The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

lan POV

"So she got her hands on the 20 million and your fiancee:" my father concluded heavily, leaning back in his chair and frowning, while we sat there, the door to his study firmly shut.

"She killed Dexter," I said stiffly "She's escalating. At this rate, Dawn..."

I couldn't bear to finish the sentence. We all knew what I was trying to say.

"Could very well be dead, or close to it" my father concluded, looking at me sympathetically, "I feel for you son and you have my condolences. We could involve the authorities, but that's a sure way to get your fiancee killed" he said regretfully.

"I know" I exhaled "we can't afford to risk the authorities."

Knox nodded in agreement.

"You need a plan son. If you go in blind or without something in mind..." my father began to warn us.

"We know" Knox interrupted "You raised us better than that" he added rolling his eyes "but lan is proving difficult to convince. He wants us to go in alone. He doesn't want to risk Dawn's safety."

"Son" my father began.

I shook my head "I'm thinking about Faith" I said, fixing my eyes on him "She's already lost her father, I don't want her to lose her mother."

"You don't even know that Dawn is alive," Father said gravely "You could be doing this for nothing" he pointed out gruffly. "I have to believe she's alive," I told him stubbornly "If Karen had killed her, she would have left some sort of sign, or message to mess with my head. She wants me to see Dawn suffer" I told them, staring down at the ground "I firmly believe she's going to wait to kill Dawn until she's right there in front of me."

It was the perfect plan for a psychotic b***h, I fumed.

Silence. My father let out a shaky breath. "That sounds like Karen" he agreed, nodding in disgust "but lan your condition poses a problem. As much as I've encouraged you to believe that it's not a hindrance, in this situation, I have to be honest, it is," he said bluntly. I tried not to take offense. He was right. I wasn't much help in this situation, confined to a wheelchair. I scowled. "Yes, it does, but it doesn't mean that I don't have the intelligence to try and outsmart her" I growled.

"She has men waiting" Father murmured "While she is rich, she doesn't have unlimited funds, nor the connections we do. Perhaps you could go in, with the appearance of being alone."

Knox and I glanced at each other. "You're both trained in hand-to-hand combat and possess the knowledge on how to shoot a weapon," Father said stroking his five-clock shadow, "it's not something I was happy about having to teach you, but it's come in valuable more times than I can count on one hand. We send in men after you're confronting Karen" he explained, Knox and I shooting terse looks towards each other.

"She'll have men with her. If they get wind..." I began, starting to shake my head in denial.

"We'll take the whole lot of them waiting out in one fell swoop" Father interrupted "Leave that detail to me. If we take them all out at the same time, then they can't warn the other men. We'll have to be careful and surround the perimeter."

Knox looked thoughtful "I can provide some equipment that will prevent them from being able to communicate with each other. An EMP machine that will cut off all electronic devices within a mile radius. But it means we won't be able to communicate either" he pointed out.

"If we have the plan nailed down, we shouldn't need to," Father said shrugging "Besides that would be enough to possibly panic them. It's a good idea" he praised Knox "But I have to ask, what about Lorelai and your son? What about Faith?" he asked raising a brow "don't tell me you plan on leaving your wife in the dark about this" he turned to Knox who was biting his lip "or that you are doing the same with Faith? I understand your desire to protect the little girl, but Carina should know" he added.

"I was hoping you might speak with Carina," I told him quietly as he flushed "You seem to have a rapport with her and she needs somebody who will be able to support her."

"I plan on telling Lorelai but only the basics. I don't want to leave my son, but I'm not going to let lan go into this alone" Knox said tightly "I just want this to end."

"Apparently so does she," my father said grimly "Do you have any idea what that could mean? She could be planning to kill both of you and then herself. It wouldn't surprise me." His tone was ominous.

"I know and that's why we have to take precautions. Karen's been on the run long enough and interfering in our lives for way too long. This is our way to finish things once and for all" I explained, leaning forward and spearing Father with my gaze "If she gets away again, it will start all over. This time we have to do what's necessary" I glanced at Knox, narrowing my eyes "Whatever is necessary" I reiterated, hoping he would read between the lines.

We had to kill her. It was the only way we would be safe. Our men would be given the approval to shoot first and ask questions later. Nobody would be spared. It was brutal. It was ruthless. But it was necessary for our survival. We had been too lax or too nice in our other dealings. I was through looking over my shoulder, waiting for the other tree to fall or for the shot to be filed at me. My fingers dug into the armrests of the chair, my teeth gnashing together.

"You know that I will have to tell John about this" my father's voice was soft "he'll understand but he has a right to know. He feels responsible for everything that Karen has done." John Deluca, father's friend and father-in-law to Karen. None of us blamed the man. He was also Flair's grandfather-in-law now and a doting great-grandfather to baby Hunter. "Tell him, but don't give specifics. I don't want him caught in this mess. The last thing we need is attempting to intervene out of some misguided sense of duty" I told my father.

He nodded "Good idea. Knowing John he would want to help and while I would normally accept it, I think even he might feel guilty about having to take Karen's life."

Probably. Although I knew that John had hated Karen when she lived under his roof, along with Charlotte, it didn't mean he wouldn't feel a sense of responsibility towards her. He was that kind of man. the honorable and respectful kind. I admired him for that. I also held no ill will towards him for Karen's actions. He was not to blame for what she was doing. He could not stop her any more than we could. Nor had he known what kind of vicious psycho she would turn out to be when Charlotte died.

I would do anything to keep Karen from killing Dawn or myself or Knox. John did not need to know the details. He was better off being in the dark and oblivious.

"ים

I guess I better go speak to Lorelai," Knox said moodily, unfurling his legs that were crossed at the ankles and straightening up "Spend some quality time with her and my son. It's a long time until midnight tomorrow" he repeated, and glanced between my father and me "I'll get the equipment ready too. Let me know when I'm needed" he added and then crossed the room, opening and shutting the door quietly behind him.

I looked towards my father, surprised at the expression on his face and the fear I could see in his eyes. For the first time, he looked vulnerable and afraid. I wasn't used to seeing him like that. It was unnerving, to say the least. I was used to seeing him as the strongest one of us and now he looked like he was on the verge of losing his self-control.

"lan, son, it pains me to say this, but you could just walk away" my father's voice broke "You could just stay here where it's safe."

I couldn't believe he had even uttered the words. It was not like him, or his character.

I shot him a look "And leave Dawn to die? What kind of man would that make me father? I refuse to be a coward, just because of this chair. Even if I was whole, I would not leave Dawn at Karen's mercy. You know me better than that. You yourself, have killed men, for touching a precious hair on mine or Knox's head" I reminded him "This is no different. Dawn is my whole world and I won't live without her."

Dawn was an innocent bystander who had been put in the middle of my family's troubles. As long as Karen was allowed to live, this would happen over and over again. I was determined to stop it. The only way I knew how. By force.

My father blinked, fighting back tears "I'm so proud of you and Knox" he said gruffly "and if it were me in your shoes, and your mother that was being held, I would do exactly the same as you. God knows that's how much I loved her, so who am I to try and stand in your way? Just promise me that you and Knox will come back in one piece."

I could not promise that, any more than I could promise we would come back. I smiled shakily at my father and saw him slowly return it in acceptance. This could very well be one of the last times we saw each other. Visit Job n i b.com to read the complete chapters for free. I was reminded of all the times he had been there for me, all of the times he had shown me nothing but love and the loyalty of a father. I fought to keep my breathing steady and the tears from dripping from my eyes. I could not afford to be sentimental, it would only make my father cry.

"I love you, Father," I said quietly "and I will do whatever is in my power to come home."

It was the only promise I could make him without breaking it. He nodded in acknowledgment, a shaky smile on his lips.

"I love you son, and Knox and Flair," he said hoarsely "but god help me, if one of you should die, hell will have no fury as I will when I start shooting in my own version of revenge."

I shivered at his promise, knowing he meant every single word he had just uttered. I had seen the proof with my own eyes, what happened to those who dared to lay a hand against me or lan. Blood had rained that day and no doubt Father would make it rain again. There would be no mercy for anyone and my father would take no prisoners. I pitied anyone who came across him in that state, for they would never see anything ever again.