Chapter 5: The Husband’s Choice
Jillian read the message three times.
Each time, the words looked worse.
If you want him alive, come alone.
The room around her disappeared.
She only saw Cody.
Eight years old.
Sitting in a hospital bed.
Holding her hand after falling off his bicycle.
Calling her Mom for the first time.
She had never forgotten that moment.
And now someone was using him against her.
“Give me the phone.””
Emmett’s voice was calm.
Too calm.
Jillian stepped back.
“No.””
“Jillian.””
“No.””
“If Patrick sent that message, you cannot walk into that situation without knowing what he wants.””
“He has Cody.””
“You don’t know that.””
“He’s his father.””
Emmett’s eyes hardened.
“Exactly.””
The word stopped her.
Sofia moved closer.
“Jillian, think carefully.””
“How can I think carefully when my son is in danger?””
Nobody answered.
Because they understood.
Not because they agreed.
Because they saw the fear in her face.
Emmett held out his hand.
“Let me check the message.””
After several seconds, Jillian gave him the phone.
He studied the screen.
Then the number.
Then the timing.
“He didn’t send this from his phone.””
“What?””
“Look.””
He turned the screen toward her.
“The message came through a private server.””
Jillian stared.
“Someone is pretending to be Patrick?””
“Yes.””
A small piece of hope appeared.
Then disappeared.
“Then where is Cody?””
Nobody knew.
Until Sofia’s tablet chimed.
She looked down.
Her expression changed.
“What?””
Emmett asked.
Sofia turned the screen.
A security image appeared.
A young boy entering an old warehouse.
Jillian covered her mouth.
“Cody.””
“When was this taken?”” Emmett asked.
“Twenty minutes ago.””
Jillian grabbed her coat.
“I’m going.””
“No.””
She looked at Emmett.
“You don’t get to tell me no.””
“Yes, I do.””
Her anger exploded.
“You don’t know him!””
Emmett did not move.
“You’re right.””
His voice lowered.
“I don’t know Cody.””
A pause.
“But Shawn did.””
Jillian froze.
“What?””
Emmett walked toward the desk and pulled out a smaller envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Jillian recognized the handwriting immediately.
Shawn.
She read the first line.
If anything happens to me, the only person I trust to protect Cody is the person who hates me most.
Her hands shook.
“What does that mean?””
Emmett looked at her.
“Shawn knew someone in his family would come after Cody.””
“Why?””
“Because Cody inherited something.””
Jillian looked confused.
“He’s sixteen.””
“He’s also Shawn’s legal heir.””
The room went silent.
“What?””
Sofia nodded.
“Three weeks before Shawn died, he changed his will.””
Jillian stared at the letter.
“Why didn’t Patrick tell me?””
Emmett answered quietly.
“Because Patrick wasn’t supposed to know.””
That hurt.
Deeply.
She thought about every conversation.
Every dinner.
Every moment Patrick avoided.
“How could he keep this from me?””
Sofia looked at her.
“Because he was protecting someone.””
“Who?””
Nobody answered.
And Jillian suddenly knew.
Not Cody.
Not her.
Someone else.
“Patrick.””
The name came out like a whisper.
Emmett picked up his coat.
“We leave now.””
The drive to the warehouse was silent.
Jillian sat in the back seat staring at the city passing by.
Finally, she asked the question that had been burning inside her.
“Why do you hate Shawn?””
Emmett looked at her through the mirror.
“I didn’t.””
She frowned.
“Everyone says the Carbones and Bannons hate each other.””
“Families like ours don’t hate.””
“What do they do?””
“They remember.””
The warehouse appeared ahead.
Dark.
Abandoned.
Waiting.
The driver stopped.
Emmett opened the door.
Before stepping out, he looked at Jillian.
“Stay behind me.””
“I’m coming.””
“I know.””
“Then don’t tell me to stay back.””
For the first time, a small smile appeared on his face.
“You sound like Shawn.””
Jillian froze.
“What does that mean?””
But Emmett was already walking toward the warehouse.
And inside, a voice called out.
“Jillian.””
May you like
She knew that voice.
Patrick.
