Chapter Twenty-Three
Cedar
I sat in stifling darkness, thoughts of Flynn and our unborn child looping through my mind like a broken record. After Will’s last visit, he had cut off the power. With no windows, the room fell into an inky blackness that warped my sense of time.
For all I knew, I’d been stuck here for twelve hours—or maybe even longer—since our last confrontation. True to his word, Will provided no more food or water. Despite my mounting hunger and thirst, I refused to beg. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
I tried to calm my roiling stomach by thinking back to my first year of residency. I’d arrived at the accident and emergency unit for a forty-eight-hour shift, surviving on barely any food or sleep.
That was when I’d learned the grim art of intermittent fasting, my body growing accustomed to forging on despite exhaustion. Joke’s on you, Will, I thought grimly. I can last a lot longer than you think.
But physical resilience could only carry me so far. The room had become unbearable—the toilet’s water supply was cut off, and the stench made my stomach churn.
I focused on my breathing, trying to stay composed for the baby’s sake, yet each breath felt tainted by stale air and hopelessness.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed outside. A sliver of light spilled in, and the overhead bulb sputtered to life as the door opened. Will strolled in, wearing a smug grin.
“Good news, Mrs. Cedar Jefferson,” he said, sarcasm dripping from each syllable. “Your husband truly loves you, it seems. He’s signed over his father’s shares, and he’ll be making a major announcement on live TV very soon.”
He let out a hollow, humorless laugh—something that might come straight from a horror movie. My pulse quickened at the mention of Flynn, a sick worry twisting in my gut.
“I must admit, I’m disappointed,” Will continued with a theatrical sigh. “I expected more fight from my dear nephew. Then again, I suppose it’s better for me if he’s going to be this… cooperative. It’s pathetic, really. Barely six months after getting his shares, he’s already handing them over because of a little intimidation.”
Fury tightened my chest. “Keep my father-in-law’s name out of your mouth,” I spat, my voice trembling with both anger and exhaustion. “You know nothing about loyalty or love. You call Flynn weak for caring about the people in his life? All it does is highlight your own misery, Will.”
He dragged a rickety chair across the floor and settled onto it with a self-satisfied smirk. “Well, all’s well that ends well. I’ll manage the company more effectively than Flynn could ever dream of. He’d be devoured by competition the moment he sniffed adversity.”
I locked eyes with him. “Maybe you’ve won this battle, but good always triumphs over evil in the end.”
Will roared with mocking laughter. “Oh, spare me, Cedar. That nonsense belongs in fairy tales—and poorly written ones at that. This is the real world. It’s every man for himself, and I always come out on top.”
My mind flitted to the suspicions surrounding my father-in-law’s murder. Flynn had told me Will was the prime suspect, that the investigation was closing in. If he only knew how close, I thought, biting my lip to keep from snapping back. Don’t show your hand yet.
A moment later, the door swung open and one of Will’s henchmen entered, holding a tablet. “Boss, Flynn goes live in about an hour,” he reported.
Will’s face brightened with excitement as he turned to me. “Ah, perfect. You’ll get to see your husband grovel on national TV. Won’t that be a treat?”
I glared, my frustration seething beneath the surface, but said nothing. Stay strong.
“What about the others?” Will asked, flicking a glance at the henchman.
“They’re watching the perimeter. All’s clear,” the man replied.
Will nodded, lips curved in a pleased grin. “Good. I want no surprises tonight. My nephew’s little stunt will seal the deal once and for all. Now we just sit back and en—”
Chaos erupted outside the door, cutting him off mid-sentence. We heard scuffling feet and raised voices echoing in the hallway. Will snapped his head toward the henchman at his side.
“What’s going on?”
“I’ll check,” the man said curtly, stepping out.
For a tense few moments, none of us spoke. Distant thuds and muffled shouts filtered into the room, each one twisting my stomach with equal parts dread and hope. Could it be Flynn? Devan? Someone else?
When the henchman finally reappeared, his expression was unreadable. Without warning, he yanked out a gun, cocked it, and pressed the barrel against Will’s temple. My heart slammed against my ribs. For one horrifying second, I thought he might shoot me instead.
Will shot to his feet, palms raised defensively. “Fred, what the hell are you doing?” he demanded, voice trembling with rage and alarm.
I held my breath, utterly stunned. Why is he turning on Will?
Fred steadied his gun and spoke in a level tone that belied the danger. “Officer Devan is on his way here,” he stated. “And he’s coming for all of us.”
“That’s impossible,” Will snarled. “The chief didn’t order any operations. Our sources at the station would’ve told us long before Devan even tried something.”
Fred shook his head. “He’s not coming with official backup. Looks like he’s gone off-grid. Which means we don’t have the luxury of departmental red tape to protect us.”
Will’s face clouded with confusion and anger. “What do you mean?”
Fred inhaled slowly. “I’m sorry, boss, but Officer Devan—and Cedar’s husband—have our families captive.”
Shock thrummed through me, and I could see Will’s eyes bulge, uncomprehending. “My wife and children are safe,” he snapped. “They’re not even—”
Fred cut him off. “Not your family, boss. Mine. And those of the other men outside. We’ve each just gotten confirmation they’re being held at gunpoint. If we don’t stand down, we risk losing them.”
He kept his gun firmly trained on Will’s head, then pulled out his phone to show him a message. Fury twisted Will’s features as he read. “This can’t be happening,” he spat. “Flynn’s supposed to be tied up preparing that damn press conference.”
Fred shrugged. “I don’t have answers. But one thing’s certain: we’re not sacrificing our loved ones for your twisted scheme.”
Will balled his hands into fists. “You’re betraying me,” he hissed. “All of you!”
I almost quipped something about hypocrisy—the man who killed his brother, kidnapped me, and tormented his nephew had no right to talk about betrayal —but I bit my tongue. Now was not the time.
Fred jerked his chin at the door. “Move,” he ordered. “We’re leaving.”
Will glared but did as told, striding out. I followed, adrenaline coursing through me so fiercely I was dizzy with it. Is this really happening? The hallway was dim, but as we stepped outside into a quiet courtyard, headlights pierced the darkness.
A car screeched to a halt. I recognized the driver as Devan—and Flynn flung the passenger door open before the vehicle had fully stopped. My heart soared. He sprinted toward me, arms outstretched.
“Cedar!” he gasped, grabbing me and wrapping me in a tight embrace.
A sob of relief escaped me. “Flynn,” I managed, tears burning in my eyes. “You—you found me.”
He stroked my hair, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ve got you now. Are you hurt? Are you—?”
“I’m… okay,” I choked out. “Just exhausted.”
Behind us, Will was screeching in protest. Devan closed in on him, expression coldly determined.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Will snapped, trying to regain his composure. “You have no authorization to be here. I’ll have your badge!”
A humorless grin tugged at Devan’s lips. “I don’t need an order to rescue a kidnapped victim,” he said. “And I don’t need a warrant to arrest you for a crime this blatant.”
Will’s face colored as Devan rattled off his rights. “You’ll pay for this,” he spat, practically foaming with rage. “All of you!”
“You’re the only one paying,” Devan replied calmly. “There’s so much evidence stacked against you, not even your best connections can save you now.”
Flynn stepped forward, fists clenched, eyes dark. “You killed my father,” he said, voice a low, lethal rumble. “And you tried to take my wife—my unborn child—from me. You’re going to rot for this.”
Will’s bravado wavered. “You—how did…? My accomplices—”
“They’re already on their way to the station,” Devan said, pulling a small notebook from his jacket. “You’re finished.”
He cleared his throat and began listing charges in a formal tone. “Will Jefferson, you are under arrest for: One—first-degree murder of Harrison Grant Jefferson; Two—tampering with evidence by paying off the pathologist to falsify Mr. Jefferson’s autopsy results; Three—kidnapping Dr. Cedar Jefferson with intent to threaten her husband, Flynn Jefferson.”
Will’s face drained of color, but Devan kept reading him his rights, unflinching. When he finished, he snapped handcuffs onto Will’s wrists.
The sudden arrival of several police cruisers lit up the courtyard with red and blue flashes. Officers swarmed in, hauling away Will’s men and shepherding Will himself into a squad car. He cursed and shouted, but it fell on deaf ears. My eyes stung with tears of gratitude and relief.
With Will gone, I turned back to Flynn. He pulled me into his arms again, voice trembling with remorse. “I’m sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am that you went through this.”
Exhaustion and relief collided, and I burst into tears, clutching him as though afraid to let go. He held me until I could breathe again.
From behind us, Devan spoke softly. “Cedar? Are you okay?”
Wiping my cheeks, I met his gaze. “I am now. Thank you.”
A flicker of concern crossed my mind, and I turned to Flynn. “Did you really take those men’s families hostage?” I asked, voice trembling. “Were you going to hurt innocent people—because of me?”
Devan laid a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “The families were never in any real danger. It was a bluff. We wanted to rattle them enough to stand down without a fight.”
I exhaled shakily, relief mingling with exhaustion. “Thank you,” I said again, gratitude crowding in with each breath.
Flynn squeezed my hand and guided me toward the waiting car. “Let’s get you home.”
And with that, we drove away from the dark compound, sirens trailing behind us. Even as fear and grief pulsed through my body, a fierce resolve took shape in my chest.
We survived. Our family is intact. And we’re finally free from Will’s madness.