My intuition does not fail . There are very few people who would dare think of crossing , and those people are my family and, sohow, Lena’s family. Theirs is not because they do not fear , but because their greed supersedes their fear. They would do anything just for money, even if it ans walking straight into danger.
My initial plan was simple, make sure they had nothing to do with Lena’s disappearance before heading to Vegas to continue my investigation. I did not expect to co across the revelation of them becoming wealthy overnight.
It didn’t sit right with . I couldn’t just leave without vetting their source of inco. And then there was the other issue, Ashley calling herself the CEO. None of it added up, and I refused to ignore the signs.
After thinking for a while, I picked up my phone and dialed a number. The call barely rang before it was answered.
"Hello, Mr. Black," he greeted imdiately as the line connected.
"Fever, I want you to help with sothing very important," I told him.
"What is it? You know you can always call and ask for anything. I will be willing to help you in any way I can. At least that is the only way I can repay you for what you did for ."
I didn’t waste ti. "I want you to help trace so money. The truth is, I’m not even sure if there is actually any money in their accounts, but just help trace the accounts and report your findings to . It is very important."
"Alright," he responded without hesitation.
"I will send you two nas. Help monitor their accounts and also trace any recent funds being transferred into them, where the money is coming from. I want everything. And I want it done off the books, discreetly and fast. Soone’s life is on the line," I said curtly, my tone leaving no room for error.
"I will give you feedback in a few hours," he assured .
We spoke a little longer before ending the call. As soon as I dropped it, my phone began ringing again. This ti, it was Liam. Finally, the call I had been waiting hours to receive.
I picked it up imdiately. "Tell you actually found sothing tangible," I said, restraining the storm of fear threatening to spill into my voice.
"We did find sothing," Liam’s voice ca through, steady but serious. "I will forward the video to you. We have compiled all the clips we have of Mr. Smith entering the country, along with the ones around the restaurant. I think it is better you see it for yourself than trying to explain everything over the phone."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"But one thing we are sure of is that Lena is still in Vegas City. There is a clip showing Mr. Smith resting in a hotel before boarding a flight the next day, which shows..."
I cut him off, the pieces already forming in my mind. "He has an accomplice. He is working for soone, and that person is currently in Vegas City. Most likely, that is the person in charge of Lena now."
There was a brief silence before Liam spoke again. "We are currently searching all the borders and empty warehouses, including offsite abandoned properties. We have also distributed her picture to the authorities to keep watch, so even the airports are being monitored. I believe it won’t be long before we locate her."
I sighed, closing my eyes briefly before opening them again. The weight in my chest refused to ease.
"Liam... do you think it’s all my fault?" I asked quietly. "Am I responsible for this kidnapping? Maybe if I had not sent her away from my ho, she would still be safe."
"It’s not your fault, Raymond," Liam replied firmly.
"Even if she was still with you, she probably would have been kidnapped anyway. Maybe not now, maybe later. So don’t bla yourself. All you can do now is find her, and we can all put this behind us."
His words were ant to reassure , but the guilt remained, gnawing at relentlessly.
"Alright. Thank you, Liam. Call my flight attendants to prepare the plane. We will be heading back to Vegas this evening," I instructed before ending the call.
I initially planned to stay longer in York City, but that was no longer an option. Even if Mr. Smith, the conspirator, was here, my priority was Lena.
I opened my phone and began watching the videos Liam had sent. Each second felt heavier than the last. Watching Mr. Smith playing the role of a caring father on the phone to Lena made my jaw tighten. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what he must have told her to convince her to et him after everything he had done to her.
What angered the most was that he still dared to cross , even after I had specifically warned him to leave York City and stay away from Lena’s life.
A slow smile crept onto my face as I continued watching, but it held no warmth, only the cold promise of retribution.
Then I noticed sothing.
Lena looked dizzy as she ca out of the restaurant.
My expression darkened instantly.
I replayed the clip, my eyes narrowing as I watched Mr. Smith give the taxi driver a subtle hand gesture, signaling him to leave. That single detail made everything clear.
My blood boiled.
He drugged her.
A surge of rage shot through , sharp and uncontrollable. What if I was already too late? What if sothing had already happened to her?
I clenched my jaw. If anything happened to Lena, I would never forgive myself.
Without hesitation, I picked up my phone again and dialed Liam’s number. He answered almost imdiately, but I didn’t give him the chance to speak.
"Liam, go back to the restaurant. Investigate the person who served Lena’s food and drink. I want it done discreetly. Take the person to my safe haven, the dungeon and let him wait for there," I ordered, my voice low and deadly calm.
"We will do just that, Raymond. Is there anything else?" he asked.
I paused, thinking quickly, but nothing else ca to mind.
"That will be all."
The call ended, and I sat there, a dangerous smile forming on my lips. Once I found Lena, I would deal with every single person involved, rcilessly.
They had no idea what they had just brought upon themselves.
Soon, I picked up my things and left for the house. My movents were sharp and impatient, my mind consud with images of what Lena might be going through at that very mont.
I got into my car and began driving, faster than I should have, my grip tightening on the steering wheel.
"Fuck... if only I hadn’t asked her to leave my house, none of this would have happened," I muttered under my breath. The guilt had been eating alive for almost a day now, ever since I discovered that Lena had been kidnapped.
Every second felt like a countdown I couldn’t control.
I arrived ho, quickly packing what I needed before heading out again. I loaded my suitcase into my car and drove straight to the airport, my thoughts racing the entire way.
After parking the car, I picked up my suitcase and I stepped out without a second glance. Soone would co to retrieve the car later anyway.
I made my way directly to my private terminal, my expression cold and unreadable as I prepared to board my plane back to Vegas.
Lena... hold on.
I’m coming for you.
My plane touched down in Vegas in the early hours of the next morning. I hadn’t slept a single wink since the incident. My eyes were bloodshot, heavy with exhaustion, but I didn’t care. Until Lena was back ho with , safe and unhard, rest was not an option. Sleep could wait. Nothing else mattered.
"Damn, Raymond, you look terrible. Have you even slept at all?" Damon asked the mont I stepped off the plane. They had co to receive , but I had no patience for small talk. I ignored him completely and turned to Liam instead, my expression hard.
"Any news yet?" I asked, my voice low but firm.
Liam shook his head, his face grim. "Nothing useful. The plate number is fake, and the man’s face isn’t clear enough. We ran facial recognition multiple tis, but it keeps coming back blank."
I nodded once, clenching my jaw as anger simred beneath the surface. Whoever did this was careful, too careful. But that wouldn’t save them.
"Mobilize the team," I ordered sharply. "Send word to every skilled tracker we know. Contact all the gangs for hire, and the police force too. Tell them Raymond Black is calling."
My voice dropped, deadly and resolute. "If anything happens to Lena, I will burn this entire city to the ground."
They fell silent, understanding the weight of my words.
"From this mont until Lena is found, I want Vegas on lockdown. No one moves. No one cos in or out without us knowing."
I started toward the car waiting for , my strides long and purposeful. "Have every group I ntioned assembled at the mansion before morning," I added without looking back.
Sliding into the car, I inhaled deeply, my fists tightening.
This was going to be a long, brutal night, and I was ready for war.
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