stares at the papers like they’re poison. “I was buying time.” His protest sounds hollow. Even Katherine looks skeptical. “I thought if I played along with Adrian’s fantasies, I could protect Leo while managing our debt.”
“By planning his funeral?” Ilya sniffs. “You were discussing how to divide his empire.”
“They were plans I never intended to execute.”
Katherine’s composure finally cracks completely. “My god, everything is ruined. The scandal alone will destroy us if something happens to Sienna.”
Her priorities become clear. She’s choosing her reputation over her daughter’s life and appearances over substance. It’s the same reasons she’s controlled Sienna her entire life.
“Where would Adrian take her?” I step closer to Vincent again. “You’ve been working with him for months. You know his methods and his safe houses.”
“I don’t know.” He backs away from me, trembling. “Our contact was always through intermediaries. I never met with Adrian directly after the initial arrangement.”
“Then who were your contacts?”
“A man named Kozlov handled logistics like financial transfers and information exchange.” Vincent’s voice shakes.
“Wait. There was a man I met with once recently. Esai Janitz said he was the enforcer and mentioned taking me to a property in Queens for torture if I didn’t find a way to settle my account, but he didn’t tell me an address. ”
“Queens is a big borough.” I nod at Ilya, who’s already pulling out his phone. “What else?”
“Adrian likes to stay mobile. He never uses the same location twice to keep his enemies guessing.” Vincent runs his hand through his hair again. “That’s all I know, I swear.”
I study his face, looking for tells that might indicate he’s lying. He’s terrified, guilty, and desperate, but I believe he’s telling the truth about his limited knowledge.
“You’re going to fix this.” My voice carries lethal certainty. “You’re going to call every contact you have, use every resource at your disposal, and help me find where Adrian took my fiancée.”
“Of course. Anything you need?—”
I ignore his words and Katherine’s whimper, unsure if she’s protesting Adrian involving others, but probably since her reputation means everything to her. “When this is over and Sienna is safe, you and I are going to have a final conversation about debts and payments.”
Vincent nods frantically, understanding the threat in my words.
Katherine has retreated to her favorite chair, her face buried in her hands. “The newspapers will have a field day with this. The scandal will follow us for years.”
“Your daughter might be dead through your direct actions, and you’re worried about headlines?” I stare at her with disgust. “No wonder Sienna fought so hard against your control.”
“Of course, I’m concerned about Sienna.” Katherine lifts her head, tears streaking her makeup. “But we have to think about damage control and how this affects the family name?—”
“The family name?” I step toward her. “Your family name dies with me if anything happens to Sienna. I’ll make sure of that.”
The threat hangs in the air between us while Katherine processes its implications. Vincent swallows hard, understanding that his financial troubles will seem insignificant compared to what I’ll do if Sienna doesn’t come home safely.
My phone buzzes with a text from Raquel: Got partial plates from damaged vehicle. Running through databases now.
“I have to go.” I head toward the door, then pause to look back at Vincent.
“If you hear anything—and I mean anything—about Sienna’s location, you call me immediately.
Your daughter’s life, and ultimately your own survival, which matters most to you, depends on how useful you make yourself in the next few hours. ”
He’s sweating but nods. “I will. I promise.”
“Your promises aren’t worth the breath you use to make them.” I let my contempt show clearly. “But your actions might save your daughter’s life. Choose wisely.”
I leave them in their marble foyer, surrounded by the expensive trappings that cost them their daughter’s trust and safety. Outside, Ilya waits with the car running, having slipped out before me to search the Queens link.
“Raquel found something?” I ask as I slide into the passenger seat.
“Partial plate led to a rental company in Queens. The vehicle was rented three days ago using cash and a fake ID, but the security cameras caught the renter’s face.”
“Adrian?”
He shakes his head. “One of his known associates. Nyed Kozlov, enforcer and logistics specialist.” Ilya pulls into traffic. “We’re running facial recognition to see where else he’s appeared in the city.”
“What about the Queens property Janitz mentioned to threaten Vincent?”
“I’m cross-referencing it with our intelligence on Adrian’s operations. It’s running in the background as we speak.” He takes a sharp turn toward the bridge. “We’ll find her, Leo.”
I stare out at the city skyline, thinking about Sienna’s accusations this morning. She thought I was trying to control her and isolate her from her family for my own purposes. While I was trying to protect her from her father’s betrayal, Vincent was actively orchestrating her kidnapping.
Now, she’s in Adrian’s hands because I failed to convince her of the danger.
I let pride and protocol prevent me from sharing the truth sooner because I underestimated how far Vincent would go to save himself.
I never expected Katherine to be the ultimate betrayer, but it doesn’t surprise me.
Together, they’ve ruined their lives, but they won’t live long enough to regret it if I don’t get Sienna and the babies back safely.
“We’ll get her back,” Ilya repeats, reading my expression.
“We’d better.” I check my weapon again, making sure it’s loaded and ready.
“If Adrian harms her or those babies, there won’t be enough left of him to identify.
” There won’t be much of me left either, at least on the inside.
Having let myself love her, I have no idea how to continue in a world without her.