3rd Person POV 

The air inside the apartment was thick with tension, the kind that clung to the walls and seeped into every breath. Jeff sat at the dining table, his hands pressed together, fingers interlocked, staring blankly at the scattered notes in front of him.

Emma stood by the window, arms crossed, her eyes tracing patterns in the city skyline beyond. Ronan leaned against the counter, arms folded, silent but ever watchful.

The three of them had spent hours going over their options, trying to find a new angle, a fresh lead, anything that would give them an advantage over Sam, but so far, they had nothing.

It had been days since Sam’s last demand and the eerie silence that followed had only made Emma more restless.

He had told Jeff to sign over Anderson Industries, a demand so outrageous that she had expected immediate retaliation when Jeff refused to comply, but instead, nothing.

No threats. No follow-up. No new moves. Just silence.

Emma wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a terrible one.

Her biggest fear, however, wasn’t Sam’s next move, it was Jeff’s.

Each time she asked him about his plans, about what he was willing to do to get Jason and Anna back, his response remained the same, “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

It wasn’t the words themselves that scared her, but the way he said them.

Calm. Certain. Unwavering.

As if he had already made up his mind, as if he had already accepted the worst possible outcome and that terrified her more than anything Sam could do.

She turned away from the window and glanced at Jeff, “Have you really thought this through? I mean, really thought about it?”

Jeff exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face, “Emma, we’ve been over this.”

“No, you keep dodging the question,” she countered, stepping closer, “Are you still considering handing over Anderson Industries to Sam?”

Jeff didn’t answer immediately. He leaned back in his chair, eyes dark, jaw clenched, “I’m considering everything.” He finally said.

“That’s not an answer.” Emma pressed, her voice firm.

“It’s the only one I can give you,” he shot back, “If you’re expecting me to say I have a perfect plan to fix this without making sacrifices, I don’t. I’ll do whatever it takes Emma. Whatever I have to do to get them back.”

Emma’s chest tightened, “Even if that means giving up everything?”

Jeff looked at her then, really looked at her, and for a moment, she saw past the controlled exterior, past the composed businessman, she saw the father, the man who was breaking apart with every second his children remained in Sam’s grasp.

“If it means getting them back alive?” Jeff’s voice was barely above a whisper, “Yes.”

Emma inhaled sharply, her hands balling into fists, this was what she had been afraid of.

Sam had backed Jeff into a corner and he knew it. He was waiting for Jeff to break, waiting for him to reach the point where giving in felt like the only choice and Jeff was this close.

Ronan, who had remained silent up until now, finally spoke, “That’s exactly what he wants.” His voice was even, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. “Sam wants you desperate enough to give up everything without a fight. If you do that, you don’t just lose your company Jeff. You lose your leverage, you lose everything.”

Jeff let out a bitter laugh, “And what do you suggest I do Ronan? Wait around while my kids are out there with him? Pretend like time isn’t running out?”

“No,” Ronan said simply, “I suggest we stop reacting and start acting.”

Emma turned to him, “Meaning?”

“Meaning we need to stop playing defense. We need to stop waiting for Sam to make the next move and start making our own.” Ronan explained.

He pushed off the counter and walked toward the table, grabbing one of the scattered papers, “Every time we think we have a lead, we hesitate because we don’t want to set him off but Sam knows that, he’s using it against us.”

Jeff frowned, “You think we should make a move first?”

Ronan nodded, “Yes. We need to do something he isn’t expecting.”

Emma hesitated, chewing on the inside of her cheek. It made sense, everything they had done so far had been reactionary. Sam made a move, they responded.

But what if they turned the tables? What if, instead of waiting for him, they forced him to react?

“But we still don’t know where he is.” Emma pointed out.

“Then we find out.” Ronan’s voice was firm, “And I think I know how.”

The room fell silent as he pulled out his laptop and placed it on the table. He opened a program Emma didn’t recognize, typing in a series of commands.

“I still have access to some tracking software,” he explained, “I can trace any incoming calls if we can keep him on the line long enough.”

Emma’s breath caught, “You mean… ”

“If Sam calls you again, answer it,” Ronan said, “Keep him talking. If you can keep him on the call for at least a minute, I can track his exact location.”

Emma felt a jolt of hope, but it was quickly followed by uncertainty, “And what if he doesn’t call again?”

“He will.” Jeff said darkly, “He’s waiting to see how I’ll respond, he’ll want to push me again.”

Emma nodded slowly. It was risky, but at this point, what wasn’t?

Then, as if on cue, her phone rang.

The room went still.

Emma’s breath hitched as she looked down at the screen.

Sam.

Ronan’s eyes snapped up, “Answer it, keep him on the line.”

Emma swallowed hard and pressed the button. She put the call on speaker.

“Sam.” She said, keeping her voice steady.

A slow chuckle echoed from the other end, “Ah Emma, I was beginning to wonder if you missed me.”

Her fingers tightened around the phone, “We’re done playing your twisted games, I’m coming to get my kids.”

Sam laughed, the sound low and mocking, “That’s adorable and tell me, dear Emma, just how do you plan to do that?”

Emma glanced at Ronan. He was typing furiously, eyes glued to the screen.

“You’re not as untouchable as you think.” She said, forcing steel into her voice.

Sam hummed, “Mm, bold. I like it.” There was a rustling sound, as if he was shifting in his seat, “I hope you’re not getting any stupid ideas. You should know by now, I see everything.”

Emma’s heart pounded. Thirty seconds.

“You act like you’re invincible, but you’re just a coward hiding behind my children.” She shot back.

Sam sighed, “Coward? That’s rich, coming from someone who’s been dancing to my tune all this time. Face it Emma, you and Jeff? You’ve already lost.”

Forty-five seconds.

“We’ll see about that.”

Sam tasked, “You really don’t get it, do you? You’re trying to trap me, but I know exactly what you’re doing.”

Emma’s breath hitched.

Fifty-eight seconds.

Ronan’s eyes widened, before she could react, Sam’s voice turned dark.

“Nice try.”

And the call ended.

The crushing weight of disappointment settled over the room like a heavy fog.

Emma stared blankly at the phone in her hand, her grip tightening until her knuckles turned white, Sam had outmaneuvered them once again.

The seconds that had ticked away felt like a cruel joke, just two more, and they would have had his exact location. Two miserable seconds.

The weight of that failure pressed against her chest, suffocating her.

Jeff let out a harsh breath and slammed his fist onto the table, the sharp crack cutting through the tense silence, "Damn it!"

His voice was raw with fury, frustration simmering just beneath the surface, "I'm sick of this. He’s playing us like puppets and we just keep dancing to his tune."

Emma flinched but didn’t blame him, she felt the same way.

The constant back and forth was draining the last bit of hope she had left. They were running in circles, getting close enough to almost catch him, only for Sam to slip away like a shadow in the dark.

It was maddening.

Ronan exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck, "He knew. He knew we were tracking him, that wasn’t just a taunt, it was a warning."

Jeff scoffed, shaking his head, "A warning for what? To tell us he's still in control? We already know that."

Emma swallowed, her throat dry, "Or maybe he's getting bored of this little game of his. Maybe the silence isn't because he feels safe. Maybe it’s because he’s planning something worse."

That thought made the room grow colder.

Jeff dragged a hand down his face, exhaustion creeping into his posture, "We need a new plan. A real plan. This waiting game is killing me."

Emma reached out, placing a hesitant hand on his, "We’ll figure it out. We just… " She sighed, “We just have to be patient."

Jeff met her gaze, and for a brief moment, the storm in his eyes softened but then, the phone rang.

The sharp sound sent a jolt through Emma’s chest.

Jeff snapped to attention, his entire body going rigid. Ronan didn't even wait, his fingers were already moving across the keyboard, preparing to trace the call.

Emma’s hand trembled as she picked up the phone, it was Sam again.

She hesitated, just for a fraction of a second, before answering.

She put it on speaker.

Silence.

Emma's pulse pounded in her ears, "Sam?"

Nothing.

Jeff clenched his fists, "Say something, you bastard."

Still, nothing.

Emma exchanged a quick look with Ronan. He nodded sharply. Keep him talking.

She tried again, forcing a steady tone, "You’re awfully quiet. What’s wrong? Losing your touch?"

A few more seconds of silence, then… 

"Mom?"

The small, frightened voice shattered Emma's composure.

Her breath hitched, "Jason?"

"Mom, are you there?"

Her chest ached at the desperation in his voice.

"I'm here sweetheart, I'm right here." She reassured, her voice thick with emotion.

Jeff leaned in, his expression unreadable but his hands trembling, "Jason, listen to me, buddy. Are you okay? Is Anna with you?"

"Y-Yeah," Jason stammered, "But we don't know where we are."

Emma felt her heartbeat skyrocket, "Okay, that's alright, sweetheart. We’re going to find you but I need you to help us okay?"

Jason hesitated, "Okay."

"Can you look around? Do you see anything? A window? A door?"

There was shuffling on the other end. Then Jason's whisper, "It's dark… there's a big door but it’s locked. And a window, but it’s really high up. I don’t see anything else."

Ronan held up a hand. Thirty more seconds.

Emma bit her lip, "Okay, Jason. You’re doing great. Can you hear anything outside? Maybe cars? People talking?"

Jason was silent for a few moments, "I… I hear water, dripping water and sometimes, there's a loud sound. Like metal?"

Ronan's typing became more frantic. His brows furrowed, eyes narrowing at the screen.

Jeff pressed on, "Do you remember how you got there? Were you in a car for long?"

Jason sniffled, "Yeah. A long time."

Emma’s heart clenched, "That’s okay, sweetheart. You're doing amazing. Just keep talking, okay?"

"Mom… when are you coming?"

The raw fear in his voice nearly shattered her.

"Very soon, honey. I promise."

Then, suddenly….. 

A new voice.

“Well, well. Look at that.”

Emma froze, ice flooding her veins.

Sam.

"You just had to be a little hero, didn't you?" Sam’s voice was laced with amusement, but beneath it was something sharp, something dangerous.

Jeff’s face twisted with rage, “Don’t you dare lay a hand on him.”

Sam chuckled, “Or what, Jeff? You’ll come running? Because guess what, you’re already too late.”

Emma’s stomach twisted violently, “Sam listen to me, you don’t have to do this, just let them go. Take whatever you want, just let them go.”

Sam made a mocking sound, “Oh, sweetheart, but I am taking what I want and right now, I want you to suffer.”

Emma felt her breath leave her lungs.

Then, click.

The line went dead.

A horrifying silence followed.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Then…. 

“We need to move. Now.” Ronan’s voice cut through the panic like a blade.

Jeff was already up, grabbing his gun. Emma barely registered throwing on her jacket as they ran for the door.

They called for backup while Jeff gunned the car through the city, weaving through traffic like a man possessed. Emma could barely breathe, her mind racing through worst-case scenarios.

“We’re going to get them back.” Ronan assured, voice firm.

Jeff’s grip tightened on the wheel, “He will pay for this.”

Minutes stretched into eternity, but finally, they arrived.

A decrepit warehouse loomed in front of them, towering in the dim streetlights. The air was thick with moisture, and somewhere in the distance, water dripped steadily.

Emma’s stomach churned, this was it.

Jeff checked his weapon. Ronan nodded sharply.

Emma took a deep breath, steeling herself.

They had come too far to lose now.

It was time to end this, once and for all.