When Contracts Turn to Forbidden Kisses Chapter 123

Ethan

I entered the dimly lit underground area beneath Blue Note to find three men bound on the floor, their faces almost unrecognizable from the beating they'd taken. Blood had dried on their split lips, and their eyes were swollen nearly shut. None of them dared make a sound as I walked in, my footsteps echoing on the concrete floor.

The underground fight club had been converted into an interrogation room. The boxing ring and punching bags remained in place, but a folding table with monitoring equipment now stood alongside them, looking oddly clinical against the backdrop of bloodstained canvas.

Noah and James lounged casually on a leather sofa, sharing a cigarette. The contrast between their relaxed demeanor and the battered men on the floor was jarring, even to me.

"What have they told you?" I asked, walking over to them.

James extinguished his cigarette and stood. "Margaret Thompson's behind this," he said, his voice carrying that controlled calm that made him so dangerous. "Your wife's stepmother hired these idiots to kidnap Amelia."

"Kidnap?" I felt a surge of cold fury. "Not kill?"

"Apparently, Margaret offered fifty grand for the job," Noah interjected with a derisive snort. "Cheap bitch wanted quality work at discount prices."

James nodded. "When these professionals," he gestured to the bound men with contempt, "told her the price was too low for the risk involved, she went shopping for bargain basement thugs."

"Wanting to do bad things but being too cheap to pay for proper execution," Noah said with a smirk. "She couldn't even afford amateur boxers at that price."

I knelt beside one of the men, noting how he flinched away from me despite being securely bound. "And the accident with my son? Was that their work too?"

James shook his head. "That's the thing—it wasn't them. I'm still looking into who was behind that incident." He met my eyes steadily. "Your son's accident was someone else's doing entirely."

The realization hit me like a physical blow. If Margaret wasn't behind the attempt on Lucas's life, then who was? Who would directly target a child?

"Keep digging," I ordered, standing up. "I want to know who's responsible."

"I'll handle it," James assured me. "In the meantime, what do you want to do about Margaret? These men were just hired hands. She's the one who put the hit out on Amelia."

I glanced at the bound men, considering my options. "Deliver them to Thompson Manor tonight. I want to see Margaret's face when she realizes her plan has failed." I turned to leave, then paused. "And James? Remind them what happens if they ever come near my family again."

"With pleasure," James replied, a dangerous glint in his eye.

I walked to the locker room, my mind racing. Someone had deliberately targeted my son. The thought made my blood run cold. My mother? She'd never been particularly fond of Amelia, and she could be ruthless when she felt the family was threatened. The possibility, however unlikely, needed to be eliminated.

I pulled out my phone and called her.

"Ethan," she answered on the third ring, her voice crisp as always. "Is everything all right?"

"I need to ask you something important," I said without preamble. "The children. Are they with you?"

"Of course they are," she replied, sounding mildly offended. "Lucas and Ella are playing in the garden with Mrs. Hopkins. I haven't let them out of my sight since that dreadful accident."

"They sleep in your room?" I pressed.

A pause. "Yes, Ethan. I've had the staff move two small beds into my suite. I'm not taking any chances with their safety." Her voice softened slightly. "Lucas is quite the light sleeper, just like you were as a child."

Relief washed over me, followed immediately by shame for having suspected her. "Thank you, Mother."

"Ethan," her tone became serious. "Is there something I should know? Are the children in danger?"

I hesitated, then decided on honesty. "Someone deliberately caused that accident, Mother. I'm looking into it."

"I see." Her voice hardened. "Well, whoever they are, they'll have to go through me to get to these children. I may not have approved of your marriage initially, but these are Black children, and I will protect what's ours."

"I appreciate that," I said, surprised by her vehemence.

"And Ethan?" she added before I could end the call. "Your wife. She's growing on me."

I smiled despite myself. "She has that effect."

"You'd better not lose her again," my mother continued, catching me off guard. "A woman who can produce children as remarkable as Lucas and Ella is worth fighting for."

"I know, Mother."

"And you'd better put more effort into your work as well. Don't let your uncle's family take what's rightfully yours."

"Yes, Mother," I replied, amused at how quickly she'd returned to her familiar commanding tone.

After hanging up the phone, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. My mother wasn’t behind the attack; she was actually looking out for the kids as their grandmother. A small smile crept onto my lips. Things were definitely starting to look up.

I returned to the main area to find Noah examining the monitoring equipment James had set up.

"All taken care of?" he asked, glancing up.

"For now," I confirmed. "Amelia's shift at the hospital ends soon. I'll go pick her up, and we'll confront Margaret together."

"You two getting cozy again?" Noah raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable.

"That's none of your business," I replied evenly, though I couldn't quite suppress the satisfaction in my voice.

Noah chuckled. "Good for you, man. About time."

I checked my watch. Nearly three o'clock. "Have the men delivered to Thompson Manor by seven. I want this finished tonight."

"Will do," Noah promised. "And Ethan? We'll find whoever went after your kid. Count on it."

I nodded in appreciation and headed out to my car. As I drove to the hospital, my thoughts turned to Amelia. She deserved to know everything we'd discovered.