Chapter 38: Robbery

COOPER

I was left alone, save for one of the guards assigned to watch me.

~Kenzo didn’t believe me.~

But why?

The truth was staring him in the face. We acted the same, we had the same killer instinct, we were both ruthless when needed. He had to be my real father!

~Kenzo is going to kill me.~ I had to act now if I wanted to live.

“Hey,” I called out, my voice shaky. “Interested in making some extra money?” The guard’s eyebrow twitched, but his face remained impassive.

I studied the guard, noticing a familiar gleam of greed, and then an idea hit me…

“Listen, I know what you did during the last shipment. I can either inform Kenzo, or you can let me go and get a hefty reward.”

“How much?” he asked. His interest was piqued as he approached me. There were no cameras in this room—Kenzo liked to torment his prisoners without the fear of evidence—so the guard wasn’t concerned with keeping up his act.

“Name your price, and I’ll double it,” I lied.

“Deal,” he said eagerly.

The guard untied me, and I rose on unsteady legs, massaging my aching wrists and tearing a piece of my shirt to bandage my bleeding hand.

“Stay still,” I commanded, picking up a crowbar from the metal table. “I have to make this look real.”

He eyed me suspiciously, but he understood that I had to hit him convincingly. Otherwise, he would be the next one tied to the splintered wooden chair. I stepped back and swung the crowbar, hitting him across the face with a satisfying crunch. He collapsed with a thud.

“Oops. Guess I hit a bit too hard.” I smirked at the unconscious guard before making my escape.

I remembered the layout from when they brought me in here. There was no way I’d make it past all the guards outside. I knew my only possible escape route was through the giant drain in the floor that led to the sewers. It was revolting, but it was my only way out.

Drenched in foul water, the smell making me retch repeatedly, I finally emerged at an abandoned wastewater treatment plant. Thankfully, I recognized the area, so I knew which direction to turn as I headed toward the only place I could think of.

After what felt like several hours, I reached my destination. The place was secluded, with the nearest house miles away, so I only passed a few joggers along the way who gave me disgusted looks.

The three-story mansion loomed above me. It didn’t look like anyone was home.

I walked around to the back, smashed the window, and let myself inside. I hurried to my old room, grabbing the largest duffel bag I could find, then began stuffing it with as many valuables as I could.

I walked into my father’s—my false father’s—office next, removing the picture along the wall and punching in the number to his safe. Thankfully, he hadn’t changed it since the last time I learned his code.

It opened, revealing large stacks of cash he liked to keep for security, and a few pieces of gold jewelry and other expensive valuables.

“Cooper?” My false father stood at the doorway, phone in hand as though ready to tip off the police.

“Hey, ~Dad~,” I slurred.

“You have some nerve—” he began.

“I’m leaving. Don’t worry. You won’t ever have to see me again.” I moved to leave; only his arm stopped me.

He laughed in my face. “You’ve lost your mind. I’m calling the cops.”

I slapped the phone from his hands. “I’m your son!” I yelled.

“You haven’t been my son for a very long time, and we both know it,” he countered. “You’re not the son I raised. Your own mother would be so ashamed.” The look of disgust and hatred on his face would have made anyone recoil, ~but not me.~

“Let me pass, old man,” I spat.

He ignored me, walking back into his office to retrieve his phone. He started to dial out again, but I swung my duffel and hit him over the head.

He fell to the floor with a satisfying thud. I spat where he lay before leaving that damned house for the last time.

I had to run. The police were after me, Kenzo wanted me dead and buried, and Jackson clearly didn’t want anything to do with me any longer.

This was all Rose’s fault. If she had just done as she was told, none of this would have happened.

Rose had ruined my life. She was the reason everything went downhill. She was the reason I’d lost so much. Everything had been perfect before she opened her big fucking mouth!

Now Kenzo didn’t believe me. No one believed me. I had no reason to stay. With what I’d taken from the house, combined with what I’d hidden in a few other stashes, I could set myself up in a comfortable life somewhere abroad.

But there was one more thing I had to do before I left the country for good…

Rose Monroe was as good as dead, or she would be soon enough.

~Ready or not, here I fucking come!~

KENZO

“Get this on ice and send it to my girl,” I instructed, handing over the severed finger to one of my guys.

I needed Rose to understand she was safe, and that I had Cooper under control. She was my flesh and blood, and I wouldn’t tolerate anyone causing her harm. Family always came first.

I missed her, just as much as I missed her mother. The resemblance between them was uncanny, not just in looks but in their mannerisms too. She was her mother’s mirror image.

I had given her the space she needed, but now it was time for her to return. I was not as spry as I once was. I needed someone to take the reins, and Rose was the best and only candidate. She just didn’t realize it yet. I had trained her for this since she was a toddler.

I headed back to the cells to continue my game with Cooper. Upon entering, I noticed the metal drain cover leading to the sewer was missing, and Cooper was gone.

The guard I had assigned to watch him was sprawled on the floor, unconscious, with a deep cut above his eyebrow, blood pooling on the floor.

I walked back out into the hallway. “He escaped! Find him! Now!” I barked, watching my men scatter.

I had only been away for half an hour.

In a fit of rage, I kicked a nearby table, sending it crashing into the wall.

~Someone was going to pay for this.~

I pulled my gun from its holster and shot the unconscious guard in the head. He had failed in his duty, and failure was unacceptable.

Especially when it involved my daughter.

KIANA

I returned to the penthouse after my trip to the shelter. I had missed that place. It was nice to reconnect with Cam and all the animals.

I kicked off my shoes and headed for the kitchen. Chase would be home soon, and I wanted to surprise him with dinner.

Just as I was about to start cooking, the doorbell rang. I went to the intercom. “Yes?”

“Hi, I have a package for Kiana Ailana,” the man on the other side informed me.

“Okay. Bring it up.”

I was puzzled. Who could be sending me a package here?

Could Chase have ordered something for me? If he did, I’d kill him! I had told him no more gifts. He had already spoiled me enough.

The elevator doors opened, and the doorman handed me a small, lightweight package. My name was written on the front in elegant cursive.

~Interesting…~

I thanked the doorman and went back inside. As I was examining the package, I heard the elevator ding again, and a familiar scent filled the air.

Chase walked in, tossed his bag on the sofa, and came up behind me, wrapping his arms around me.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“I’m not sure, but it’s addressed to me,” I replied with a shrug.

“Well, let’s see what it is.”

I opened the package to reveal a plastic box. As I lifted the lid, I felt a cold sensation, as if the box were filled with ice.

I screamed and dropped the package in shock.

A severed finger tumbled across the floor.