Page 77 of His By Contract

“Hey, buddy.” Adrian’s voice softened as he looked over Theo, hands gentle as they checked for injuries. “Were you being brave for Mommy?” Only after Theo nodded did Adrian’s jaw tighten, rage flickering behind his controlled expression.

Georgia stepped out of the car, the drizzle brushing her cheeks as one of Adrian’s men approached, holding an umbrella over her. The cool, misty air seeped through her clothes, grounding her as she watched Adrian’s security team swarm the car, their movements professional and methodical.

One man crouched by the front wheel well, while another connected a tablet to the car’s diagnostic port. Their faces grew tighter with each discovery, exchanging glances that made Georgia’s stomach clench.

The team leader pulled Adrian aside, speaking in hushed tones. Georgia couldn’t hear the words, but Adrian’s expression shifted from controlled anger to something darker. His shoulders tensed, jaw locked as he absorbed whatever information made his hands curl into fists.

He crossed back to her, his palm warm against her shoulder. “Someone hacked the steering system. They accessed the electronic controls remotely.” His voice stayed steady, but Georgia felt the rage vibrating beneath his calm exterior.

Georgia unbuckled Theo from his car seat, lifting him out with a reassuring smile despite the way her heart pounded. She hugged him tightly, feeling his small arms wrap around her neck. One of Adrian’s men stepped forward, offering to take Theo, but Georgia shook her head, keeping her son close.

“Take it apart,” Adrian ordered the team. “I want to know exactly how they got in.”

He guided Georgia and Theo toward a waiting SUV, his hand pressed firmly against her lower back. The contact anchored her, keeping the world from tilting sideways as the implications sank in.

Inside the vehicle, Adrian spoke rapidly into his phone, issuing commands that would lock down their properties and increase security protocols. Georgia pulled Theo closer as he curled against her side, his eyes heavy with post-adrenaline exhaustion. His small body radiated warmth, and she pressed her lips to hishair, breathing in his familiar scent. The thought of what could have happened—of how close they’d come to?—

Adrian’s hand found hers in the darkness, his grip firm and grounding. His thumb traced circles on her skin while he continued coordinating with his security team, his voice carrying the edge of contained fury. Georgia leaned back against the leather seat, letting her eyes close. The day’s terror caught up with her, dragging at her limbs and thoughts until everything blurred except the solid presence of Adrian beside her and Theo’s steady breathing against her side.

Back home, Georgia braced herself against the kitchen counter, her fingers splaying across the cool marble. The events of the afternoon played on repeat in her mind—the violent jerk of the steering wheel, Theo’s frightened cry, the sickening crunch of metal. Her lungs refused to expand, the echo of the accident pressing hard against her ribs, freezing her in place.

The air stirred, and she sensed Adrian drawing near before his footsteps reached her. His approach carried that familiar weight, the gravitational pull she’d fought against for so long. His hands found her shoulders, steady and firm, drawing her against his chest. Georgia’s first impulse was to straighten, to prove she could handle this on her own. But exhaustion won out, and she let herself sink into him, her forehead coming to rest against the solid plane of his shoulder.

Adrian’s hand traced down her spine, his grip tightening as though he needed to verify she was real, whole, unharmed. “We’re moving to the safehouse.” His voice rumbled through his chest. “Until we identify who’s behind this and eliminate the threat.”

Georgia nodded against his shoulder, words stuck somewhere between her racing heart and trembling lips. The fear sat raw in her throat, too visceral to voice.

His arms enclosed her fully, a rare crack appearing in his usual composed facade. Georgia felt the slight tremor in his hands, the way his breathing wasn’t quite steady. She surrendered to his embrace, too drained to maintain her usual defenses. She allowed herself to draw from his strength, feeling the fierce protectiveness radiating from him.

Night settled over the safehouse like a heavy blanket. Through the windows, Georgia caught glimpses of security personnel making their rounds, their shadows cutting through the darkness. Surveillance cameras blinked their red eyes, monitoring every approach.

In the guest room, Georgia lay beside Theo, her hand resting lightly on his small chest. She focused on each rise and fall of his breathing, using the rhythm to ground herself. Tears burned behind her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Fear wouldn’t help them now.

The sound of Adrian’s footsteps echoed through the house, paces that spoke of his restlessness. Georgia pictured him in the living room, shoulders taut with responsibility, mind working through scenarios and strategies.

She glanced toward the door, knowing sleep wouldn’t find him tonight. A familiar guilt tugged at her heart. She’d once seen his protective nature as suffocating, a cage rather than a shield.Now, with threats lurking in the shadows, his vigilance felt like their only defense against the chaos threatening to engulf them.

In the quiet darkness, Georgia let out a slow breath. The tension hadn’t dissolved, but being here, under Adrian’s protection, felt right. For tonight, they were together and she allowed that knowledge to settle over her like a blanket.

The next morning, Georgia’s bare feet made no sound against the hardwood floor as she paced. The safehouse felt both too large and too confining. Its reinforced windows and security systems should have offered comfort, but instead highlighted the danger lurking beyond its walls.

The air shifted, and Georgia’s steps faltered. Adrian appeared in the doorway, his shadow stretching across the floor like spilled ink. The air went stiff and cold around him, making the hairs rise on Georgia’s neck. The dim light caught the sharp planes of his face, throwing his expression into stark relief. His jaw was clenched tight, and his eyes… She’d seen Adrian angry before, seen him calculated and cold, but this was different. A carefully contained fury burned in his gaze, transforming his familiar features into something almost predatory.

Georgia stopped mid-stride, her fingers curling into her palms. The weight of Adrian’s silence pressed against her skin.

“It was Vincent.” Adrian’s voice cut through the darkness. “The car wasn’t an accident. He arranged it all—the tampering, the timing. It was a warning, crafted specifically to demonstrate his reach, to let us know he could hurt us if he chose to.”

The floor seemed to tilt beneath Georgia’s feet. Her pulse thundered in her ears as the implications sank in. This wasn’t a random attack or even simple revenge. Vincent Adler, conducting their terror like a maestro with a razor-sharp blade.

“He’s sending a message.” Adrian’s tone remained controlled, but Georgia caught the underlying current of rage. “This isn’t about mere retaliation. He’s using what matters most to force compliance. To bring the prodigal son back into the fold. Or end my line.”

Georgia’s stomach clenched. “Theo,” she whispered, the name barely a breath.

“Our son represents everything Vincent despises—a break from tradition, from control. He won’t stop. The attacks will escalate until I yield or—” Adrian’s hands flexed at his sides, the only visible crack in his composure.

A chill crept across Georgia’s skin, raising goosebumps along her arms. The reality of Vincent’s threat crystallized with horrifying clarity. This wasn’t just about Adrian’s defiance or family legacy anymore. Vincent would use Theo as leverage, a weapon to force Adrian back under his control. Her hands trembled as scenarios flashed through her mind: Theo in danger, hurt, taken?—

“Stop.” Adrian’s voice cut through her spiral of fear. His hand settled on her shoulder, warm and steady. The weight of his touch anchored her, pulling her back from the edge of panic. His blue eyes locked with hers, fierce and unwavering in the dim light.

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