Chapter 159: Chapter 159 Inside Betrayal
Caleb’s POV
Hours. Many agonizing hours since my son had been torn from our world. Since Carmen’s frantic call had shattered the fragile peace I’d fought so hard to build around my family. Every second that ticked by felt like a blade twisting deeper into my chest, but I couldn’t afford to break. Not now. Max needed his father to be the ruthless Don who commanded fear across every territory in North America. Ivy needed me to be unbreakable.
The executive floor of Thorne Tower had been transformed into a full-scale military operation. My most trusted enforcers had mobilized every asset at our disposal - every informant in the underground, every dirty cop on our payroll, every favor owed by rival families. The marble conference room now resembled a war bunker, with communications equipment humming alongside laptops displaying real-time intelligence feeds from across the city.
Xavier and Jude had orchestrated the logistics with military precision. Temporary sleeping quarters, round-the-clock catering, fresh clothes for extended operations. None of my inner circle would step foot outside this building until Max was safely returned to his mother’s arms. The alternative was unthinkable.
"Boss." Jude’s voice cut through the controlled chaos as dozens of phones rang simultaneously. Maps of the city covered every available surface, marked with red pins indicating search zones and potential safe houses. "Heidi just arrived."
I turned as the elevator doors opened, revealing the woman who had been more than my father’s trusted advisor - she had been the closest thing to a maternal figure I’d known since my parents’ assassination. Her silver hair was perfectly styled despite the emergency flight, her sharp eyes immediately assessing the situation with decades of experience in crisis management.
"Caleb." Her embrace was firm, steady, exactly what I needed. "Keep your head clear and your faith strong. That boy will come home where he belongs."
"Thank God you’re here," I admitted, allowing myself this moment of vulnerability. "I feel like I’m walking a razor’s edge between sanity and madness."
"You’re not falling apart," she said firmly, pulling back to study my face. "You’re one of the strongest men I’ve ever known, and certainly smarter than whoever took your son. Fear is human, but you’ll keep leading this operation until we bring Max home. Where’s Ivy?"
"Sedated in Xavier’s office. Dr. Taylor had to give her something strong after she nearly collapsed from exhaustion and panic."
Heidi’s weathered hand touched my cheek with surprising gentleness. "Then go sit with her. I just spent hours in first-class accommodations - I’m perfectly rested. Let me oversee operations while you take care of your wife."
I made my way through the maze of equipment and personnel to the converted sleeping area. Ivy lay motionless on the narrow cot, her breathing deep and even thanks to the sedatives. The girls had organized themselves into shifts - Nora currently manning the reception desk, monitoring every incoming call and visitor, while Gemma rested nearby. Zoe had also required medical intervention after nearly fainting when the reality of Max’s disappearance fully hit her.
Earlier, I’d contacted Zoe’s parents with instructions to reach out to Ivy’s family and arrange their immediate travel here. Ivy would need their strength in the coming days, especially if this nightmare extended beyond a simple ransom demand. My mind refused to consider darker possibilities.
Despite my body’s desperate need for rest, sleep remained impossible. I lay beside my wife, listening to her steady breathing while my thoughts raced through every potential scenario, every possible lead. Someone would pay dearly for putting my family through this hell. When I found the bastards responsible, their deaths would serve as a permanent reminder of what happened to anyone foolish enough to threaten a Thorne.
Jude’s urgent voice interrupted my spiraling thoughts. "Boss, Scott’s got something big."
I carefully extracted myself from the bed and returned to the command center, where Scott was waiting with a grim expression and several files spread across the table.
"What have you discovered?" I demanded immediately.
"Caleb and Fisher joined our security detail years ago through Monica’s recommendation. They’ve been with the organization ever since, with perfect service records and no obvious red flags. She covered her tracks expertly - there’s no obvious paper trail connecting her to their recruitment process."
"Explain," Jude pressed, leaning forward intently.
"They’re Rita’s cousins. She runs operations for the Social Union. You know her from recent business discussions," Scott explained, referencing my previous conversations with Mabel about suspicious Union activities.
"That’s exactly why her name triggered my attention when my team compiled this intelligence," Scott continued. "You’d mentioned her before, and I know her through Union connections. Local authorities are already pursuing her location."
"How exactly did Monica orchestrate their hiring?" Jude questioned.
"Because you personally authorized it," Scott said, sliding two security personnel files across the table.
I stared at the documents in disbelief. "I have absolutely no memory of this. Years ago, certainly. I never involved myself in hiring decisions, especially not security personnel."
The signature was unmistakably mine, but the handwritten approval notation looked somehow wrong - similar to my writing style but lacking the natural flow of my usual penmanship. I had no recollection whatsoever of signing these authorizations.
"How did Human Resources receive these documents?" I asked.
"An employee found them on your desk and delivered them directly to Miles in HR. We’ve already summoned both individuals for immediate questioning," Scott explained. "According to this employee, he and Monica were involved romantically for a brief period. She frequently visited his workspace. He discovered these resumes immediately following one of her visits, and seeing your signature, he assumed they were legitimate and forwarded them to Miles, who processed the hires without question."
"How could I have signed something I can’t remember?"
"Caleb, years ago you were completely consumed with Veronica. You arrived at work hungover more often than not, missed countless important meetings, lived in a perpetual state of irresponsible behavior," Xavier reminded me bluntly. "Monica could easily have caught you during one of those compromised moments when you’d sign anything she put in front of you."
"Damn it, that’s entirely possible." The realization hit like a physical blow. I slammed my fist against the conference table hard enough to rattle the laptops. "I trusted her completely back then. I signed countless documents she brought without consulting anyone. What else do we know about these two?"
"Authorities are currently tracking every relative and known associate. They’re also searching for Monica, but she’s disappeared completely. They searched Rossi’s residence thoroughly but found nothing useful. However, Yara Rossi is also missing, and her parents claim they have no idea where she might be."
"I believe she and Monica have my son together. Christ, they’re both completely unhinged." The thought of Max in their custody sent ice water through my veins.
Dawn began breaking across the city skyline, painting the sky in shades of amber and rose. My team and I moved to check on the women and invite them for coffee. We gathered in the reception area, sharing our latest intelligence over steaming cups while the city slowly awakened below us. Zoe had recovered from her earlier breakdown and now radiated fierce determination - ready to tear apart anyone standing between her and Max’s safe return.
Gemma caught my attention with a subtle gesture. When I approached, she leaned close to whisper her update.
"Ivy’s parents just arrived. They’re en route with Zoe’s parents and Dr. Taylor."
The elevator would soon deliver more people who loved Max into our desperate search. Every additional pair of hands, every extra heart invested in finding my son, brought us incrementally closer to bringing him home safely.
