I've been watching the GPS locator on my phone for almost an hour now, trying to keep track of Mia. She hasn't moved from Kenna's apartment up to now, but I can't find myself free from anxiety yet. And I think Marlow was right. This woman will be the death of me in so many ways, starting with a heart attack while I haven't even hit my forties yet.

Why does she have to meet Patrick when things were going almost perfectly for the trial tomorrow? What is it that she's going to do or say to make him grant her freedom tonight? I feel like I should do something to stop her, but yet another part of me wants to trust her and let her try doing things her way. So I'm stuck here, feeling like a fucking fool.

Sighing, I lower the phone onto my thigh and shut my eyes for a moment, trying to think of what I should do. Knowing Mia as I do, I believe she has an ace up her sleeves. She's impulsive, yes. Reckless even. But she's smart—so fucking smart that I wonder how much power she holds against Patrick Kingston and all other men around her, and that includes me.

I've never been on a woman's invisible leash before. It's been a foolish concept, really. But yesterday made me realize that I'm just a foolish man like any other. Just like the obsessive Patrick Kingston, I'm a victim of Mia Vera's bewitching spell and I wonder if there's any turning back if the idea of losing her terrifies me more than death and any other fear I've known in my thirty-five years of life.

When I heard Derek talking to her in such a raunchy tone—because I know that bastard wants her in one way or another—I felt a switch flicking inside me and the distasteful emotion began to overwhelm me. Maybe jealousy is the name, and I hate to think I'm possessive of her. No, I don't want to be that kind of a man even though I need her to be mine in every sense.

Another long breath escapes my nostrils as I recline back into the driver seat of my Jeep, and it's seven in the evening already. I think of the cold war between Patrick Kingston and his son, the kind of war I predicted a long time ago given the conflict of interest they have in one another for being mutually greedy and ambitious.

That's why I can't buy the bullshit that Derek Kingston wants to help Mia win the case out of goodwill. I may look like a selfish bastard for hating that he's getting too involved with her, which I don't care, but I won't drop it until I know what exactly he wants from her in return. Because there must be something he wants.

My disposable phone buzzes from the glove box, truncating my thoughts. Only one person calls me through this number—the person I'm yet to identify. He knows me but I don't, and I don't like this at all. But one thing is for sure by now; he's close to the Kingstons, and that's why my task last night was partly successful because of the information he gave me.

"I told you not to call me again unless you're ready to show yourself," I deadpan, my eyebrows jerked together into a frown.

"I'll show myself when the right time comes, Red. And if you didn't want me to call you, you'd have gotten rid of that phone already so I'll take the fact that you still have it as an implied partnership between us," he replies in that gentle, emotionless voice that makes me feel like I'm talking to a damn robot.

Who the fuck is he? It was just two days ago when a kid brought me a flip phone in the street and ran off. It immediately rang and this bastard was on the line, telling me that there'll be human trafficking deal sealed behind the scene during the Kingston anniversary gala and that the key to bust it would be Cora Mitchell.

Of course, he was right. The FBI traced the arrival of Dimitri, the bastard I killed yesterday. He was most wanted by Interpol for selling kids and girls like a herd of castles in and outside Ukraine, moving under a different alias. Thanks to the codes he gave me last night, a number of homeless people in an unregistered vessel were rescued early in the morning today.

But still, I don't like to be anyone's secret weapon.

"It's either you show yourself up or no partnerships. From what I've gathered, you're like a source of information but you got no guts to use it and I don't understand why. But I'm if I'm to make assumptions, you're either too afraid to step out in the light, or you're just one of the goddamn cowards who expect others to do their bidding while they drink French wine somewhere. And trust me, I'm not the one to run errands for you or any other of your kind so find someone else to play your games."

"Mia Kingston!" he shouts just as I'm about to hand up.

I grip the phone midair, my eyes narrowed as I consider the scent of blackmail lurching my way.

Slowly, I press the phone back in my ear and say, "What about her?"

"I know she's the woman you cherish, Red. I've been watching you two for a while now and I must confess you're doing a good job protecting her." His voice is still plain, without any trace of amusement that a normal villain with an upper hand would naturally have. "But I wonder if her husband will appreciate other things that you do with her behind the curtains. Shall you refuse my proposal, she will not wake up to see a new day when Patrick Kingston discovers that she's carrying a child that's not his."

I ball my fist so tightly that I feel my fingers burn. My breath quicken and all I want is to know who this imbecile is and how he knows so much about everything I've been doing with so much secrecy. I close my eyes for a few seconds, and when I open them, my gaze drops onto the open glove box between the driver and passenger seat as though it has something good to see.

"Don't worry," he goes on, "your private life has no impact on me. In fact, I think Mia Kingston deserves so much better after the hellhole her dear husband had put her into... and you're probably the best candidate so far. I won't interfere with your little romance, Red, so long as you and I join hands to stop the treachery that the Kingston and their associates are up to."

"What exactly do you want?" I ask, swallowing my pride as this is about Mia's safety.

For her and our baby, I can do absolutely anything.

"Now that's a good question, Red. And the answer is very simple: I have what you need, and you have the means to get me what I need," he claims.

Before I indulge myself in knowing his needs, I find myself asking, "And what is it that you think I need?"

A small silence passes until he replies, "The X-File."

I still my body in a stupor, and at the same time, I realize my gun is gone from the glove box that I've been staring at like a fool, which means only one thing. Mia has taken it. And when I cast a glance at my smartphone upon waking the screen, I see the GPS locator showing a movement.

My Lexus pulls over right next to the classic, three-tier fountain weeping rain-like rivulets in the air. The sight turns my breath shallow at the fond memories I still harbor inside, and my knuckles whiten around the steering wheel. This was once my lovely home, and at times I do miss some of the feelings I shared with everyone who lived with me: butler Lucas, Imelda, and even my husband.

But it's over now. Everything will be over for good tonight.

"Mia?" It's Derek.

I adjust the earpiece while drawing myself back, still stuck behind the wheel with my eyes strayed through the windshield where the two-story mansion stands prominently like a castle on the mountain.

"I saw the package." At last, my attention shifts toward the khaki envelope laying on the passenger seat. "I'm not gonna say thanks because I know there's a price to it. So what do you want in return, Derek?"

Because although I hate to admit it, these photos will be useful in a few minutes to come. A measly part of the precarious bargain, of course, but still useful. And for that, my mission will be completed in a single knockout, something I should've done from the very beginning.

"Why so much hurry, huh?" Derek retorts in a prudish manner that does nothing but dwindles my patience.

"If you're expecting some kind of blank space for you to write on anything you wish for at your own chosen time, then I'd advise you to fix your scheme. Tell me what exactly you want from me or forget about this whole thing; there won't be any form of payment from me once this night ends," I reply as calmly as possible, my attention back on the massive mahogany doors at the face of the mansion.

I wonder if Patrick is inside the house as we agreed. Dinner. How excited he was on the phone when I asked him for it.

"Your shares in my father's companies," Derek says briskly, no more laughing or teasing in his voice, "I want half of them all."

Just great!

My shoulders fall as I sigh deeply, and my gaze wanders onto the rearview mirror that I clutch open at the same time. Blood-red lips stream into view, and gently the smoky eyes follow, with wavy auburn hair framing my face like a dark enchantress with such evil intent.

"You must be out of your mind," I reply, studying the dexterous movements of my lips that lighten the bold makeup on my face.

"No, I'm not." Derek's laugh fills my ears. "I'm sure you're gonna pull a lot of shares as your alimony, no? Isn't that the reason why you want to divorce my father so badly and even went to great lengths by hiring a badass lawyer like Hilary Mayor? So you can finally get what every woman wants from Patrick Kingston but on a big, fucking scale?"

I smirk again, not so sure if I should be amazed or angered by his sleazy remark. Given that I'm here to catch a bigger fish that no accusation or character defamation can tear my will apart from, I choose to ignore Derek.

"I don't have time for this, Derek." I pull the buckle of my seatbelt, ready to move "And you were right. There's no need to rush. Let's say... meet me tomorrow in my office and we'll talk."

I can't deal with him right now so I leave it at it.

As I ring the doorbell, a slight chill runs over my spine. My heart begins to pound so fast as it discerns the glint of danger. I've never taken such a big risk in my life as I'm about to do tonight. It's not a business negotiation that's gonna happen once I'm past these doors and back inside the house I once loved. No, it's daredevil blackmail that may either end up making me free or dead.

________

A/N: And just like that, we got a new player in the game. Who is this guy blackmailing Red? And what the hell is Mia going to do tonight? Stay tuned!!