Chapter 14

Julian stepped forward before Killian could snap. "I have inherited the Ashford holdings. Is that sufficient?"

Lucas Whitmore, the man Sebastian had been in negotiations with, rubbed his nose. He laughed uncomfortably. "Of course. But I worry Ashford can't match the offer."

Julian, cold: "He'll be able to offer what I offer."

Lucas shrugged. "I'd love to. But we already have a deal on the table with Mr. Harrington. Let's find another time."

Julian didn't blink. "Whatever Harrington offered you, I'll triple it. Sign with me."

Lucas grinned. "Deal."

He and Julian signed immediately. Julian turned on Sebastian.

"That was a warning. Return my sister and it stops."

Sebastian's smile was a thin line. "It's not up to me. She doesn't want to see you."

It landed. Both men went furious.

"She'd never—you must have said something to her."

Killian was dripping contempt. "Harrington. Vivi and I have been inseparable since we were kids. You've known her what, two years? You don't measure up."

Sebastian's smile dropped entirely. "Inseparable. So that's what it looks like when you put her face on a public bounty and let traffickers bid?"

"We only did it to find her faster," Killian snapped.

Julian tried a softer angle. "Mr. Harrington. She's my only sister. I'm more worried about her than you can be. I don't want to escalate. I'm asking you, as her brother, to give her back."

Sebastian's voice didn't change. "You two spent millions telling random men where to find her. Those random men included human traffickers. She was nearly kidnapped more than once. If I hadn't been there, she would be dead. Everything that happened to her—she survived despite you. And you're standing here telling me you were worried."

Julian had no response.

Killian was shaking. "She was almost kidnapped? That wouldn't have happened if you hadn't been hiding her."

Sebastian didn't answer. He turned to leave.

Julian began texting Sebastian through the business contacts list. "You're my brother-in-law now, one way or another. Let me see her. Please. One time."

When that didn't work: "My father has stage four stomach cancer. He's holding on to see her. If you love her, don't make her regret this for the rest of her life."

Sebastian showed her. Vivienne's smile was thin and cold. "I'm not seeing him. I won't regret it."

Sebastian held her. "Then you don't have to. Nobody's going to make you."

After that, the three families went to war. The Ashfords burned money blocking Harrington Group deals. Third-party firms were roped in to apply pressure.

Julian kept trying. "Be smart, Mr. Harrington. This is only the beginning."

Sebastian didn't react. Fine. Let them keep lighting matches. He would burn the whole thing down.

Vivienne finally went on record, cutting ties with the Ashfords in a statement filed with her attorney. Facing Julian and Killian in a climate-controlled conference room, she said evenly:

"Mr. Ashford. Mr. Thorne. If you continue to disrupt my life, I will take every legal remedy available to me."

Killian's eyes went wet. "Vivi. Do you know how long we've looked for you. You owe your brother and me more than this."

Julian was pale and grave. "Vivi. I know you're angry at me. I didn't know what Celeste was doing. If I had known I never would have—"

"Celeste and Delphine are in federal custody. Father is dying. Come home. Just to see him. Please."

Vivienne didn't move.

He kept going. He described Richard deteriorating. Drinking. Depression. Cancer. "Vivi. I'm begging you. Come back. Let me try to make this right. I have seen you dying in my dreams every night for two years."

"Everything is my fault. I promised Mom I'd take care of you and I didn't. I'm so sorry."

Killian had been held at the door by security. He strained forward. "Vivi. I know I disappointed you. Celeste manipulated me. That's all it was. Come back. I don't care about the baby. I'll treat her like my own. I swear."

Vivienne almost laughed.

"I never asked any of you to look for me. I nearly died in London because of you. If you had a shred of conscience left, you wouldn't be standing here."

Both men went red.

Julian tipped his head back, eyes closed. When he opened them, he looked at her, and his voice was gentle.

"Vivi. Are you happy?"

Vivienne smiled softly for the first time. "Very. And I'll be even happier if you vanish from my life."