Chapter 25: A Dangerous Game

Ethan barely slept that night. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Sarah's face in that photograph, frozen in time, completely unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows. His father had made his move, and now the clock was ticking.

He lay in bed staring at the ceiling, Sarah curled up beside him, her breathing soft and steady. He had promised her safety, but how could he guarantee it when his father was willing to cross any line to get what he wanted?

Forty-eight hours. That's all he had to make a decision.

He turned his head slightly, watching Sarah's peaceful expression in the dim light of the room. He wished he could keep her in this bubble, untouched by the chaos surrounding them. But Daniel Carter didn't play fair—he never had.

Ethan had two choices: walk away and risk Sarah becoming a pawn in his father's game, or take the deal and find a way to outmaneuver Daniel from the inside. Neither option sat well with him.

But one thing was clear—if he was going to protect Sarah, he needed to act first.

---

A Risky Alliance

Morning came too soon, bringing with it the weight of impending decisions. Sarah was already awake when Ethan finally got out of bed, sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea, worry etched into her face.

She didn't ask if he had slept. She already knew the answer.

"I called Mason," she said quietly, setting her cup down.

Ethan's brows furrowed. "What?"

"He's coming over. You need help, Ethan."

Mason was one of the few people Ethan still trusted. He had been with him during his days of working in the underworld, but unlike Daniel Carter, Mason had a code. He wasn't just muscle—he was smart, strategic, and most importantly, loyal.

A knock sounded at the door, as if on cue. Ethan sighed and ran a hand through his hair before heading to open it.

Mason stood there, arms crossed, his sharp eyes scanning Ethan's face. "You look like hell."

Ethan stepped aside to let him in. "Yeah, well, I've had better weeks."

Mason walked in, nodding at Sarah in greeting. "What's going on?"

Ethan shut the door and got straight to the point. "Daniel wants me in on a property deal. If I say no, he's going to come after Sarah."

Mason let out a low whistle. "And let me guess—this isn't just any deal?"

Ethan shook his head. "Nothing he does is ever clean."

Mason leaned against the counter, deep in thought. "What do you want to do?"

Ethan exhaled. "I want to stop him. But I don't know how—not without putting Sarah at even more risk."

Mason nodded. "Then we need leverage. Something that puts him on the defensive instead of the attack."

Sarah spoke up for the first time. "How do we do that?"

Mason glanced at her, then back at Ethan. "We dig. Every deal Daniel Carter has made has left a trail—some dirt he doesn't want exposed. We just have to find it before your forty-eight hours are up."

Ethan clenched his jaw. He hated playing his father's game, but if it meant protecting Sarah, he'd do whatever it took.

"Fine," he said. "Let's get to work."

---

Unearthing the Past

Mason had connections—ones that led them to records of Daniel's recent transactions. It wasn't easy hacking into private databases, but with the right resources, money, and threats, Mason got results.

Hours passed as Ethan and Mason sifted through documents, tracing financial records and backdoor deals. Sarah helped however she could, though Ethan hated that she had to be involved at all.

Finally, Mason let out a low chuckle, shaking his head as he leaned back in his chair. "Well, well. Looks like Daniel's been busy."

Ethan peered over his shoulder. "What is it?"

Mason pointed at the screen. "He's not just after a property deal—he's laundering money through it. And not just small amounts. If this gets out, he'll have law enforcement breathing down his neck."

Ethan felt a surge of adrenaline. This was it. Their leverage.

Sarah frowned. "But how do we use this against him without putting ourselves in danger?"

Ethan's mind raced. He could threaten to expose his father, but that would only work if Daniel truly believed Ethan would follow through.

Then an idea struck him.

"We need to make him think someone else is onto him," Ethan said slowly. "If he believes law enforcement is already looking into him, he'll be too busy covering his tracks to come after us."

Mason smirked. "You're thinking we leak just enough info to shake him up?"

Ethan nodded. "Exactly. He won't risk making any more bold moves if he thinks the authorities are watching."

Sarah still looked uneasy. "But won't that make him more dangerous?"

Ethan took her hand, squeezing gently. "Only if he knows it's coming from us. We have to be careful."

Sarah swallowed hard but nodded. "Okay. Just… promise me we'll be safe."

Ethan met her gaze, his determination unwavering. "I promise."

---

Setting the Trap

They worked through the night, carefully crafting an anonymous tip to be sent to investigative journalists known for exposing corruption. They couldn't go straight to the police—Daniel had too many people in his pocket. But public exposure? That was something he couldn't control.

By dawn, the information was sent, and now all they could do was wait.

Ethan paced the living room, tension coiled in his muscles. He hated waiting.

Mason sat on the couch, feet propped up. "Relax, man. If this works, he'll be too busy cleaning up his mess to bother you."

Sarah sat on the armrest, her fingers grazing Ethan's wrist. "You did everything you could."

Before Ethan could respond, his phone buzzed. A text.

Daniel Carter: Meet me. Now.

Ethan exhaled. "Looks like we'll find out soon enough."

---

Face to Face

Ethan drove alone, meeting his father at a secluded golf club—one of Daniel's many properties. The older man was waiting for him near the driving range, expression unreadable.

"You've been busy," Daniel said, his tone casual.

Ethan kept his face neutral. "You should be more careful with your business dealings."

Daniel chuckled. "And here I thought you weren't interested in my affairs."

Ethan crossed his arms. "What's the point of this meeting?"

Daniel's expression hardened. "I know what you did."

Ethan's heartbeat remained steady. "Do you?"

Daniel took a step closer. "This little stunt of yours won't work. But I'll give you credit—you've forced my hand."

Ethan clenched his fists. "Meaning?"

Daniel smirked. "Meaning, I'm calling off the deal. For now."

Ethan narrowed his eyes. "And Sarah?"

Daniel shrugged. "As long as she stays out of my business, she has nothing to worry about."

Ethan didn't trust him, but for now, it was the best outcome he could have hoped for.

"This isn't over," Daniel warned.

Ethan met his gaze without flinching. "It never is."

He turned and walked away, feeling his father's eyes on his back. But for now, he had won.

And that was enough.