The Billionaire Who Killed Our Son Now Begs Me To Save His Daughter Chapter 03

The Billionaire Who Killed Our Son Now Begs Me To Save His Daughter Chapter 03

It was the middle of the night when Chase slammed open the door to my bunkhouse.

“Syl, something happened.”

I sat up in bed. His face was ghost-white.

“My daughter…”

“The company she works for transferred her from admin to the inspection crew on the Poseidon.”

My stomach dropped.

“When?”

“Just now. She texted me. Said she got the notice this afternoon. They’re flying her out by helicopter tonight. She doesn’t know anything, Syl. She studied finance. She doesn’t even have her offshore safety cert.”

“Did you call her?”

“Yeah. No answer.”

Chase’s eyes were red.

“Her last message said she made it to the platform and not to worry. Then nothing.”

I took his phone and looked.

The last message was from half an hour ago. A blurry photo. Gray metal railings. Nothing but black ocean in the distance.

Her final text said: [Dad, I’m here. Wind’s crazy. Talk tomorrow. Night.]

“Syl!”

Chase suddenly dropped to his haunches and put his head in his hands.

“I know that Corbin guy did this. He’s trying to mess with me.”

“Stay calm.”

“How can I stay calm?”

He clawed at his hair like he was losing it.

“You know what inspection crew means, right? One walk around that deck. When a big wave hits, she gets swept right off.”

“He won’t actually let her get hurt. He wants you to come begging me, Syl.”

Chase froze.

Then slowly, he sank to his knees.

“Syl…”

“Get up.”

“Syl, I know you’ve got history with that guy. I shouldn’t be on my knees. But my daughter… she’s only twenty-two. She doesn’t know anything. She’s scared of crabs, Syl.”

His forehead pressed against the cold concrete floor. His whole body shook with sobs.

“Please. Just… think about the seven years I’ve been with you. Yell at me. Hit me. I don’t care. Just save my kid.”

I squatted down and put a hand on his shoulder.

“Chase. Look at me.”

He looked up. Tears all over his face.

“I promise you. Your daughter is not going to get hurt.”

“Then you’ll—”

“I’ll handle him. In my own way.”

I pulled him to his feet.

“I’ll keep your daughter safe. But I’m not taking the dive.”

Chase stared at me, unblinking. He wanted to argue, but nothing came out.

Then a roar tore through the night. Helicopter blades, getting louder. The whole room shook.

A black helicopter was landing on the yard’s helipad. A silver logo on its side. Corbin Ocean Group.

The blades were still spinning when the door opened.

Grant stepped out in a dark coat. Two men in suits behind him.

Then a woman. Someone I knew.

Ten years. She still looked the same. Perfect makeup. Perfectly helpless. Grant held her hand as she stepped down, careful and slow.

“There they are.”

I turned to Chase.

Fear and anger flashed across his face. His fists were shaking.

“Syl, they brought muscle.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

I grabbed my jacket from the nightstand.

“Let’s go.”

Grant stood in the middle of the helipad. Someone was already beside him.

His eyes swept over the yard. Rusted sheds. Equipment piled on the dock. Greasy ropes everywhere. His lip curled. Not even trying to hide it.

Then he saw me.

His eyes stopped on me for half a second. Then moved on.

He didn’t recognize me.

Why would he? The woman he used to hold hands with ten years ago? I looked nothing like her now.

“Who’s in charge here?”

Grant’s voice was out of patience.

Chase looked at me without thinking. I stepped forward.

“I am.”

Grant finally gave me a real look.

“You?”

“Me.”

He let out a short laugh and said something to one of his men.

Then he turned to Chase.

“So you’re Hawkins? Your daughter settling in alright on my platform?”