Page 70 of The Casella King

“I have no time for games.”

“Oh, but you will. You will once you hear what I have to say.” His voice sounds gravelly, almost like he’s smoked a few too many cigarettes.

“Spit it out then.”

“I have your nephew.” He snickers.

I don’t?—

Ah fuck!

Nico’s eyes flare as he realises what I do.

“If you want him back, alive, I suggest you hand over the Brayford bitch,” he demands.

My jaw clenches as my mind reels to come up with a solution.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.” My voice is calm, in stark contrast to the fury bellowing inside me.

“Shut the fuck up. You will wait for my instruction.” The phone beeps as he hangs up.

Nico buries his face in his hands, sighing. “An innocent baby, Ezra.”

I crack my neck, loosening the stiff muscles. “Nothing’s going to happen to him. They don’t have the balls to cross me like that.”

“How are you going to tell Aries?” My heart sinks at his question, and the answer is I don’t fucking know. Just as Henry turns the car around, my phone vibrates in my hands, and I swallow at the name that appears on my phone.

Aries.

“They have him, Ezra!” Her voice filters through the phone, and I can feel her panic from here.

“I know baby, I know?—”

“You can’t let them get away with it! You have to find them!” she pleads, her voice shaking. “I will never forgive myself if something happens to him.”

“It’s not your fault.” I hear her sob through the phone, and I feel the fractures forming in my chest.

“It is my fault! If I never agreed to be your wife, none of this would have happened!” she cries, and the cracks deepen as I grit my teeth. The helplessness I feel right now sends lightning strikes throughout my body. I clench my fists at the thought of an innocent baby being harmed because of me.

How could I let this happen?

“I’m coming home, baby. I will fix this,” I promise her.

I exit the van swiftly, seeing Aries sprint down the steps and slam into me, her shoulders wracked with sobs as she cries intomy shoulder. I instruct Henry to investigate the situation and gather our men immediately.

“It’s alright, sweetheart, I will get him back.” I hold her to me, feeling her panic seeping through her skin and into mine. Nico exits the van and immediately picks up his ringing phone.

“You!” I raise my eyes to Giselle, now pounding down the steps as Aries stands beside me. Her fist meets my jaw, snapping my head to the side, tasting blood on my tongue. “You did this! This is all your fault!” she yells as Aries tries to calm her.

“G, he’s trying to help, please?—”

“No!” She pushes Aries, the tears flowing down her face as she looks at me. “He’s the reason this happened. If you never came into my sister’s life, I wouldn’t be living this hell.” Her eyes throw daggers at mine. I clench my jaw, unsure of what to say because she’s absolutely right. None of this would have happened if I hadn’t fallen for Aries, but I don’t give a fuck because I can’t breathe without her.

“I promise you I will get him back.” I keep my voice calm and low, doing my best not to provoke her further.

“If you don’t, I’ll walk right into the police station and tell them everything I know,” she threatens, looking to me then to Aries. “I will do anything to have my baby back.”

Aries looks to me, her eyes red and swollen as she gently puts her arm around Giselle and guides her back inside. My blood boils as I realise the stakes of the circumstances.

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