Ivy’s POV
After my parents departed for their safe house in the mountains, I asked Caleb if I could visit Finn at the private dical facility where the family’s wounded soldiers recovered. His steel-blue eyes hardened with that familiar protective edge.
"You need complete rest, tesoro. The family doctor specifically ordered minimal movent."
"I have the wheelchair," I countered, placing my hand on his tattooed forearm. "I promise not to push myself."
Caleb’s protective instincts battled against his desperate need to keep content. After several tense monts, he relented and had his driver take us to the secure dical compound. Finn appeared healthier than anticipated, discussing strategy with his mother when we entered. The visit lasted only briefly but significantly lifted my spirits.
As we prepared to leave, I seized my opportunity.
"Since we’re already away from the estate, could we make a stop at the shopping district? I still need supplies for the babies."
Caleb’s expression grew thunderous. "Ivy, I have territory etings scheduled this afternoon. I cannot escort you personally."
"The soldiers will accompany ," I pressed. "Plus I’m eting the other wives there. Please, amore, I’m losing my mind confined to the compound all day with nothing to occupy my ti." I deployed my most pitiful expression.
He exhaled heavily, running his scarred hand through his dark hair. "Very well. But you stay within arm’s reach of security, no wandering alone, and you contact regularly without fail."
"You’re impossibly controlling when the mood strikes you," I teased, earning a reluctant smile.
At the upscale shopping center, the wives were already assembled. We headed directly to the exclusive children’s boutique, where miniature designer garnts and luxury accessories filled every showcase. I was examining delicate infant gowns near the floor-to-ceiling windows when an unsettling sensation crept along my spine. I turned toward the main display area but observed nothing suspicious. Monts later, Lexi and Zoe surrounded with armloads of exquisite outfits, successfully diverting my attention from the uneasiness.
Following our shopping expedition, my pregnancy appetite struck with brutal intensity. The wives settled at a pri table in the food court and departed to retrieve our als. I observed a young mother at a nearby table, her twin sons laughing over their lunch, when sothing lightly brushed against my hair. The contact sent ice water through my bloodstream.
I whirled around but glimpsed only a figure in a black overcoat and baseball cap moving away through the crowd. My pulse hamred against my throat. Everything recently felt nacing, and the relentless stress was gradually breaking down.
When the wives returned bearing food, I forced myself to eat and maintain normalcy. After lunch, Zoe expressed interest in visiting the bookstore to find reading material for Finn. The establishnt was packed with weekend custors.
"I’ll remain out here," I inford them, gesturing toward the gelato cart positioned strategically outside. "That crowd is overwhelming."
They vanished inside while one of my assigned soldiers purchased a vanilla cone for . I was savoring the cold sweetness when my phone vibrated with an incoming ssage.
"Savor your treat while you still have the chance."
Unknown sender. My blood transford to liquid nitrogen.
I frantically scanned the surrounding area but detected nothing alarming among the casual shoppers and families strolling past. The wives erged from the bookstore, chatting animatedly about Lexi’s discovery, when my phone rang.
"Caleb..." My voice erged breathless and trembling.
"My queen, what is your exact location right now?"
"At the shopping center." I struggled to sound composed, not wanting to create unnecessary alarm.
"Ivy, listen very carefully. I need you to return to the compound imdiately. Can you do that for ?"
"What’s happening?"
Caleb’s heavy sigh carried through the connection. "I just received a photograph of you enjoying gelato outside the bookstore. From an untraceable number. I believe it’s Rossi."
My hand trembled so violently I nearly dropped the device. "I received a ssage as well."
"Return ho imdiately. I’m departing now to et you there."
The line disconnected. Instantly, one of the security soldiers crouched beside my wheelchair.
"Ma’am, we need to evacuate. Imdiately."
The wives noticed the sudden tension and gathered protectively around . I quickly explained the situation as we moved toward the exit. As we passed a tallic balloon vendor, my blood turned to ice.
There, partially concealed behind silver and gold balloons, stood a disturbingly familiar silhouette.
"Rossi!" I scread to the security team. "He’s right there, behind the balloons!"
Four soldiers rushed in that direction while the remaining two hustled us toward the exits. Vehicles were already positioned and waiting. I was shaking uncontrollably, nausea rising in my throat. Zoe pressed a water bottle into my hands.
"Drink slowly, sweetheart. Small sips."
The other soldiers returned a short while later, empty-handed and breathing heavily. Rossi had vanished like smoke into thin air.
Back at the compound, Caleb waited with Xavier, Dominic, Jude, and Daniel. Inspector Adler stood alongside four additional officers in our main reception room.
"My angel, are you injured?" Caleb lifted from the wheelchair into his powerful embrace.
"He was observing us the entire ti," I whispered against his chest. "He was so dangerously close."
"You’re protected now. I have you."
Adler and Daniel confird they were conducting a comprehensive sweep of the shopping center and analyzing all surveillance footage. I recounted every detail from our hospital visit onward.
"How did he obtain my personal number? We changed everything after the kidnapping incident."
"Most likely through our company insider," Adler replied grimly. "What confuses is the traffic surveillance around the dical facility showed no trace of Rossi. No suspicious vehicles, nothing unusual whatsoever."
"So he simply stumbled upon them at the shopping center?" Caleb demanded.
"Absolutely not. n like Rossi don’t take casual strolls through comrcial districts. Every action is ticulously calculated. He knew she would be there." Adler’s expression grew deeply thoughtful. "Ivy, where did you acquire your current phone?"
"It’s a company-issued device, pre-loaded with my email accounts and contacts."
"Who physically delivered it to you?"
"The IT departnt provides them ready for imdiate use."
Adler nodded with grim understanding. "Can your technical specialist examine the device?"
Soon after, Felix Hayes arrived and began his comprehensive analysis. His discoveries chilled everyone present in the room.
"Inspector, your suspicions were correct. There’s sophisticated surveillance software embedded in Mrs. Thorne’s phone. I strongly recomnd examining all company devices imdiately."
Caleb’s face darkened with murderous fury. "How was this software installed?"
"This type of program requires direct physical access, Mr. Thorne. It cannot be installed remotely."
"That significantly narrows our investigation," Adler concluded. "Your informant operates within the IT departnt."
Caleb’s hands clenched into deadly fists as he contacted Scott. Soone with intimate access to our operations was feeding Rossi our every movent, and now they had a much smaller pool of suspects to interrogate.
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