The CEO's Rejected Wife And Secret Heir novel Chapter 135

Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Unlikely Alliance

Aria’s POV

But as Noah ran over to show me his LEGO spaceship, chattering excitedly about family dinner and could we invite Richards because he was nice, I pushed aside the fear as my phone buzzed one more time. Margaret.

"Vivian turned herself in. The DA accepted the plea deal. She’s being processed now. Well done, Aria."

I showed Damien the text. He smiled and kissed my forehead. "See? The right choice."

"The right choice," I echoed.

But as I watched Noah play, safe and happy and innocent, one thought kept circling:

Marcus was still out there. And showing mercy to Vivian might have just painted an even bigger target on our backs.

The call came at 2 AM.

I jerked awake to my phone buzzing violently on the nightstand, Damien’s arm tightening around me instinctively.

"Hello?" My voice was rough with sleep.

"Ms. Monroe, this is Detective Barnes with Ravenwood PD." A woman’s voice, tense and urgent. "We need you and Mr. Blackwood to come to the station immediately."

I sat up, heart racing. "What’s wrong?

Damien was already out of bed, pulling on clothes. "What happened?"

"It’s about Vivian Monroe," Detective Barnes said. "She’s been taken."

Twenty minutes later, we were at the police station, sitting in an interrogation room that smelled like stale coffee. Detective Barnes, a sharp-eyed woman in her fifties, spread photos across the table.

"Vivian was in processing when it happened," she said. "Around 9 PM. She’d turned herself in as arranged, was cooperating fully. Then during her bathroom break" She pointed at grainy security footage. "These two men, dressed as officers, intercepted her."

I watched the video. Two large men in police uniforms grabbed Vivian, who barely had time to scream before they drugged her unconscious and carried her out a side exit.

"How the hell did they get into a police station?" Damien’s voice was dangerous.

"They had forged credentials. Good ones." Barnes looked pissed. "Someone on the inside helped. We’re investigating, but right now" She pulled out a piece of paper in a plastic evidence bag. "This was found in the bathroom where they took her."

I read the note, my blood turning to ice.

"I took your sister, but I’m a generous man. Trade: the boy for Vivian. You have 48 hours to decide. Instructions to follow. —M"

"No." The word came out strangled. "No, he’s not getting Noah. Never."

"We’re not considering it," Damien said immediately, his hand finding mine. "But Detective, what are our options?"

"We’re treating this as a kidnapping and extortion case. FBI is being brought in." Barnes leaned forward. "But Ms. Monroe, I need to ask—are you willing to negotiate for your sister’s release?"

"Is that even a question?" I met her eyes. "She’s still my sister. Of course I’ll negotiate."

"Even after what she did to you?" Barnes’s expression was carefully neutral.

"Even after." I squeezed Damien’s hand. "I just chose mercy for her hours ago. I’m not going to turn around and leave her to Marcus now."

"Marcus Blackwood is extremely dangerous," Barnes warned. "He has a documented history of violence. If we go after Vivian, this could turn into a hostage situation with casualties."

"Then we don’t go after her stupidly," I said. "We plan. We strategize and we use every resource available."

"Aria" Damien started.

"No." I turned to him. "I know what you’re going to say. That it’s too dangerous, that Vivian doesn’t deserve this, that we should let the police handle it. But Damien, she’s my sister. And I’m not the kind of person who abandons family, even when they’ve abandoned me."

"I wasn’t going to say that." His eyes were intense. "I was going to say that whatever plan we come up with, we do it together. Full partners. No one—especially not you—goes in alone."

"Together," I agreed.

Barnes studied us both. "You understand that negotiating with kidnappers is dangerous, Marcus could be setting a trap."

"He absolutely is setting a trap," Damien said. "But he’s also my brother. I know how he thinks. And if we’re smart, if we’re careful, we can use that against him."

"What are you proposing?"

"Give us access to your tactical team," I said. "Let us coordinate with the FBI. We’ll draw up a plan that gets Vivian out safely without putting Noah at risk."

"That’s not how this works"

"Detective Barnes." I leaned forward. "I built a multinational company from nothing while raising a child alone in a foreign country. Damien runs one of the largest corporations in the country. We have resources, connections, and motivation that your department doesn’t. Let us help, or we’ll work around you. Your choice."

Barnes was quiet for a long moment. Then she smiled slightly. "I can see why you two are together. You’re both terrifying when you want to be." She stood. "Fine. FBI arrives in three hours. We’ll coordinate a joint operation. But Ms. Monroe, Mr. Blackwood—you follow our protocols. No cowboy heroics. Understood?"

"Understood," we said in unison.

Back home, dawn was breaking over the city. Noah was still asleep, blessedly unaware of the nightmare unfolding around him.

"We need to move him," Damien said quietly, watching our son sleep. "Somewhere Marcus can’t find him."

"The lake house," I suggested.

"Good thinking." Damien pulled out his phone. "I’ll have Richards arrange transport and additional security. Noah leaves within the hour."

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