Before Kimberly could take another step, a loud crash reverberated through the room. The vault's heavy doors burst open, and James and Camilla stormed inside.
“Kimberly!” Camilla cried, rushing to her daughter.
“Get away from her, Theo,” James growled, stepping protectively in front of Kimberly.
Augustus Theo raised his hands in desperation, his voice trembling. “Wait! I need her to open the Passkey. It’s the only way—”
“You’ve done enough!” James interrupted, his voice sharp with anger. “You dragged her into this nightmare, and now you want more?”
Camilla knelt beside Kimberly, wrapping her arms tightly around her. “It’s okay, sweetheart. We’re here now.”
Theo’s face crumpled in grief as he tried to reason with James. “I didn’t mean for it to go this far. I thought I could fix everything!”
James, consumed by fury, grabbed Theo by the collar. “Fix it? You’ve only made things worse! I trusted you, and you betrayed us. If you ever come near my daughter again, I swear you’ll regret it.”
He released Theo with a forceful shove, leaving him gasping for breath. Without another glance, James and Camilla ushered Kimberly out of the mansion. Theo, his face pale, scrambled after them, afraid of being trapped as the vault doors began to close.
Outside, the cool night air was calm, the rustling trees and distant bird calls a stark contrast to the tension of moments before. James loaded Kimberly into the car, tucking her into soft blankets as she drifted into an uneasy sleep on Camilla’s lap. Theo climbed into his own car, trailing behind them in silence, his mind racing with fear and regret.
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As they neared the city, Theo’s phone buzzed. He hesitated before answering.
“You failed,” the voice on the other end said coldly. “I am very disappointed. You better fix this mess, or you’ll face the consequences.”
Theo swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper. “I—I’ll try, Boss.”
“You don’t try,” the voice snapped. “You succeed. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Boss.”
The call ended abruptly, leaving Theo shaken. When James pulled over at the city limits, he marched toward Theo’s car, his face a mask of controlled rage.
“Why are you still following us, Theo?” James demanded. “Haven’t I warned you to stay away from my family?”
Theo lowered his gaze, his voice trembling. “I’m scared, James. If I go back without results, they’ll kill me.”
James’s expression hardened. “So you’re still involved with them? After all your promises that you’d quit? You lied to me, Theo. I risked everything to help you, and this is how you repay me?”
“I didn’t mean to—” Theo started, but James cut him off.
“Save it. Whatever happens to you now is your own doing. Stay away from my family, or I’ll make sure the police handle you.”
James turned on his heel and climbed back into his car, slamming the door shut. Theo watched them drive away, his chest heavy with anger, regret, and fear.
As his car faded into the distance, Theo’s phone rang again.
“Where’s the girl?” the caller demanded.
“They took her,” Theo replied, his voice shaky. “They’re back in the city.”
The voice on the other end chuckled darkly. “Good. You can go home now. I’ll take it from here.”
“Please,” Theo begged. “Don’t hurt my niece.”
The caller didn’t respond, the line going dead.
Miles ahead, James glanced at the rearview mirror, his jaw tightening when he saw no sign of Theo’s car. Yet, a deep unease settled in his gut.
“This isn’t over,” he muttered under his breath.
Camilla reached out and placed a hand on his arm. “Whatever happens, we’ll face it together. Kimberly needs us.”
James nodded, but his mind remained clouded. He had protected his family tonight—but for how long?