Jake's POV.
I sat back in the chair, elbows resting on my knees, staring straight at the two people sitting across from us.
Mr. Ronson.
And the boy beside him.
Luca.
Mom was sitting next to me on the couch, very still, her hands folded tightly together. I could feel the tension coming off her like heat.
All of us were staring at them.
Raised eyebrows.
Waiting.
Mr. Ronson finally cleared his throat.
"I… should start with an apology."
I didn't say anything.
Just watched him.
"I'm sorry for leaving," he said quietly.
I tilted my head.
"That's it?"
He sighed and rubbed his hands together like he didn't know where to put them.
"It wasn't that simple," he said. "After everything that happened… after the accusations… people talked. They mocked her. Insulted her because of me. Even when I was proving I was innocent… they kept dragging her name into it."
My jaw tightened.
"So you left," I said flatly.
He nodded slowly.
"But I didn't disappear," he said quickly. "Every year… I came back."
I frowned.
"Every birthday," he continued. "Yours. Ayana's. And hers."
Mom blinked slightly beside me.
"I would come to the house," he said. "Stand outside. Sometimes for hours."
The room went quiet.
"But I never had the courage to walk in," he admitted. "So I would leave."
I studied him carefully.
"You expect us to believe that?"
"It's the truth," he replied quietly.
He looked down. "The only time I came inside… was that one day."
I remembered that.
Barely.
A quick visit.
Awkward silence.
A fight almost broke out.
Then gone again.
I leaned back.
"So why now?" I asked.
He looked up at us. "Because I don't want to leave like that anymore."
His eyes moved between us. "And… I missed all of you."
Mom finally spoke. "You left… because people were talking?"
Her voice sounded hurt.
"But that's when I needed you the most."
He didn't interrupt.
She shook her head slowly.
"They insulted me because of you… and instead of standing beside me… you left me alone."
The room felt heavier.
Then Mom looked at Luca.
"And after all these years… I find out you have another child."
Mr. Ronson quickly shook his head.
"No."
He gestured toward the guy beside him.
"Luca is my stepson."
Luca looked down at the floor.
Completely avoiding eye contact with anyone.
"But I raise him as my own," Mr. Ronson added. "He's my son."
I studied Luca.
He looked uncomfortable.
Quiet. Almost shy.
Like he wished he could disappear into the couch.
I tilted my head.
"So…" I muttered.
"Now I have a brother."
Luca shifted slightly but still didn't look up.
I kept staring at him for a second.
His big blue eyes that were somehow just Like Ayana's.
His silky black hair, the way he looked small closed to...Dad.
That sounded strange. I sighed.
Then I muttered under my breath,
"Cute."
I stood up and stretched slightly.
"We'll consider everything," I said. "If Mom wants to forgive you… that's up to her."
"But if she does... Then.. I might forgive you as well."
Right then my phone rang.
I pulled it out and answered.
"Hello?"
"Jake!"
Ethan's voice sounded sharp. Urgent.
I straightened immediately.
"What happened?"
"Ayana just got kidnapped."
My stomach dropped.
"I followed the van," Ethan continued quickly. "I'm outside the place now. I'll send you the location."
I was already grabbing my jacket.
"Come fast."
The call ended.
I slowly lowered the phone.
Mr. Ronson had clearly heard everything.
His face had gone serious.
"I'm coming," he said immediately.
Mom's breath caught beside me.
"Oh My...—"
Her voice shook.
Luca quickly moved beside her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
"She'll be okay," he said softly. "They'll bring her back."
But I was already heading for the door.
Mr. Ronson followed right behind me.
Because whoever took my sister…
Had just made the worst mistake of their life.
---
I was sitting on the warehouse floor.
Arms crossed.
Legs crossed.
My blonde hair was a complete disaster, sticking everywhere, but honestly that was the least of my problems.
I had been dragged here, thrown in a cage, and surrounded by way too many shady men.
At this point, complaining felt like my only power.
"So let me just say this again," I continued loudly, looking around the room. "Kidnapping? Very poor life choice."
A few of the men groaned.
One guy muttered, "Why does she keep talking?"
The nose-picking guy glared at me like he regretted being born.
"You think this is funny?" he snapped.
"Well," I shrugged, "it would be funnier if you weren't picking your nose every five minutes."
A few men snorted.
He looked ready to explode.
"No one is coming to save you," he said sharply. "No one."
I rolled my eyes.
"Oh my, that speech again. You guys really need new material."
Then—
A voice came from the entrance.
"They really need it."
The whole room froze.
Nathan turned.
The masked guy turned.
Every single man looked toward the door.
Standing there…
Was Ethan.
He walked in slowly, calm but serious, eyes scanning the room like he was memorizing every face.
My heart jumped.
"Ethan!" I called out instantly.
His eyes found me.
"Ayana."
The way he said my name made something in my chest loosen.
He walked straight toward me, ignoring everyone else like they didn't exist.
Someone opened the cage during the confusion and I stepped out.
He reached me quickly and cupped my cheeks, turning my face left and right.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes," I said quickly. "Yes, I'm okay."
His jaw tightened.
Then he turned slowly toward the men.
"You thought you could drag her here…"
His voice dropped.
"…and nothing would happen?"
Nathan smirked and walked forward.
"You think you can handle everyone here alone?"
Ethan gave a small smile.
"Oh," he said calmly.
"I'm not alone."
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
Three sounds came from behind him.
Jake walked in first, rolling his shoulders.
Mark followed, stretching his neck.
Liam came last, cracking his fingers dramatically.
Liam waved happily.
"Hi Ayana!"
"Hi Liam," I said weakly.
The boss leaned forward in his big chair and smirked.
"Well… since everyone is here…"
He lifted a hand lazily.
"Get them."
Suddenly several men rushed forward.
Jake stepped forward first.
One guy tried to punch him—Jake blocked it and Punched him back, Sending the guy landing on his side.
"Bad aim," Jake muttered, wiping his lips with the back of his hand.
Mark ducked another punch and pushed a guy aside. That's Mark always the gentle one.
"Is that the best you've got?"
Liam tried to punch someone but almost lost his balance, But still the punch landed hard, and the guy bled from the nose.
"Okay I regret volunteering," he said.
"Focus!" Mark snapped.
One man grabbed me suddenly and shoved me forward toward the boys, Like i was some kind of Human shield.
"HEY!" I protested. "What was that?"
Jake caught me before I hit the floor.
"Careful Sis!"
"Sorry!" the man blurted out nervously.
"Don't throw the hostage!" Liam complained.
The warehouse filled with movement.
Fists flew.
People dodged, shoved, blocked.
They bled.
Cried.
Fainted.
Jake pushed another attacker away and muttered, "You guys really need better training."
Mark knocked someone aside and added, "Seriously. That punch was embarrassing."
Liam tried to look tough while dodging someone.
"Please stop aiming for my face," he complained. "I need them for My Charms!"
Eventually the attackers started backing off.
Some scared, Some barely moving.
Liam clapped excitedly.
"Okay that was kind of cool."
Nathan stepped forward slowly.
"Everyone move," he said.
He looked at Ethan.
"Let's see what you've got."
The others stepped aside.
Nathan and Ethan faced each other.
They moved fast.
Nathan swung first. Fists flew High.
Ethan blocked and stepped aside. And gave Nathan one hard punch.
They traded quick punches and dodges, moving around the floor while everyone watched.
Finally Ethan caught Nathan off balance and shoved him backward.
Nathan stumbled and Hit the floor with a loud Thud.
Liam clapped loudly.
"That was amazing."
The boss suddenly jumped down angrily.
"You idiots!" he shouted. "All of you are useless!"
"You shot down all my operation, Now you want to kill my son."
"Who do you all think you are? That stupid Ronson started all of this, I was this close to killing his daughter and sending her dead Body to him as a gift."
Wow, How can a person be this... Sick.
"Well that's not gonna happen over our dead Body." Liam muttered crossing his arms dramatically.
He started yelling insults—about the boys, about everything, and finally about my father.
That's when I saw someone enter.
"Dad!"
Mr. Ronson walked straight toward the boss.
Without hesitation he grabbed the man by the collar.
And punched him hard on the stomach that he coughed out blood.
"Watch your mouth," he said firmly.
"A sick excuse for a human being,"
Just then the warehouse doors burst open.
Police officers rushed in.
"Police! Stay where you are!"
They began taking control of the room, grabbing several men and leading them away.
Nathan slowly stepped back during the confusion.
No one noticed. No one cared.
I turned toward Ethan.
He looked relieved for the first time since he arrived.
"You're safe now," he said quietly.
Something in my chest tightened.
Without thinking, I hugged him.
"I'm sorry..."
He froze for a moment…
Then hugged me back. Tighter.
His embrace felt warm, safe, I leaned in more.
Jake, Mark, and Liam stood nearby watching the moment.
Then—
A sudden sharp sound echoed through the warehouse.
A gunshot.
My grip loosened completely.
Everything felt strange and distant.
Blood began sipping through my back and spread all over my white Hawaii swim cloth.
My knees gave out as the world spun
Ethan caught me before I fell.
Outside the chaos, Jake lunged forward and punched Nathan just as police officers grabbed him and dragged him away.