Thirty-two

POV

Benett

The next 48 hours were a whirlwind of frantic activity. Mason, Tessa, and I barely slept as we combed through every piece of evidence, searching for anything that could discredit Loomis's claims. Our days were spent in intense meetings with lawyers and private investigators, while our nights were filled with whispered strategy sessions and mounting anxiety.

I could see the impact this was having on Tessa. We were determined to protect Hollow Hill Construction and her at any cost, but the pressure was immense. It was in moments like these that I truly realized the depth of our bond. Despite the stress and fear, we were united in our determination.

The morning of the second day dawned gray and threatening. I was at my desk, reviewing the latest findings from our private investigator when Mason entered, his face determined. Tessa had stayed home, as she was tired, and we decided to give her a break, considering she had been working late into the night in recent days.

"Bennett, we've found something," he said, his voice low but urgent. "It's not definitive evidence, but it might be enough to buy us some time."

He handed me a file. Inside were records of dubious transactions linked to Loomis's previous ventures. While they weren't directly connected to the false evidence he had against us, they painted a picture of a man who was no stranger to dishonest tactics.

"We can use this," I said, feeling a glimmer of hope. "If we can expose his history of manipulation, maybe we can discredit him enough to prevent this from blowing up in our faces."

"We need to take this to our lawyer and see how we can leverage it. But we also need to prepare for the worst. If Loomis follows through on his threat, we need to be ready."

The hours passed agonizingly slowly as we worked on our dual strategy: discrediting Loomis and preparing for the possible consequences. Every phone call, every received email, sent a wave of adrenaline through me.

Finally, with the deadline looming ever closer, we received a call from our lawyer. "I've reviewed the materials you sent," he said. "It's not conclusive, but it's enough to cast doubt on Loomis's credibility. We can use this to negotiate, but it'll be risky."

We agreed to a meeting with Loomis later that afternoon, hoping to confront him with our findings and force him to back down. The tension was palpable as we entered the conference room, the weight of the stakes pressing heavily on our shoulders.

Loomis was already there, his irritating confidence on full display. "Ah, the Slade brothers," he greeted us with a thin smile. "I presume you're here to accept my offer?"

"Not exactly," I said, my voice firm. "We've uncovered some interesting information about your previous business dealings. Information that could make your credibility very questionable."

Loomis's smile faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered. "Interesting, but irrelevant. The evidence I have against Hollow Hill is solid. You're wasting your time."

"Perhaps," Mason interjected, stepping forward. "But if we make what we have public, it might be enough to cast doubt on your entire operation. You might win in the short term, but your reputation would be in ruins. Is that a risk you're willing to take?"

Mason's words echoed in the room, but Loomis just laughed, a cold, cutting sound that made my blood run cold. "You're brave, I'll give you that. But you have no idea what you're dealing with."

Before we could react, the door to the room burst open with a bang, and two men entered, grabbing Tessa by the arm. Her eyes widened in shock and fear, and she struggled against the men, but they were too strong.

"What's going on?" I shouted, suddenly rising from my chair.

Loomis smiled triumphantly. "Now, you're starting to understand. I told you I would be back, and here I am. If you don't accept my offer, your precious one here will pay the price."

Mason moved toward Tessa, but the men dragged her out of the room at gunpoint, leaving us behind, stunned and powerless.

"Shit," I growled, my fist slamming into the table with impotent rage.

POV

Tessa

As the door slammed shut behind me, my heart raced in my chest like a caged animal. I struggled against the iron grip of the men dragging me, but it was futile. Fear enveloped me like a vise, suffocating the air from my lungs as I was pulled further and further away from Bennett and Mason, farther from safety.

I tried to scream for help, to plead for assistance, but my voice was lost in my throat. All I managed were muffled cries that echoed futilely in the empty corridor. Panic overwhelmed me, threatening my senses as I was led into the unknown.

The men said nothing as they led me through a labyrinth of corridors, their faces masks of stone. I desperately searched for any sign of escape, any glimmer of hope in the darkness that enveloped me. But there was nothing, only the cold, relentless grip of my captors and the ominous silence that hung in the air.

As we reached a nondescript door at the end of the corridor, a shiver ran down my spine. Instinctively, I knew that whatever lay beyond that door spelled danger. But there was no turning back now. With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I braced myself for what was to come.

The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit room shrouded in shadows. My captors pushed me inside, and I stumbled forward, my heart pounding in my ears. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I saw him — Loomis, standing in the center of the room, a sinister smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"Well, well, well," he murmured, his voice dripping with malice. "Look who the cat dragged in."

I squared my shoulders, summoning every ounce of courage I had left. "What do you want from me?" I demanded, my voice trembling but defiant.

Loomis chuckled darkly, circling me like a predator stalking its prey. "Ah, my dear Tessa," he said, his voice a chilling whisper in the darkness. "I want what I've always wanted — power, control, and revenge."

My blood ran cold at his words, and in that moment, I knew I was truly at his mercy. But I refused to let fear consume me. I had faced adversity before, and I would face it again. With a steely determination, I met Loomis's gaze, refusing to show any weakness.