“The boy remains unharmed. For now. But we have certain terms that must be met in order to keep him that way.”
“What terms?” I demand.
“The marriage arrangement we want is reinstated. No negotiation, no substitutions. You will marry Shufen Tao. Only then will your son be returned to you. Refuse, and… well… accidents happen to little boys all the time.”
The threat makes my vision go red.
“You —”
“Think hard Mr.Cierro. What exactly is your son’s life worth to you?”
I don’t have to think; Chloe is already nodding at me feverishly.
“I’ll do it.”
Chapter Eighteen
Chloe
My fingers hover over the phone screen, staring at the warning the unknown number had sent during dinner.
It’s two in the morning. Basili is still locked away in his office, drinking and throwing a fit. The house is in chaos, men coming and going, phones ringing, everyone desperate.
I need to talk to Shufen. I need to understand what was happening. Why did she warn me? What else does she know? I need to ask her if she knows where he is being held.
“I need to see you. We need to talk. Please.” I type out the message and hit send, praying for a response.
And to my surprise, a response comes almost immediately: “You know where to go.”
My breath catches, and I’m up and moving in seconds. Changing into jeans and tennis shoes and putting on a sweatshirt over mytank top. I do know. The old parking garage on the east side, the one that’s been abandoned for years.
We used to go there as children when Father had forbidden us from spending time together. We would sneak out after he fell asleep, we’d sit in the stairwell, and she’d teach me Mandarin, tell me stories, and make me feel less alone.
It’s been ten years since I’ve been to my father’s territory, somewhere I’d hoped never to go again.
I head for the door, moving quietly through the hallways. If I can just get to the garage —
“Where do you think you’re going?”
I freeze at the sound of Basili’s voice behind me, turning slowly to face him where he stands in the hallway. He is still in his suit from dinner, his tie loosened, another glass of whiskey in his hand.
“I need some air. I was just going to —”
“Don’t lie to me, Chloe.” He steps towards me. “Not now. Not about this.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath before answering him further. “I’m going to meet Shufen. I think she can help us get Emmanuel back if I can convince her.”
“I’m coming with you.” He straightens, setting the glass down on a hallway table, fixing his tie and overcoat.
“Basili, think about this for a moment; if she sees you?—”
“I don’t care. My son is missing, and your sister seems to be at the center of this entire thing.” His voice is hard, a low growl. “So, either we go together, or I’m going to take you upstairs, lock you in my room with me, have my way with you, and neither of us is going anywhere until I’ve got every ounce of frustration out of my body.”
I want to argue further. Want to tell him Shufen might not talk if he’s there. But the light in his eyes tells me not to push him right now and that he means every word he’s said.
The intensity of his gaze makes me gulp before answering, “Fine. But let me do the talking.”
Twenty minutes later, he’s pulling his dark charcoal colored sports car into the parking garage. It’s exactly as I remember— six stories of crumbling concrete, broken lights, the walls littered with graffiti.
