CHAPTER 45

"Did you have fun with Aunt Greta today?" Ava asked as she watched them curiously.

"Yep!" Alexander replied in his adorable, tiny voice. His chubby legs carried him toward the kitchen, bottle in hand, seeking more tea. Stopping near the stove—far beyond his reach—he turned toward his mother, holding up the bottle as if to make a silent plea.

Ava sighed, smiling at his determination. She took the bottle from his hand and placed it in the dishwasher, scooping him up in her arms. "You've had enough sweet tea for today, young man. No more," she scolded gently, pressing her nose against his in a playful boop.

"Mama," Lucas called, making his way over to them, bottle in hand, his wide blue eyes locking onto hers.

"Same goes for you, little one," she said with a laugh, reaching out to ruffle his hair.

Eventually, after much playful wrestling and giggling, both boys fell asleep in Ava's arms, their tiny bodies pressed against hers, finding comfort in her warmth. Ava, too, drifted off, wrapped in the quiet solace of the moment.

Meanwhile, far away in an opulent office, Xavier Knight sat brooding behind his desk, sipping his own sweet tea. Despite his commanding presence, there was a weariness about him, the dark circles beneath his eyes betraying his sleepless nights. He was a man who ruled his empire with an iron fist, feared by many, but despite his power, peace had eluded him.

It had been three years—three long, painful years since Ava had disappeared. Despite his best efforts, no one had been able to locate her. His frustration mounted each day, and the anger simmering within him threatened to boil over. He had turned his world upside down trying to find her, spying on her parents, monitoring their calls, but to no avail. The elusive Ava had vanished without a trace.

Today, however, things would change. He had uncovered a betrayal within his ranks—a mole who had been sabotaging his efforts to find her. Xavier knew exactly how to deal with traitors, and the thought of delivering justice filled him with a cold determination.

As he stormed into the meeting room, Noah was already there, waiting.

"How's my darling Ariana?" Xavier asked, his voice gruff but tinged with a rare softness as he thought of his three-year-old daughter.

"Playing with her mother, as usual," Noah replied with a fond smile.

They both donned their hoods and headed out, driving to a decrepit building. This wasn't just any mission—they had infiltrated a sex trafficking ring under the guise of buyers to extract critical information about upcoming auctions. Despite the disturbing pretense, it was a necessary evil to get what they needed.

Inside the dimly lit building, everyone greeted them with a mix of fear and reverence. "The next bidding will take place in Chicago," one of the men informed them. "Girls and boys from all over will be brought in, and you can take your pick."

Xavier's face remained impassive as the projector flickered to life, displaying the photos of young women who were about to be kidnapped. Each slide felt like a punch to the gut, but nothing prepared him for what came next. As the seventh girl appeared on the screen, both Xavier and Noah froze in their seats.

It was her. Ava.

"This girl is being reserved for Mr. Brooke," the presenter said, his tone indifferent. "She's beautiful, though quite skinny. Brooke likes them thin."

Xavier's fury surged, but he kept his composure, masking his emotions behind a cold façade. No one here would leave alive.

Their mole, Kage, was standing smugly at the table, having betrayed Xavier by keeping Ava hidden. The betrayal burned inside him, but Xavier said nothing, letting the meeting continue. When one of the men asked him about Ava, he dismissed her with a nonchalant, "Nah, she's boring," masking his desire to protect her.

The meeting ended, and once alone, Noah turned to him, worried. "It's Ava, isn't it?"

Xavier nodded, his mind racing with plans.

"What's the plan?" Noah asked, anxiety lining his voice.

"I'll take her. You'll go in through the planned channels, but I'll get Ava out myself," Xavier said, running a hand through his hair. "I've finally found her, and I'm not letting her go again."

The next day, Xavier dealt the most excruciating death to Kage before heading to Chicago. Now, it all made sense—Ava's parents had been visiting Chicago frequently, undoubtedly to see her.

His information was solid. He knew where Ava worked, and that evening, he watched as she left her office, headphones in, oblivious to the world around her. She was still beautiful—perhaps even more so—but thinner than before. Her short hair framed her face, and her hips had grown fuller, giving her a different kind of allure. She stopped by a bakery, bought a few items, and continued on her way home.

Later that night, he sneaked into her apartment, his heart pounding as he finally laid eyes on her again. She was asleep, unaware of the storm about to descend on her. He carefully drugged her, ensuring she wouldn't wake up, and then his men began packing all of her belongings.

"Boss," one of the men rushed in, breathless. "There are babies in the next room."

Xavier's world tilted. He followed them, his heart racing. They flipped on the light, revealing two small cribs, each holding a tiny boy. As one of them stirred, waking and beginning to cry, Xavier's breath caught in his throat.

The child—the boy—looked exactly like him. There was no doubt. He didn't need a DNA test. These were his sons.

Rage and heartbreak warred inside him as he realized Ava had hidden them from him. But the boy's cries softened the sharp edges of his anger. Without thinking, Xavier lifted the child into his arms, and the boy quieted immediately, staring up at him with wide eyes.

"Pack everything, and get two baby car seats," Xavier commanded, his gaze never leaving his son's face.

The boy reached out, touching his father's face with a small hand. "Dada," he murmured, and Xavier's heart shattered. Overwhelmed with emotion, he hugged his son close, running a hand over his soft hair.

"Yes, little one. Dada is here now, and he's going to take care of you and your mommy. But first, he has to teach your mommy a lesson," Xavier whispered, glancing over at the other boy, who was still fast asleep, just like his mother.