CHAPTER 99: False Hopes 

Nick 

I walked to the door with the image of my son in my head, a strong pressure in my chest, and an immense desire to destroy Killian. I clenched my jaw and moved my head to release the tension that didn’t disappear this time. Seeing my wife devastated and my little girl without her other half had broken my soul. 

My body craved blood. I hoped there would be forgiveness in heaven for murdering scum like 

Killian. 

I was passing through the doorway and taking out my phone to call Will, while the captain followed on my heels, trying to make me give up on going after my son. No, I’d had enough of having to watch him being taken away from me this afternoon. I wouldn’t allow myself any 

more mistakes. 

I heard the roar of several cars and looked up to find three eight–passenger SUVS parked 

beside the entrance. 

I moved my hand to my weapon, and my companions did the same. 

Darius got out of the passenger seat of one of them with his hands up, and my body lowered 

its guard. Behind him, several men exited, wearing black military pants and tight black 

t–shirts. 

“Dad, who are these men?” Patrick walked towards him. 

“We need to find my grandson tonight. These men belong to the best search and rescue team 

in this city,” he exclaimed as they walked to where I was. 

“Alejandro Gracia, ex–military from the United States Army,” a man behind Darius introduced 

himself. 

Patrick and I shook his hand. 

“We’ve done some tracking on our own. We have some leads,” Alejandro commented. 

“I have one too,” I affirmed and walked to my car, not wanting to waste any more time. 

“Mr. Garnett, what you’re doing is illegal,” the police captain stopped me, and I looked at the 

sky impatiently. “These men can’t take action on their own. They haven’t been assigned by any 

of our institutions.” 

“I couldn’t care less if they are or not. These men are acting with the speed that your agents 

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CHAPTER 99: False Hopes 

lack. If I have to go to prison for this, I’ll be willing to do it when I return with my son. Let’s go,” I said to the group of men who were ready to accompany us. 

“Go. I’ll take care of things here. More like them will arrive to support the police,” Darius patted my back, and I got into my SUV with Gavin and Patrick. 

We set off, and the SUVS followed us. At the entrance, I found Will getting out of his car and running to get into mine. 

“Do you have it?” I questioned. 

“Yes, it was in the family property files. The house is still in our grandmother’s name,” he affirmed, and I nodded. 

I remember that when we were children, they used to take us to a house on the outskirts of the 

city. It was two or three times. It was a place that my grandmother cherished, although it was in the middle of nowhere. There was practically a river nearby where my grandmother spent a 

lot of time. 

“It’s a perfect place to disappear if you ever want to,” Killian had told Will and me. We were just 

kids; we didn’t even understand what he meant. Those words had stayed in my mind, not 

knowing that today they would be useful to me. Today, that thought has been haunting me 

since everything started. He must have taken them there. I had all his movements from the 

last few months investigated. He hadn’t acquired properties or anything that could give us a clue, just that house. 

I drove, keeping the images of Noah, Alana, and Alaia in my head, and stepped on the 

accelerator as I remembered the swollen eyes of the woman I loved. 

Before arriving, I diverted the path and looked for a secluded place to park the cars. 

William put on a vest and took a gun. We got out, and Alejandro came to us. 

“We’ll scout the area. There are tracks on the road, indicating there have been movements in 

these days. It will take us a couple of minutes,” he began to give signals, and the men started 

to move stealthily. 

I ran my hand through my hair impatiently in the few seconds that passed. 

Patrick patted my back, and I looked at him. His eyes were in the direction of where the house 

was. 

“The men and vans they took them in are parked outside the house, behind the walls,” Alejandro affirmed when they returned, “and there’s a small private jet, not very large, on a 

runway near it.” 

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CHAPTER 99: False Hopes 

“Son of a bitch.” 

Paula 

Three vans identical to this one joined us on both sides of the road. I only saw them making gestures and signals. I hugged Noah, providing him with the security I didn’t feel. I kissed his 

head and saw that he had fallen asleep. It was time for his nap. 

The journey must have taken more than two hours until we arrived at a solitary area where there was a large white wall that extended for several meters. In the middle, there was an entrance with metal gates. The vans entered, and we stopped in front of a classic–style white 

house. 

The men began to move until the leader of the kidnappers held the vehicle door. 

“Welcome,” he said with an ironic tone, showing me the entrance of the house with one hand. I 

refused to get out. 

“We don’t have all day, ma’am,” he spoke with annoyance and tried to grab my arm, but I 

moved away from his grip and got out by myself, clinging to my grandson. 

The man walked behind me and guided me to the entrance, where I found several pieces of furniture covered with sheets. Another kidnapper uncovered one of them and invited me to sit 

down. I decided to ignore him. 

“It will be very tiring to carry a child for hours,” the leader suggested, and I looked at him badly. 

“Paula,” I heard that voice that made my stomach churn. I looked up at the stairs where Killian Garnett was coming down, drawing a smile on his face. 

“Scoundrel,” I said through gritted teeth, and the man widened his smile. 

“I told you she has character,” he spoke to the man in charge, and he laughed. 

“Why did you bring us here?” I tried to modulate my tone so as not to wake my grandson. 

Killian finished coming down the stairs and inhaled audibly. 

“A drink,” he looked around, and a man came in holding a glass wrapped with a napkin, which 

he handed to him. 

“Since you’re so involved in this, I’ll tell you,” he approached where I was and looked at Noah, whom I had covered with my coat; I moved away from him and covered him more. 

“For years, I’ve been wanting to leave someone to continue my legacy, someone who does things the way I do them, who is ambitious and reaches the highest rung that can be presented to them, a Garnett worthy of that surname. You see, Dominic was a useless softie 

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who only let himself be dominated by feelings,” he shook his head, “and Nick a great imbecile who turned out to be no different from his father, a disappointment who only thought with his d**k,” he spat, making a disgusted face. 

“I need someone new, fresh, whom I can mold in my image and likeness, who can take care of what I’m going to leave in this world, and I don’t mean the company that bastard Nick ruined. No, there’s much more than that,” he drank from his glass and sat on a piece of furniture that the men uncovered for him as soon as they read his intentions. At that moment, Noah stirred, and I sat down to accommodate him better. Killian turned his attention back to my grandson. 

“It’s nothing more than an unhealthy obsession,” I said after meditating on his words, wanting him not to look at my grandson. “You’re just a crazy, sick narcissist,” I affirmed, and the man 

looked at me again. 

“Interesting diagnosis, not far from reality,” he leaned his back against the backrest of the 

furniture and extended his arms to shoulder height. 

“He’s just a child. He needs to be with his parents, with his little sister,” I blinked, holding back 

tears. 

He tilted his head, looking at me. 

“That’s the reason I decided to bring you. He won’t miss them if you’re by his side. Of course, I 

can hire someone else and let you go if you wish,” he spoke coldly. 

“You’re not going to take me away from my grandson,” I felt Noah stirring and uncovering 

himself. 

“Mama, Papa,” he said and looked at the little that my coat allowed to see. 

“We’ll return to them, my child,” I kissed his head. 

“Don’t give him false hopes,” Killian made me look at him. “He’ll get used to me. We’ll be his family and everything he needs, and Nick will learn not to mess with me,” he raised his chin, 

full of himself. 

“Family?” I laughed humorlessly. “You have no idea what that word means.” 

He tilted his head. 

“I’ve always seen you as a very attractive woman,” he looked at me intensely, making my stomach churn. “Do you know about Stockholm syndrome, Paula?” 

“I would never look at a despicable, bastard, miserable pig like you,” I said with disgust. 

Killian stood up and looked amused. 

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“I’m sure you’ll change your mind after a few months,” he turned around and began to walk. 

“What are you going to do with us?” I questioned, and he stopped. 

“We’re going on a trip, where we can start a new life. We’ll leave in a few hours,” he assured, looking at his watch, and continued on his way. 

“The child,” I stopped him again, “it’s past his dinner time.” He made signs to one of the men, and he nodded. “Take them to the room,” he ordered and continued on his way. 

We were guided to a huge room with large windows. I left my grandson on the bed and 

approached the glass to see that metal bars were preventing an escape. I tried to move them, 

filled with frustration. 

Not long after, one of the men entered with a tray of food, and I fed my grandson, who ate 

curiously, looking at the unfamiliar room. 

“I want Mommy,” he looked at me with those beautiful and tender eyes. 

“I know, my darling,” I stroked his hair and prayed for a miracle to happen.