Logan leaned back in his chair, his laughter filling the office. He slapped his knee, shook his head, his eyes wet with amusement. "His sister tries to kill herself and the legendary doctor is nowhere to be found." He gestured at the television, at the reporters shouting questions no one answered. "This is what happens when you try to save the world. You forget your own family."Adam stood in the center of the room, his hands pressed flat against the desk, his knuckles white. His face was stone. His eyes were fixed on the screen.Logan poured himself a drink, raised the glass. He looked at Logan, at the glass in his hand, at the smile on his face, and imagined his hands around his throat.He pushed back from the desk and immediately walked to the door without a word. He didn't look back.Logan watched him go, his glass still raised. Logan found it weird that he left just like that, but he was into his feelings that he didn’t care about Adam, at least fit now.Logan set his glass dow

The next morning, Kai stood by the window, his arms crossed, his eyes on the parking lot below. Titan Alessandro stood beside him, his phone pressed to his ear, his voice low. He ended the call, turned to Kai."The media is handled. They'll print what I told them. No mention of Adam or his absence."Kai nodded. "Thank you."Titan studied him for a long moment. "Where is he?"Kai's face was blank. "Away."Titan waited but Kai said nothing, Titan nodded slowly, let it go. "I have to leave. Something urgent. Call me if anything changes."Kai walked him to the exit. Titan's car was waiting, the engine running, the door open. He climbed in, looked back at the hospital, then drove away. Kai stood at the entrance for a moment, watching the car disappear, then turned back inside.The noise hit him before he saw it. Voices. Shouting. Cameras flashing. A crowd of journalists pushed against the glass doors, their microphones raised, their questions sharp."Is it true Adam Cole abandoned his fa

Adam's hand tightened on the phone. Olivia's face filled the screen, her hair falling on her face, her hands bound behind her. The man beside her smiled, gray hair, familiar eyes. Logan."Mr. Cole." Logan's voice was smooth, almost friendly. "Or should I say, old man? You had me fooled. The beard, the bent back, the trembling hands. Very convincing. You deserve an oscar award."Adam said nothing. His jaw was locked. His eyes were fixed on Olivia.Logan chuckled. "You think you can be one step ahead of us? That's cute, but you forgot something." He grabbed Olivia's chin, turned her face toward the camera. "Your wife."Olivia's eyes were red, her cheeks wet. She didn't speak or move.Logan released her, wiped his hand on his jacket. "You have less than twenty-four hours. If you want to see her alive, you'll come alone. No tricks, no backup. You know where to find me."The screen went black.Adam stared at the phone. His hand was shaking. His breath was fast. He let out a hiss, threw

Logan stood behind his desk, his hands still gripping the edge, the door had closed behind Adam. The room was silent except for the groans of the men on the floor. He waited. One second. Five. Ten. Then he let out a long, slow breath. His shoulders dropped. Immediately, he pulled out his phone, dialed a number. The voice on the other end answered on the first ring. "He's coming to the basement. You know what to do."He ended the call. He turned to the men still writhing on the floor. Logan's foot shot out, connected with the ribs of the nearest guard. The man groaned, curled tighter. Logan kicked him again. And again."Bunch of fools. Idiots. Fifteen men against one, and he walks through you like you're nothing."He kicked another man, then another, his breath coming fast, his face red. Logan stopped, his chest heaving, though he was surprised by Adam's strength. He straightened his jacket, smoothed his hair, walked to the door. Adam reached the basement door, he pushed it open,

"Shit." Adam muttered.He dropped to his knees beside the body. His hands pressed against Logan's neck, feeling for a pulse, for anything. Nothing. His chest wasn't moving. His eyes were open, staring at the ceiling, empty."Shit. Shit. Shit."Adam slammed his fist against the floor. The concrete cracked. His knuckles split. Blood dripped down his fingers. He didn't feel it. He grabbed Logan's collar, pulled him up, shook him."Why? Why would you…." He stopped. Logan's head lolled, his arms flopped, his body was already cold.Adam let him drop. He sat back on his heels, his hands on his knees, his breath coming fast. Logan had chosen death. Over Victor Kane.He screamed.The sound tore through the room, raw, angry, helpless. He slammed his fist against the floor again. Behind him, footsteps, slow, unsteady. Olivia appeared in the doorway, her face pale, her hands pressed against the frame. She had heard the scream, had dragged herself down the hallway, had pushed through the pain.