Alone and Cornered

VANESSA

The flash of the camera temporarily blinded me, spots of light dancing across my vision as I blinked them away. When my sight cleared, I saw Vaughn checking the photo on his phone with a satisfied smirk. My stomach twisted when I realized what was missing from the picture—me.

They had only photographed Fabian. Alone.

"Perfect," Vaughn muttered, his thumb swiping across the screen. "This will do nicely."

The implication hit me like a physical blow. If they were sending proof of only Fabian's life, what did that mean for mine?

My son's wide eyes found mine across the room, fear etched into his small features. I forced a reassuring smile, though my heart hammered wildly against my ribs. His bottom lip trembled slightly, but he stayed quiet, sensing the gravity of the situation.

Vaughn's phone immediately lit up with an incoming call. He glanced at the screen and chuckled before silencing it, sliding the device into his pocket.