Chapter 52: The Next Move

The drive to Edward's mansion was silent, the weight of the situation hanging over us like a storm cloud. John sat beside me, his fingers tapping against his leg, lost in thought. As soon as we arrived, he wasted no time.

"I'm checking on Bella," he said, barely waiting for the car to stop before hopping out.

I gave a small nod, watching as he hurried off toward her room. I knew he wouldn't be of any use in the conversation I was about to have until he saw with his own eyes that she was okay.

Meanwhile, I made my way toward Edward's study.

As I stepped inside, I was met with an unexpected sight—Janet, sitting on the couch across from Edward, laughing at something he had just said. It was a rare moment of warmth from him, something I hadn't seen before. The way he looked at her, the way she smiled at him… it was genuine.

Edward had always been the definition of composed, a man who operated with precision and logic. Seeing him like this, human, made something inside me settle.

They deserved this.

"William," Edward greeted, his usual calculating gaze meeting mine. But there was something different this time. A lightness I hadn't seen before.

Janet turned, giving me a knowing smile. "I'll leave you two to talk." She stood gracefully, brushing past me as she left.

Once the door clicked shut, Edward leaned forward. "Sit," he ordered.

I complied, resting my hands on my knees. "You seem… different."

He smirked. "I could say the same about you."

I let out a small chuckle, but it quickly faded. "We have a problem, Edward."

His smirk disappeared instantly. "I figured as much when I got your call."

I exhaled. "Someone leaked a video of me. It was fabricated, but it's making rounds at school and even reached my father. This isn't just an attack on my reputation—it's a declaration of war."

Edward's eyes sharpened. "And you don't know who's behind it?"

"Not yet," I admitted. "But John and I suspect it's someone personal. Someone who knows exactly how to hit me where it hurts."

Edward leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. "This was meant to throw you off balance. Whoever they are, they want to push you into making a mistake."

"I know," I said, my voice firm. "That's why we need to move carefully. Which is why I came to you."

Edward studied me for a moment before nodding. "We need to trace the video back to its source. I'll have my people look into it. In the meantime, you need to control the narrative. The more you let this fester, the more damage it will do."

I exhaled through my nose. "Easier said than done."

Edward smirked. "That's never stopped you before."

I let out a short laugh. He wasn't wrong.

Just then, the door creaked open, and John stepped in. His face was unreadable.

"Bella's fine," he said before I could ask. "But she's been keeping tabs on things, too. She thinks this is just the beginning."

I nodded, already suspecting as much. "Then we don't waste any more time."

Edward leaned forward. "What's the plan?"

I met his gaze, my mind already ten steps ahead.

"We hunt."

Edward leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the wooden armrest as he processed my words. His mind was always calculating, analyzing every possible outcome before making a move.

"We need to get ahead of this," I said, breaking the silence. "We're being watched, and the people behind this are smart. Smarter than the ones we've dealt with before."

Edward's expression remained unreadable. "You think they're after you personally or everything we've built?"

I exhaled. "Both. They see me as the face of this operation. Take me down, and everything we've worked for crumbles."

Edward nodded slowly. "Then we make sure that doesn't happen."

I expected nothing less from him, but I knew we needed more than just a defense strategy. "That's why I need to know something." I leaned forward, meeting his gaze directly. "Callum. Did you get rid of him yet?"

A flicker of something passed through Edward's eyes—surprise, maybe, but it was gone before I could be sure. "Not yet. I was waiting for your call before making the final decision."

"Good," I said, which made Edward raise an eyebrow.

"You want to keep him alive?"

"I want to recruit him," I corrected. "Callum's mistake was aligning himself with Cassandra. Now that she's gone, he has no reason to stay against us. And if we secure his family's safety, we'll have his absolute loyalty."

Edward's fingers stopped tapping. He studied me for a long moment before smirking. "You never let anything go to waste, do you?"

I shrugged. "Not when it can be turned into an asset."

He let out a short chuckle. "You're playing a dangerous game, William. But I can't deny that Callum would be useful. He has connections, resources, and inside knowledge about the remnants of Cassandra's network."

"And he's desperate," I added. "Desperate men are easy to control."

Edward's smirk deepened. "So, what's your plan?"

I glanced at John, who had remained silent up until now, watching our exchange with a knowing look. "We bring Callum in. But we do it on our terms. He doesn't get to negotiate."

John nodded. "We set the rules, and he follows. No second chances."

Edward sighed, standing up. "Alright. He's in one of my holding rooms downstairs. Let's go see if he values his life enough to switch sides."

I stood as well, a slow smile creeping onto my face.

"Let's make him an offer he can't refuse."

Edward led the way through the grand halls of his mansion, the sound of our footsteps echoing against the marble floor. The deeper we went, the more the air grew heavy with anticipation. John walked beside me, silent but alert.

When we reached the lower levels, Edward unlocked a reinforced door and stepped inside first. The room was dimly lit, with a single overhead light casting a stark glow over the lone figure sitting in the center, hands bound behind his back.

Callum.

He looked up the moment we entered, his face showing a mix of exhaustion and wariness. His clothes were slightly disheveled, but he had no visible injuries. Edward's men had made sure he was kept in good condition—physically, at least.

His eyes flickered between the three of us before settling on me. "So, you finally decided to see me in person," he muttered.

I pulled up a chair and sat across from him, resting my arms on my knees. "I'm not here to waste time, Callum. You know what happened to Cassandra. You know what I'm capable of. Now, the question is—where does that leave you?"

Callum exhaled sharply. "You tell me. I assume you didn't drag me here just to kill me. If that were the plan, I'd be dead already."

I smirked. "Exactly. You're alive because you still have value. Cassandra's gone, which means you have no one left to serve. But here's the thing—I don't need a man who's just looking to save his own skin."

Callum tensed slightly, but I continued before he could speak.

"I need loyalty. Absolute loyalty. And I need someone who understands how the game is played. You spent years working under Cassandra. You know her network, her contacts, her strategies. That knowledge is useful to me. But more than that…" I leaned forward, lowering my voice just enough to make him uneasy. "I know about your family."

His eyes darkened, his breathing slowing. "Don't bring them into this," he warned.

I tilted my head. "I don't have to. The people who were backing Cassandra? They're still out there, and they'll come for you sooner or later. And when they do, they won't stop at just you. They'll go after everyone you care about."

Callum clenched his jaw, his shoulders stiffening. He knew I was right.

"But here's the deal," I continued. "I can guarantee their safety. I can make sure no one lays a hand on them. In exchange, you work for me. Fully, completely. No more betrayals, no more switching sides. You prove yourself, and you'll have a place in my organization. A real place."

Silence stretched between us.

Callum's gaze flickered between me, Edward, and John. He was calculating, weighing his options. Finally, he exhaled, his expression hardening.

"If I say yes," he asked slowly, "how do I know you'll keep your word?"

I smiled. "Because I don't need to lie to get what I want, Callum. And because if you betray me, there won't be a second conversation."

He studied me for another long moment, then slowly nodded.

"Alright," he said, his voice steady. "I'm in."

I leaned back, satisfied. "Good choice."

John stepped forward, cutting the ropes binding Callum's wrists. Edward crossed his arms, smirking.

"Welcome to the team," he said.

The tension in the room eased slightly, but I knew the real work was just beginning. Callum was ours now, but trust? That would take time to build.

And if he so much as hesitated in his loyalty, I'd make sure he never had the chance to regret it.

This was just the beginning.