Secrets Hidden Within: The Unexpected Betrayal

Chapter 19 : Into the Shadows

The sun had long since set by the time Uncle Sid and Rebecca stood in the clearing near their property, staring at the abandoned phone on the forest floor. Hours had passed, and though they'd scoured every inch of the surrounding area, there was no trace of Luke. The weight of the discovery—the phone but not its owner—hung heavily between them.

Sid's phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. A message from Chris: "Help is on the way". Sid rubbed his temple in frustration. He wasn't used to being pulled into his brother's tangled web of secrets, but here he was, stuck in a mystery with no clear path forward.Rebecca glanced up at him, her brow furrowed. "He couldn't have gone far, could he? I mean, the phone was here, so he has to be nearby." Sid shook his head. "This doesn't add up. We should've found him by now. Whatever's going on, it's bigger than just a missing phone."Meanwhile, back in the city, the night grew colder as Boris and his men approached the hospital. They moved with military precision, their dark suits and matching expressions of stern focus sending a ripple of unease through the staff as they entered the building.Boris, tall and imposing, approached the front desk, barely glancing at the nurse as he spoke. "We're here to see Dr. Collins. He's expecting us."

The nurse's eyes widened slightly, recognizing the name from Chris Ross's earlier conversation. She nodded quickly, pointing them toward the private wing of the hospital.The hospital halls were silent, save for the soft squeak of shoes against polished floors as Boris and his team advanced toward Dr. Collins's office. When they reached the door, Boris didn't knock—he simply pushed it open, the sudden intrusion startling the doctor, who was sitting behind his desk, reviewing files. Dr. Collins looked up, frowning slightly. He had been expecting trouble ever since Luke's disappearance, and now it had arrived. "Boris," he greeted warily, adjusting his glasses. "I suppose you're here for answers." Boris stepped forward, arms crossed, his tone flat and dangerous. "I'm not interested in excuses, Doctor. Chris Ross sent us. You're going to explain, in detail, how Luke Ross walked out of this hospital under your care, and why you didn't do a damn thing to stop him." Dr. Collins sighed, leaning back in his chair, as if trying to absorb the weight of the accusation. "I assure you, Boris, it wasn't negligence. Luke's condition was more complicated than we anticipated. His memory loss wasn't stable, and he began exhibiting signs of severe confusion. I believe that disorientation drove him to flee. We had guards stationed, but somehow he slipped through. He was determined to leave."Boris's eyes narrowed. "So your incompetence let him escape. That's all I'm hearing."The doctor shook his head. "It's more than that. Luke was agitated, and he wasn't thinking clearly. But if he left, there's a possibility he went to someone he trusts." He hesitated, then added, "There was one visitor who saw him shortly before he disappeared—his ex-girlfriend, Melanie." Boris's gaze sharpened. "And you waited until now to mention this?""I didn't think it was relevant at the time. But now... she might know more than she's letting on."Boris motioned to one of his men. "Find out where this Melanie lives and get eyes on her. We'll start there." He turned back to the doctor, his voice ice-cold. "You'd better hope she leads us to Luke."---

Across the city, Luke, Zack, and Melanie were holed up in Zack's apartment, the weight of their situation pressing down on them. The room was dimly lit, adding to the tension that hung in the air as they gathered around Zack's kitchen table. Zack had returned from his meeting and they were now eating the pizza they had ordered earlier. "We're running out of time," Zack muttered, rubbing his temples. "Your father's not going to let this slide, Luke. He's going to come after us, and we need to be gone before he gets close. I do not trust that doctor to keep his mouth shut, especially when your father confronts him. Dude can be scary for an old man." Luke nodded, staring down at the table, his mind racing. "We need to move, but we can't just disappear. Tyler's out there somewhere. I know my dad's keeping him hidden, but I don't know where. We can't leave without finding him." Melanie leaned forward, her face etched with concern. "Then we need to find someone who knows where Tyler is being kept. Someone who knows your father's plans, his safe houses. There has to be a way." Zack was pacing the small apartment, his thoughts racing. "We have to be smart about this. We can't trust anyone—not even the people we used to. I've got some old contacts who might still be able to help, but it's risky."Melanie stood up, her eyes flicking between the two men. "We don't have a choice. We're in this together now."

As they debated their next steps, none of them realized just how close danger was. Across the street, Boris's men had arrived. They stood outside the building, watching from a distance, scanning the area for any sign of the trio. Zack's apartment wasn't easy to track down, but Boris had learned to be patient, to wait until the right moment. Tonight, they wouldn't strike yet, but they would get closer, watching, waiting.Inside, Luke could feel the weight of his father's reach closing in on him, even though he didn't know exactly where it would come from. He exchanged a glance with Melanie, her concern matching his own. Everything felt like it was spiraling out of control, and they were barely holding on.

Back at Sid's property, as the night grew darker, Titus and his team arrived, their vehicles kicking up dust as they pulled in. Sid, standing at the edge of the clearing, watched them with a mixture of relief and dread. Whatever had started with Luke was far from over, and with Chris's men involved, the stakes were only going to get higher.

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The book is coming to an end and every chapter, as short as they are, are a build up of what is yet to come.