Chapter 51

(this and the next chapter will be the twins pov)

Haiden's POV

Two days ago felt like an eternity since we last saw Hailey. Christian and I had been buried in work for seven grueling weeks. Our art studio/cafe, "A Brush with Love," has always been our escape, a sanctuary for creativity, but lately, it felt more like a front. We were on a relentless hunt for Leo, the mafia boss who had made it clear he wasn't afraid to play dirty.

The clock ticked mercilessly as we sifted through leads at our office, dimly lit by the glow of computer screens. Hours blurred into one another until the sun finally broke the horizon. When we finally agreed to call it a night, we emerged into the morning light, fatigue clawing at our limbs.

As we approached our door, Christian's eyes narrowed at a piece of paper wedged beneath the welcome mat. He picked it up and read it aloud, his brow furrowing. "Your diamond is hidden in our dust," he muttered, confusion evident in his tone. "What the hell does that mean?"

I glanced at him, shaking my head, but we brushed it off. The weight of our worries felt heavy; we needed rest more than riddles. Once inside, we slipped into our morning routine, the familiar motions grounding us: showers, tea, and a shared quiet moment on the couch.

But when I turned to the bedroom, eager to welcome Hailey into my arms, the warmth dissipated. The bed was cold and empty. "Hailey?" I called out, my voice echoing in the silence. Anxiety knotted in my stomach as I searched every corner of our cozy home.

Half an hour later, panic set in. "Fuck!" Christian growled, frustration igniting the irritation lingering beneath his usually calm exterior. The words from the note resonated in my mind. "Your diamond is hidden in our dust." Suddenly, each syllable felt like a punch to the gut.

"Christian," I gasped, realization crashing over me like a wave. "Hailey is the diamond!"

"Damn it!" he shouted, his fist colliding with the wall in a burst of fury. I flinched at his rage, but I understood; we had failed to protect her. "She's been taken! And Leo— it's gotta be Leo! He's the only one who could've known."

"Yeah, it has to be," Christian seethed as he grabbed his phone. "I'm calling Xan and Zack. It's time to end this fucker for good!"

As he dialed, I shoved my belongings into a backpack, the tears blurring my vision. I felt helpless and shattered. We thought keeping our lives separate would protect Hailey, but what if keeping her in the dark had put her in greater danger?

When Christian walked back in, rage was replaced by a despondent shadow that hung heavily around him. He approached me, the anger dissipating as he took in the sight of my tear-stained face. He pulled me into his arms, offering solace in a moment that felt both intimate and profoundly broken.

"We will find her," he promised, his voice steady yet frayed. "Xan is taking care of it." I nodded, drawing strength from him, even as dread clawed at my heart.

Within the hour, we were on a private plane headed to a safe house in a country we had connections to. I stared out the window, watching the clouds drift past, each one a ghost of the life we had been stolen from. How could one day change our world so dramatically?