Chapter 56
For some reason, I become uneasy and my heart becomes heavier as I watch Stefano step into the car. He decided to speak to Patrick, and he won’t even listen to whatever we say.
“Is it really right to just let him go?” I sighed deeply as I felt my husband’s arms wrap behind me. “Why do I get this bad feeling? Should we just lock him inside so he can’t go?”
“He’s a grown man. He knows what he’s doing.”
“No. I know my brothers too well. They’re all stupid as hell. Stefano might be smart, but not when it comes to women.”
“Speaking of… about Emily —” Cameron’s words were cut off when Noah came running out from the house and ran towards the car where Stefano was in.
“DADDY!” The kid shouted as he ran. “DADDY, WAIT!”
Stefano stepped out of the car and embraced his son. Gosh, how did time slip this fast? We were just bickering and fighting over the stupidest things and now he’s here in front of me embracing his own son.
“Do you really have to leave?” Noah asked.
“Why? You don’t want me to?”
“You said you’ll play with me.”
“I will. When I come back, let’s play until you’re too tired to even see me.”
“Do you… not like me?”
Stefano pulled out and looked at his son perplexed. This isn’t helping with my anxiousness at all. Watching and hearing the father and son conversation just makes my heart drop even more.
“Why would you ask that? Of course, I like you. No. I love you. You’re my son, Noah.”
“Then can you just stay?”
“Noah. I just have some work to do, but I promise to come back and play with you.”
“You promise?”
“Of course. I promise. I’ll come back, and let’s play. Let’s play forever.”
“Not even Noah can stop him.” I looked back and saw Sylvester and Skyler approaching from behind. They stood beside me.
“Was it your doing?” I asked.
“Does it matter? It didn’t work anyway,” Sylvester shrugged.
“How could you even think of using a child? Gosh. You and your antics.”
“We all don’t want him to go. No matter how powerful our background is, betrayal is betrayal. Only our instincts stay loyal.”
I chuckled. “If it’s your instincts, I wouldn’t even bother considering it.”
“But if it’s the same as yours, you still wouldn’t?”
“I would probably start doubting my own instincts.”
It didn’t take any longer before Stefano departed. The four of us; Cameron, Sylvester, Skyler and myself, all went to the headquarters of ZSH Security headquarters. It’s a security agency which mainly focuses on the safety of Z&H Empire and SH Holdings, and of course the Zach-Harris family. It was only established a year ago, co-owned by the two families.
This security agency isn’t just like any other security services. The technology used is more advanced than what most agencies use — especially in Casterdale.
“Dad won’t come?” Sylvester asked.
I scoffed. “Why do you even bother asking? You know the answer to that.”
We stepped out of the elevator and entered the main control room, which is only exclusively accessed by authorized people — like us, obviously.
This room is protected by a system where you need to do a pupil scan, fingerprint, access code, and voice recognition verification, just to enter. It’s basically like what you see in a spy film or something.
We’re now seated, all monitoring the large screen filled with camera footage.
“Even with all this camera footage, it still can’t make me feel at ease. Cam, are you sure everything is set and safe for my brother?”
“My dear, everything is monitored. We have, like, something around a hundred, on standby around the area.”
“Besides, they’re inside a police station. You have to chill,” Sylvester added.
“Nothing of this can make me chill. Emily running away, and Stefano entering a lion's den. Fuck this family.” I sighed heavily as I sat back.
For — I think — about an hour, we just all sat watching the footage inside the interrogation room. Actually, it all looks normal and unproblematic. Patrick’s hands are handcuffed, and there’s a table between them. Looking at it from this angle, anyone could have misunderstood that these two are friends having a friendly chat over a cup of tea.
“Can we really have no way to have an audio?” I asked for, probably, a hundredth time. I stood up frustrated. “This is much more dangerous! Why are they so calm? Why is it so quiet? What the hell is happening?!”
“Babe, please —”
“Shit! It took an hour before he lost his temper.” I turned to the screen at Sylvester’s cue.
“I guess it won’t be peaceful anymore,” Skyler added.
Stefano just grabbed Patrick by his collar across the table. Patrick is grinning while my brother is gritting his teeth in obvious anger.
Stefano releases Patrick and walks towards the door. But it wouldn’t open.
“What’s going on?” I turned to Cameron. “Why is the door locked?!”
My heart is beating crazily. I have a bad feeling about this.
I turned my gazes back to the monitor, and saw Stefano directly looking at the camera. He knows we’re watching.
Then he suddenly smiled.
“What —” 
A sudden explosion interrupted my words. I squealed in shock, and I covered my mouth as I gasped. I’m breathing heavily as I stare at the monitor that turned into black.
I shouted as I felt tears flowing down my eyes.
“What the fuck was that?!” I heard Sylvester shout.
“The signal is being interrupted. My calls can’t get through!” I heard Cameron shout in frustration.
“I-Is… S-Stefano… d-dead?” Skyler muttered, shaking and stuttering violently. I turned into him and slapped him. 
I grabbed Skyler by the collar. “Skyler, focus! You can’t be thinking that already! Stefano wouldn’t die like that! He’s not dead! He can’t die! I’m the only person who’s allowed to kill him, so he better be alive. That jerk better be alive.”
You won’t go down like this. You can’t. You just can’t!