Jessica walked into the warehouse with Jordan by her side. The air felt tense, and the dim light cast strange shadows on the walls. In the center of the space stood Donald, his sharp eyes narrowing as he spotted them. His expression twisted into one of irritation and anger.

“Who the hell are you?” Donald snapped, his voice echoing through the room. His gaze darted from Jessica to Jordan. “You’re not Ethan!”

Verran, the wiry Wind Ascendant, tilted his head as he stepped forward, his smirk growing wider. His piercing green eyes locked onto Jordan. “You’re not Ethan?” he repeated. He did not give a damn about the photo being shown before, thus leading to such a rookie mistake.

Without warning, he grabbed Jordan by the collar and lifted him off the ground as if he were weightless. “Who the hell are you, brat?” Verran demanded, his voice cold and sharp, his smirk replaced by a dangerous edge.

Jordan raised his hands defensively, his voice steady despite the situation. “Relax,” he said, forcing a smile. “I’m just as important as Ethan. If anything happens to me, he’ll come running straight here for you.”

Donald narrowed his eyes as he looked at Jordan. He slowly walked toward him, and his footsteps echoed in the silence. “Is that so?” Donald said, his voice full of sarcasm.

He took a knife out of his pocket. The blade shone in the dim light. Jessica felt a rush of fear, and her face turned pale. She wanted to scream, to move, but her legs felt frozen in place.

Donald held the knife steady, hovering it dangerously close to Jordan’s left side. “Let’s test that theory,” Donald said with a wicked grin.

Before anyone could react, he drove the knife into Jordan’s side, the blade sinking in with brutal precision.

Jordan gasped. Blood and pain shot through his body, making him tense up. Blood began to seep through his shirt, staining the fabric red. Jessica screamed. She was extremely terrified. Her hands covered her mouth. “No! Stop it! Please!”

Verran let go, and Jordan fell to the ground, holding his side as he tried to ease the pain. Donald stepped back, still smiling, as he cleaned the blood off the blade with a handkerchief.

"Let’s say you are telling the truth," Donald said in a casual and mocking tone. “Now Ethan really will come running. That is… if he cares.”

Jessica knelt beside Jordan, tears rolling down her cheeks as she pressed on his wound. “Please, don’t hurt him anymore!” she begged as her eyes fixed on Donald, her voice shaky.

Donald looked at her with a mix of amusement and disdain. “You’re quite the little actress, aren’t you?” he said mockingly. He pointed to Verran, who moved aside as two figures walked out from the shadows.

It was Kaida and Dravik, the other two Ascendants Donald had hired. Between them, they dragged a bruised and battered man. His hands were tied, his face was hurt, and he moved slowly. Jessica felt a deep sadness when she recognized him.

“Dad!” she yelled, her voice shaking with emotion.

Joseph Moore barely lifted his head. His eyes were swollen and unfocused. His once-proud demeanor was completely shattered, leaving a broken shell of the man Jessica had grown up with.

Donald smiled as he saw Jessica's reaction. "This is what happens when you try to play games with me," he said confidently. "Now you understand, don't you? I'm not open to any negotiation. You... will do exactly what I say."

Donald looked at Jessica with a sense of cruel pleasure as he noticed her tear-streaked face. Her distress was clear. He moved closer, making her feel small under his threatening presence.

“So... I want to know your choice. Who do you choose right now?” Donald asked, his tone mocking. “Is it your father…” He pointed at Joseph, who lay on the ground and looked barely awake. “…or your lover?”

He glanced at Jordan, who was trying to stand, pressing one hand against his bleeding side.

Jessica gasped, and her heart felt like it might break from what he said. “He’s not—” she began, but Donald stopped her with a wave of his hand.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Spare me the explanations,” Donald sneered. "The man came here knowing who I am and what I can do." He tilted his head and smiled mockingly. "If that’s not love, then what is?"

Jordan clenched his teeth, his face pale but determined. “You don’t know anything about me,” he said, his voice strained from the pain.

Donald ignored him, turning his attention back to Jessica. “Well? I’m waiting, sweetheart. Who will it be? Daddy dearest or your knight in shining armor?”

Jessica cried as she shook her head. “Please… don’t hurt them,” she pleaded, her voice breaking. “I’ll pay you whatever you want. I’ll find a way to get the money. Just don’t hurt them any more!”

Donald laughed darkly, clearly amused. “Do you think I want your money?” he asked, showing his contempt. “This isn’t about money anymore.”

He stepped toward her, his boots making loud sounds on the concrete floor. “Your money means nothing,” he said in a low, threatening voice. “What I want is Ethan.”

Jessica froze, her breath hitching as his words sank in. “Ethan?” she whispered, her mind racing.

Donald crouched down to her level, his smile twisting into something even more sinister. "I want the man who embarrassed me and made me a joke in Brooksville. And you, my dear, are the perfect bait.”

Jessica shook her head, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. “No… please… leave him out of this. I’ll do anything, just—”

Donald’s expression grew serious as he stood up and interrupted her. “Let me remind you... I'm not open for negotiation,” he said coldly. He turned to Joseph, who was barely moving and delivered a brutal kick to his head. The loud thud echoed in the warehouse.

“Dad!” Jessica screamed and lunged forward, but Kaida quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her back easily.

“Let go of me!” Jessica shouted, struggling against Kaida’s iron grip.

Jordan, despite the pain coursing through his body, managed to glare at Donald. “You coward,” he spat. “You don’t even have the guts to face Ethan yourself, so you hide behind these goons.”

Donald laughed, a harsh, grating sound. “Say what you want, kid. Ethan will come running as soon as he hears about this. When he arrives, he’ll have to follow my rules." His smile grew wider, and his eyes shone with malice.

Jessica cried as she looked between her father and Jordan, feeling overwhelmed. She had thought she could manage this herself, but now she realized she was hopeless and helpless.

The atmosphere in the warehouse was tense. Every breath felt heavy with fear and uncertainty. Donald’s triumphant sneer twisted further as he relished the despair in Jessica’s eyes and the pain etched on Jordan’s face. His control over the situation was absolute—until the sudden echo of deliberate footsteps cut through the silence.

Lucien stepped into the warehouse with a presence that instantly commanded the room. His sharp suit and cold demeanor stood in stark contrast to the chaos unfolding. His gaze swept over the scene with quiet disdain before settling on Donald.

“Enough, Donald,” Lucien said, his voice calm but carrying an edge that silenced the room. “You’ve made your point.”

Donald turned to face Lucien, his irritation flickering into unease for a brief moment before he forced a scoff. “What’s this about, Lucien? You’re always meddling where you’re not wanted.”

Lucien ignored the jab, his piercing gaze now focused on Jessica. “I never gave you permission to do as you pleased with her.”

Jessica and Jordan blinked in surprise. "Lucien?"

They knew well that this would only make their trouble worse. Donald and Lucien were both considered enemies of Ethan and Nova-Tech.

Donald’s expression twisted into anger. “How is this fair?” he spat. “You’ll get what you want, but I don’t get Ethan? How do we settle this?”

Lucien’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. “Are you sure about that?” he said, his voice dropping into a deadly calm. “Isn’t his dog here already?”

The words hung in the air like a challenge, sending a ripple of confusion and unease through the room. Jessica and Jordan exchanged a glance, their despair briefly replaced by a flicker of hope. Neither of them had wanted to involve Ethan in this nightmare, but deep down, they knew they couldn’t handle it on their own.

Before anyone could respond, from the entrance, and a new presence entered the space. Steve stepped inside, his measured footsteps echoing against the concrete floor.

Though he came alone, his aura was overwhelming, an almost tangible force that made the air feel heavier. His sharp eyes scanned the room, quickly assessing the situation—the bloodied Jordan, the trembling Jessica, the battered Joseph, and the three Ascendants standing between him and his mission.

Donald’s smirk faltered, a bead of sweat forming on his temple as he recognized the danger. “Steve,” he muttered under his breath, barely concealing his frustration.

Kaida and Dravik, standing beside Joseph, straightened, their expressions hardening as they sensed Steve’s strength. Verran, still close to Jordan, felt his confidence waver for the first time.

Steve’s gaze settled on Donald, his voice steady and laced with authority. “Let them go.”

Donald laughed nervously as he tried to stay calm. “What makes you think you can give orders here?”

Steve took another step forward, the air around him growing heavier with his aura. “Because you know exactly who I am,” he said coldly. “And you know what I can do.”

The tension in the room spiked, the Ascendants behind Donald instinctively shifting into defensive stances. Steve’s strength wasn’t just apparent—it was oppressive, an undeniable reminder that he was not someone to be taken lightly.

Lucien’s expression remained unreadable as he watched the scene unfold. His presence was still imposing, but it was clear he had no intention of intervening—not yet. Instead, he seemed content to observe, his calculating eyes flicking between Steve and Donald's three hired Ascendants.

Jessica was released from Kaida's grip. She quickly went to Jordan's side and clutched Jordan’s arm tightly, her heart racing. The risks had changed, but the threat was not over. For the first time since entering the warehouse, she felt a spark of hope.