Chapter 39: The Unexpected Delivery

KIANA

“Who the hell would do this!” Chase exclaimed, picking up the finger with a paper towel.

“It’s…It’s Cooper’s,” I stammered.

“Are you certain?” he asked.

I nodded.

I’d seen the small infinity symbol tattoo at the base—the same one Cooper had.

“Who would do this?” Chase asked again.

A name echoed in my mind. My breath hitched, and my eyes widened. It couldn’t be him.

~Not him! Anyone but him!~

The man I had been running from for years. The reason I had changed my name and moved to a different city. The reason I left my entire past life behind.

I had been so careful. But he had always been good at tracking people down. I just thought I was better at hiding.

“Breathe,” Chase said, rubbing my arms to soothe me.

I hadn’t noticed that my breathing had become erratic or that my heart was pounding in my chest.

“Who did this?” he asked again, more sternly.

“My father,” I whispered, almost disbelieving the words coming from my own mouth.

Jackson was right. My father had tracked me down. And in turn, he’d found Chase.

~How did he find me?~

~How long has he known?~

Chase’s eyes widened at my confession.

Not only did Kenzo know about Cooper, but he also knew where I was…

He knew where Chase lived!

Now Chase might be in danger, and it was all my fault.

He sent Cooper’s finger as a signal to let me know he’d been keeping tabs on me—a signal that likely meant he’d taken care of Cooper, just like he always did with issues he couldn’t manage.

“Kiana, what’s happening? What does this mean?” Chase asked again, gently shaking my shoulders, pulling me out of my daze.

“I didn’t think he’d find me, but he has. This means he knows everything—that he’s been observing me for…I don’t know how long!”

A tear trickled down my face, and Chase pulled me into a comforting embrace as I cried into his cream-colored shirt.

“This is just like my father. He’s a ruthless murderer, cold and heartless. He thinks this is love, but that man has only ever loved one thing: his business,” I cried.

“It’s okay. He won’t harm you. I won’t let him,” he reassured me, holding me even tighter.

I wanted to trust him. I truly did. But I knew my father. I knew what he was capable of.

Chase could be next, and I would do anything to keep him safe. He had done so much for me. It was high time I returned the favor.

“I need to call him and sort this out,” I said, putting on shoes and a sweater.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“I need to do this on my own. I need privacy, Chase,” I told him.

“I don’t like this,” he groaned.

“Please, trust me,” I pleaded, cradling his face.

“Fine. But if you get upset, I’m coming out there.” He left no room for argument.

“Sure.” I smiled.

I had to do right by Chase. I needed to confront Kenzo before he hurt anyone I cared about. I knew what that message implied and what would follow if I didn’t comply.

I walked toward the sliding doors of the balcony, pausing for one last look at the man in the middle of the room. The man who made my stomach flutter and my heart clench every time I thought of him. He was the one who’d stood by me during my darkest times and treated me like no other man ever had.

I looked at him and knew I had fallen so deeply that the only word to describe this feeling was love.

I pulled my phone from my pocket once I was outside and dialed the number I wished I had erased a long time ago.

Something inside had told me to keep it. Perhaps because I knew he would force his way back into my life somehow.

Deep down, I always knew it would come to this: me running back to him, just as he had anticipated.

He had played the long game and waited. That was his forte.

I couldn’t make the call inside, and I couldn’t risk anyone overhearing our conversation. I also knew Kenzo would be watching me, and he’d need to see that I was alone.

I let it ring and took a long, deep breath to steady myself. I needed to stay calm and assertive. I wouldn’t let him hear me crack.

The ringing ceased, and I heard my father’s chilling voice on the other end. “Hello, Rose. Did you like the package I sent you?”

I closed my eyes tightly, forcing myself to stay strong. It was now or never. I wouldn’t let him win. ~Not this time.~

“Kenzo,” I responded, my voice laced with bitterness.

“Now, that’s no way to address your father,” he drawled.

“You are no father to me. Never have been and never will. So, what do you want? You sent me that finger for a reason. We both know there were other ways you could have informed me about Cooper.”

“My smart girl, I never doubted you for a second. I always knew this day would come. Children always find their way back home in the end, Rose.”

“It’s Kiana now. Get it right. And I have a home. It’s right here. Far, ~far~ away from you.” I felt the urge to scream and cry, but I held back. I stayed strong and resolute.

“Meet me. We can discuss this over dinner.”

“You must be delusional. I want nothing to do with you. Haven’t the last four years made that clear?”

He took a deep breath. I could tell he was losing his patience. “Watch your tone.”

“Or what? You’ll kill me? You’ll make me suffer?”

“I would never do that to you.”

“Bullshit! If you don’t want to make me suffer, then don’t ever call me, don’t ever reach out to me, and quit spying on me! It’s unsettling. I want absolutely nothing to do with you or your so-called ‘~family business~.’ I just want to be left in peace.”

“On one condition,” he said, a little too calmly. “Meet me in person. I want to at least make sure this Chase is looking after my little girl.”

I swallowed hard. “Fine,” I gritted out, knowing he wouldn’t give up otherwise. “I’ll tell you when and where—that’s nonnegotiable—I’ll text you the details.”

“That’s fine by me,” he replied.

“And if you dare harm anyone I hold dear, I’ll dedicate my life to your downfall. Reach out to me again after this, or even let me cross your mind, and I’ll burn your business to the ground. You can count on that, Kenzo.” I ended the call.

I didn’t shed a tear, and I wasn’t upset. ~I was seething.~

Chase embraced me the second I stepped back inside.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

I felt a rush of adrenaline pump through my system. “I don’t know. I’m scared, Chase. I think he might have… killed him.” My voice wobbled.

“It’s okay.” He smoothed my hair.

“No, it’s not.” I pulled back slightly. “He made me agree to meet him. I get to choose a time and place, but I have to see him again.” A tear slid down my cheek.

“We’ll call the police. Let them—” he began, but I stopped him.

“No. You don’t know him like I do. I have to do this.”

“Then I’m coming with you.”

“Chase—”

“That wasn’t a suggestion, Kiana,” he said sternly before pulling me back into his embrace.

“Have him meet us outside, in front of this building, tomorrow. He already knows where we are, so there’s no point in hiding. But let’s keep it out in the open,” he suggested confidently.

I still felt reluctant. I didn’t want Chase anywhere near my father. But I couldn’t deny it was a smart plan.

“Okay. We’ll do it your way,” I agreed.

CHASE

The next morning, I reached out for Kiana, but her side of the bed was cold and empty. Knowing her, she was likely in my office, buried in schoolwork.

I glanced at the clock. It was eight. I had a bit of time before I needed to head out, so I dialed Lucas.

“Did you manage to find what I asked for?” I inquired.

“Good morning to you too, sunshine. Yes, I did. It wasn’t easy to dig up in such a short time, but I found plenty of dirt,” Lucas responded, a note of pride in his voice.

“Great. Send it over. Also, have a copy delivered to my office. And Lucas. ~Thank you~,” I said, ending the call.

What Kenzo didn’t realize was that neither of us was going down without a fight.