Chapter 157: Chapter 157 Max Goes Missing
Ivy’s POV
On Monday morning, we drove Max to the secure private school that served the children of our family’s inner circle. I made sure to update his authorized pickup list, adding Caleb’s name alongside the trusted guards who could collect him. The headmistress smiled warmly as she watched us together, clearly pleased to see Max with both parents under the family’s protection.
At the Thorne family compound’s business headquarters, Caleb kept steering me toward his executive wing instead of my own financial operations office.
"Caleb, you’re going the wrong direction. My office is in the east wing," I pointed out with amusement.
He stopped abruptly, running a hand through his dark hair. "Right. Sorry, I keep forgetting we don’t share the same workspace yet."
I spotted Jude emerging from my office, grinning like he’d just secured a major arms deal.
"Well, well, if it isn’t the power couple who finally got their act together!" Jude called out cheerfully. "Don’t worry about me cramping your style anymore. I’ve moved back to work directly under Xavier’s command. Listening to you two conduct business was becoming torture."
Heat flooded my cheeks. "Jude, we never..."
"Sweetheart, these walls aren’t soundproof against family members," he interrupted with a knowing wink. "I know exactly what kind of negotiations happen behind closed doors."
Caleb’s lips curved into a dangerous smile. "Can’t argue with facts, tesoro."
"Everything’s been relocated to the main office," Gemma called out from her desk without looking up from the encrypted communications terminal. "No need to thank me."
Inside my office, I found everything perfectly arranged. Like every Monday for the past months, fresh white roses graced the mahogany side table with a handwritten note in Caleb’s distinctive script: "You make me the most powerful man alive. Forever yours, my queen."
Unexpected tears pricked my eyes. These pregnancy hormones were turning me into an emotional wreck. I pulled Caleb close for a kiss, savoring the familiar scent of his expensive cologne mixed with gunpowder.
"So you’ve officially stolen my best intelligence analyst?" Xavier appeared in the doorway, pressing a brotherly kiss to my temple in the Italian family tradition.
"You stole her from me first," Caleb shot back with mock aggression.
"Keep talking and I’ll reassign her permanently to my division," Xavier threatened, his hand instinctively moving toward his shoulder holster.
I left them to their territorial posturing and invited Gemma for espresso in the secure break room. I was dying to hear about her evening with Hunter versus her complicated situation with Dominic, both of whom were high-ranking soldiers in rival crews.
Caleb, Xavier, and Jude joined us shortly after, followed by Katelyn bustling in with her usual commanding presence.
"About time you two eliminated all the uncertainty," Katelyn announced, gesturing between Caleb and me with obvious satisfaction.
"Sit down, Katelyn. We have major family announcements," Caleb said, practically vibrating with excitement as he launched into our story about Max, our relationship, and our plans to formalize everything with a blood oath ceremony.
Katelyn’s weathered face lit up progressively. "That beautiful boy is your heir! He has your exact eyes, and your father’s intensity too. I’m absolutely thrilled for both of you." Her expression shifted to concern as she noticed Gemma’s subdued mood. "But what’s troubling you, dear? You look like someone died."
"Nothing gets past you," Gemma sighed, explaining her breakup with Dominic over his refusal to leave his current crew.
"That soldier’s an absolute fool for letting you slip away," Katelyn declared firmly. Then her expression grew deadly serious. "Before I forget, this might be nothing, but after everything that’s happened with internal security, I learned never to stay quiet. My contact in the kitchen mentioned that Rossi and that snake Monica were meeting in the staff dining area recently. Monica seemed extremely agitated about something."
Caleb’s relaxed posture immediately transformed into predatory alertness. "When was this? Did your contact overhear their conversation?"
"She couldn’t make out their words, thankfully," Katelyn assured him.
Caleb was already pulling out his encrypted phone. "Fisher, I need you to review all surveillance footage from the staff areas immediately. Rossi and Monica had an unauthorized meeting recently. Find that footage and send it to my secure terminal. And I want to know why this wasn’t reported through proper channels."
After thanking Katelyn, we returned to our respective operations. The afternoon brought us together in Caleb’s executive office with Xavier and Jude for an emergency security briefing.
"Fisher recovered the surveillance data," Caleb announced grimly. "Someone had deliberately corrupted the original files. Our tech specialists had to use military-grade recovery software. We definitely have compromised personnel in our security network. I’ve already contacted Scott, and Fisher is conducting a comprehensive investigation of all family soldiers."
Xavier leaned forward with barely controlled fury. "How extensive is this breach? How are they managing to turn so many of our people?"
"Let’s assess what we’re dealing with," Caleb said, pulling up the recovered video.
The footage revealed far more than we’d expected. Monica clearly possessed detailed intelligence about our private family business and upcoming operations. We needed to find leverage to make her cooperate or eliminate the threat.
"So that’s how they manipulated the pregnancy test results at your secure medical facility," Jude observed. "I’ll contact the clinic director immediately. He needs to investigate which staff member was compromised. This is destroying their reputation in our community."
"Good thinking, Jude. There is some positive intelligence though," Caleb added. "Fisher confirmed that Veronica is currently under surveillance in Norway. We’re monitoring her movements through Interpol contacts, and we’ll know immediately if she attempts to return to North American territory."
"At least that particular threat is neutralized temporarily," Xavier said with visible relief.
"True, but I’m considering hiring external security contractors for Ivy and Max," Caleb mused aloud.
"That could be extremely risky," Jude cautioned. "We don’t have background files on outside personnel, and it would be easier for enemies to infiltrate our protection detail."
"I’ve considered that, but I’m genuinely concerned about our current vulnerabilities." The security breach had clearly shaken Caleb’s confidence in family operations.
"Caleb, I trust Caleb completely. He never allowed anyone near me during the previous threats. And the guard monitoring Max is his blood brother. I don’t think we need outside contractors," I said, trying to ease his paranoia.
"Maybe you’re right, but I’m still worried," Caleb insisted. "Let’s maintain current security protocols and stay hypervigilant. At least Carmen agreed to move into the family compound with us."
We spent the remainder of the afternoon addressing legitimate business concerns, and time passed unexpectedly quickly. At the main house, Max was absolutely euphoric, building with blocks on the Persian carpet alongside Walter and Carmen. The moment he spotted his father, he launched himself into Caleb’s arms with pure joy.
At dinner, Caleb invited Walter and Carmen to join us at the formal dining table. Then he surprised us with another significant announcement.
"I’m incredibly satisfied with how my life is developing. And I want to propose something important to you, Ivy." Caleb took my hand gently. "After my parents were murdered, I stayed at Xavier’s compound for several weeks. I couldn’t bring myself to enter the ancestral family home. I would drive to the gates but couldn’t go inside. So I bought this secondary residence and asked Walter to maintain everything at the main estate. Thank you for that, Walter."
"Always my honor, Don Caleb," Walter replied with respectful warmth.
"But after seeing Max’s room established here, and knowing our family is expanding, I kept thinking about how proud my parents would be to watch their grandchildren grow up in that house. How complete I would feel raising my family there." Tears began flowing as Caleb spoke. "Ivy, I want us to move into the Thorne family estate. It’s enormous, has incredible gardens and security, and I know we could be truly powerful there."
"Caleb, I would be happy with you living in a mountain fortress," I said with complete sincerity. "Are you absolutely certain you want to live there?"
"I am certain. It’s in the same secured district as Xavier’s compound, very close for backup. I think it would be perfect." Caleb searched my eyes hopefully. "We could visit tomorrow before business hours, and then you could ask the women to help with any renovations. Gemma has excellent taste."
"I would love that. And so would the girls," I agreed, making everyone smile.
"It will be wonderful returning to that house. There’s an atmosphere of pure strength and happiness there. Your parents were so powerful there, and your grandparents before them," Walter commented with obvious emotion.
"Then it’s absolutely perfect," I declared decisively.
The next morning, we visited the estate as planned. It was absolutely breathtaking. I gasped when Caleb opened the reinforced front doors. Everything was immaculate and perfectly maintained, as if the family still lived there. Caleb explained that Walter had preserved everything flawlessly over the years. His mother had completed a major renovation just before their assassination.
The mansion was magnificent and imposing, built in classical Italian style with multiple full stories, vaulted ceilings, painted pristine white with a dramatic slate roof. The front featured manicured gardens and an elegant marble fountain. Massive bulletproof windows flooded every room with natural light. Inside, the luxury was truly impressive. The backyard boasted a swimming pool, tennis court, sauna, and even more extensive, meticulously maintained grounds.
I watched Caleb’s face as we moved through each room. Instead of grief, his smile grew progressively wider. He seemed completely natural and comfortable.
"Caleb, it’s absolutely magnificent! How are you feeling about being here?"
"I’m so glad you love it, my queen. I feel incredibly strong. I’m imagining how powerful our children will be here, filling this house with life and laughter. So, do you want to rule from here with me?"
"I would love living here! Max will go absolutely wild over these gardens."
"Then I’ll call my mother’s architect contact as soon as we reach headquarters. She’s a phenomenal professional who can work with you and the women on any modifications you want."
"But I don’t want to change anything!" I said with complete honesty. "Unless you want to, but I think it’s absolutely perfect as is!"
"Seriously, my angel? Are you sure?" When I confirmed with a smile, he continued, "Thank you! I feel like my mother prepared this estate specifically for us! I couldn’t enter before because something was missing. It was missing you and our children." Caleb declared through tears, kissing me tenderly.
"Can we have our blood oath ceremony in the garden?" I asked excitedly.
"My God, you’re absolutely perfect!" he said, kissing me again. "That was my mother’s dream! She would have adored you."
We explored the entire estate, making countless plans and sharing dreams. We finally left around midday and went to a secure restaurant near the headquarters. While waiting for our meal, my phone rang with an unknown number. I answered on speaker, and my heart stopped when I heard Carmen’s voice through desperate sobs.
"Ivy, sweetheart, they took Max. I don’t understand what happened. Fisher drove me to collect him from school. I got out and picked up Max normally. I was securing him in his car seat when everything went black. I woke up in the hospital. The doctor said someone struck me in the head with a weapon, but Max wasn’t there, and I couldn’t reach Fisher. I don’t know what happened, but someone took Max."
