James Parker's pov
I paced slowly, silently. My gun sat on the table, untouched. My hands trembled slightly, though i kept them behind my back.
In the corner, a middle aged man named Matteo sat with headphones on, intercepting radio chatter from Sergio's beach compound.
"She's moving," Matteo said softly. "The boy made contact."
I closed my eyes briefly, swallowing down bile. "Tell him to stick to the plan."
"I already did."
I let out a breath that trembled at the edges. "God please help me," I muttered weakly . "If anything goes wrong…"
Matteo didn't respond. There was nothing to say.
I looked out the window, disappointed in myself. My baby girl was out there in the arms of the monster I made.
And i couldn't even hold a gun to protect her.
Only puppeteer from afar. Only trust that the mole wouldn't crack.
Matteo flinched, then slowly took off the headset.
My stomach turned cold.
"She didn't make it," he said.
I froze. The words didn't register at first.
"What?" My voice was too calm. Detached. But my whole body had gone numb.
Matteo's hand was shaking now. "She didn't make it."
I looked up, pale. "Say that again."
"She was caught. Sergio's still on the beach. The boy left. Boat got away, but… she didn't."
I turned away, hand clenching into a fist against my thigh.
I stayed silent for a full minute before mustering the strength to speak .
"We try again."
"Sir….he'll tighten security."
"I don't care," I snapped. My voice cracked at the end, and I clenched my jaw. "She's my daughter. I will burn his entire empire to the ground if I have to."
Matteo looked at me, and for once, he didn't argue.
"And contact the second mole."
Matteo hesitated. "You want to risk another?"
"I'm not risking anything," I said softly. "I'm saving her. And if I find a single scratch on her, I'll bring that little bastard Sergio Lucian down to square zero."
"I'm coming for you, Sergio. No matter what it costs me." I whispered.
I had gotten her involved in a war she never signed up for. And now I am lost on my next plan.
A few months ago, I saw the signs. I knew Sergio was coming for revenge. I'd spent years in hiding, keeping my distance from my family to protect them. I disappeared from their lives, tried to live with guilt. But I should've known it wasn't enough. Should've known it wouldn't stop him.
The day Claire was kidnapped, I'd just gotten off the phone with the someone I don't even know. My only son, my boy, was dead. I still don't know exactly what they did to him, but I know it was Sergio. I know it in my bones. The moment I heard Claire was gone too, I thought my heart would give out.
That kind of grief, it isn't clean. It doesn't just make you sad. It hollows you out. Turn your blood to fire and your thoughts to ash. I've killed men before. I've buried friends, buried enemies. But nothing… nothing compared to hearing my baby girl was in the hands of a vengeful child I helped create ... .more of one which people believed I helped create.
I sank into a chair, my shoulders slumped , rubbing my face with both hands. "Why is my life so miserable?" I choked out. "Why is my family paying for a sin I never committed?"
"Sir," Matteo said softly, "you have to keep calm. We'll find a way out of this mess."
I looked at him, my eyes teary. "Do I look like a bad person to you, Matteo?" You know the whole story. You were there. You know I didn't do this… so why is my daughter suffering?"
Matteo lowered his gaze. "I don't know, sir," he said. "But she's strong. She's your daughter."
I let out a bitter laugh. "That's the part that scares me."
Years ago, I never wanted this life. But when my father died, I was next in line to take over the organization. I was barely out of college, the youngest Don in the country, and I wore the title like a noose. I tried to make things better. Cleaner. Safer, even. But no matter how I tried to paint it, it was still blood and money.
The whole thing went to hell when the young Sergio's twin sister died.
It wasn't my fault. God knows I've done plenty of things I'm not proud of, but her death? That wasn't on me. I was framed. Set up by Lord Sergio's younger brother, the one who was so desperate to claw his way into the underworld he sold his soul to one of our rival families. The same rival family that would've gladly watched us all burn.
The boy was cunning. He used clone masks crafted from my own face and those of my men. They were perfect. Practically indistinguishable from the real thing. And when Sergio's sister turned up dead, every piece of evidence pointed to me.
Lord Sergio never even questioned it at first. He was young, hot-blooded, grieving. I was an easy target. He wanted blood, and I gave him a name to blame.
He never knew the truth until after a tough fight which led to the death of his wife and the loss of my new born baby, we had to quit the underworld together as an apology to each other. We promised not to let any of our kids take over. With joint efforts, we tried to get rid of his younger brother but we failed at every attempt.
We promised to keep everything from our kids so they could live a normal healthy life.
We buried that story deep. Buried it under layers of lies and shadows, the way we bury everything in this life. But it's all coming back now. All of it.
And my daughter is paying the price.
I stood up again, forcing the weight off my chest. "We need to change the game," I said. "No more waiting. No more half-measures."
Matteo looked at me with weary eyes. "What are you suggesting?"
"We start a fire," I said. "A big one. Force Sergio Lucian's hand. Make him desperate."
"Desperate men are dangerous."
"And so am I."
Matteo didn't argue. He just nodded, slowly.
"She's still alive," I said. "I know it. If he caught her, he'd want to use her. Humiliate her. Break her before he kills her. That buys us time."
"I'll alert the safe houses," Matteo said. "And I'll reach out to the second mole."
"Tell them to be careful. Sergio will be hunting now."
"I understand."
I'd sacrificed everything to keep my family safe. But I see it now. Safety isn't something you buy with silence. It's something you bleed for. Something you fight for.
I'm done hiding.
I'll get her back. I don't care what it takes.
Because in the end, no one messes with a Parker and walks away untouched.
Not even the Sergios.