Chapter 14 - THE WOMAN HE REFUSED TO LOSEThe mansion descended into chaos.
Declan ordered the security team to move Elena, Noah, and Tommy into the protected basement while Clary remained beside Margaret in the library.
But Clary refused to hide.
“I'm not going to let him use me to control you.”
“This isn't about pride,” Declan said. “It's about keeping you alive.”
“And what happens when he threatens someone else? Will you keep moving everyone into a basement forever?”
He wanted to argue.
Instead, he looked at her and saw the same courage that had drawn him toward her voice on his birthday.
“You're right,” he said. “But I need you to follow my instructions while we get everyone out.”
She nodded.
“Tell me what to do.”
They moved through the service corridor toward the garage, where a security vehicle waited.
Before they reached it, the lights went out.
A figure stepped from the shadows and grabbed Clary.
She screamed.
Declan lunged, but another man struck him from behind.
He hit the floor hard.
When he looked up, Clary was being dragged toward a side exit.
“CLARY!”
She twisted free long enough to look back at him.
“Don't come after me!”
The words cut through the darkness.
Then the door slammed shut.
Declan forced himself upright and pursued her, but the attackers had already escaped.
A phone lay on the ground.
It began ringing.
Victor's voice came through the speaker.
“Now you understand the cost of refusing me.”
Declan's hands shook with fury.
“Touch her, and I will find you.”
“Bring the trust documents to the old courthouse by midnight. Come alone. If you involve the police, Clary dies.”
The call ended.
Declan stood motionless for a moment.
Then he turned toward his security chief.
“Track every vehicle that left the estate. Alert the authorities. I want the courthouse surrounded without putting Clary in danger.”
“Victor said to come alone.”
“Victor can say whatever he wants.”
Declan looked at the security chief.
“We're not sacrificing another person to protect a lie.”
Meanwhile, Clary was taken to an abandoned office building outside the city.
Victor sat across from her at a metal table.
“You're remarkably calm,” he observed.
“I'm terrified.”
“Yet you don't cry.”
“I've cried enough for several lifetimes.”
Victor studied her.
“Declan has become weak because of you.”
“No. He has become more human.”
Victor laughed.
“Humanity is an expensive weakness.”
“So is greed.”
His smile vanished.
“You have no idea who you're speaking to.”
“I know exactly who you are. You're a man who steals from children and calls it protection.”
Victor struck the table with his palm.
Clary flinched, but she held his gaze.
“You think Declan will save you?” Victor asked. “He has an empire to protect.”
“Then he can protect it without becoming you.”
Victor leaned closer.
“Do you love him?”
Clary's heart pounded.
She thought of Declan listening to her sing, the way he had apologized when she challenged him, and the quiet kindness he showed when nobody else was watching.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Victor smiled coldly.
“Then you will be the reason he loses everything.”
At midnight, Declan arrived at the old courthouse carrying a sealed folder.
Victor stood near the entrance.
“Where is Clary?”
“Where are the documents?”
Declan held up the folder.
“You release her first.”
Victor laughed.
“You still think this is a negotiation.”
He signaled toward the building.
Clary appeared behind a glass door, her hands restrained.
Declan's expression hardened.
Victor extended his hand.
“Give me the documents.”
Declan took one step forward.
Then the courthouse lights switched on.
Federal agents emerged from the shadows.
Victor's smile disappeared.
Declan had never intended to negotiate alone.
But as the agents moved in, a gunshot rang out from the upper floor.
The glass behind Clary shattered.
May you like
She fell from sight.
And Declan heard himself scream her name.
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