Page 13 of Billionaire’s Cruelty

My big brother gave me his usual big brother smirk.

“Cranky, aren’t we? When was the last time you slept?” Lincoln teased.

“I slept alright. Maybe not enough.” I sighed, realizing how much I still needed his help. Without Lincoln, without Chloe, I was nothing but a woman chasing ghosts.

“You know, Kai is probably fine. Nothing would ever happen to him without one of his bodyguards being there to stop it. That much I know.”

“You don’t know that.” I said.

Lincoln shrugged and rolled his eyes—it was his “I know I’m right” look. Or was it his “I’m older, so you should listen to me” look? Either way, it was strangely comforting to see that expression again. I guessed that was what a big brother was for.

Lincoln probably thought he knew better than anyone, having been around him for so long I knew that’s what he thought. But this time it felt different. Kai didn’t seem like the same person I used to know. He was still playful when that side of him came through, but there was something else—something heavier—like he’d matured overnight. Or maybe it had happened over the three years we’d had no contact. Was that possible? Could people really change so much?

“What’s your plan when you get to Shanghai now?” Chloe asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

“I don’t know.” A surge of guilt swept through me. I hadn’t even thought about Dave and his team until now. How could I be so selfish?

“I was actually just going to follow Dave around. He’d know where to start looking for Kai.” My voice cracked, and a fresh wave of tears pricked my eyes. “I don’t know what happened to Dave. It’s so fucking unbelievable—he’s done everything to protect me, to help me, and all I could think about was myself.”

“That’s…” Chloe started but faltered, her mouth hanging open as if she couldn’t find the words. She moved gracefully to my side, brushing her hand along my arm before wrapping me in a warm, reassuring hug.

“His life could be in danger for all I know,” I whispered, guilt thick in my throat.

“When I called the airport, their security said no one had been arrested today. But they did mention some kind of filming happening—a group of influencers making short films,” Chloe said softly.

I blinked at her, stunned. She had taken the initiative to check on Dave when I couldn’t even pull myself together.

“What? Like an Instagram influencer?” I asked, barely processing the information.

“Apparently,” Chloe replied, her voice light but her expression serious.

Lincoln excused himself, leaving Chloe and me alone in the kitchen.

I leaned against the counter, the weight of everything pressing down on me.

“We have to help Dave. Without Kai here, he’s got no one,” I said, though for all I knew, Dave might have a whole network of people supporting him in the U.S.

“Do you want me to call my cousin Marie?”

“The one married to the Mafia?” I asked weakly. The thought of the Mafia sent a chill through me.

“Funny story, actually,” Chloe mused. “The old boss was Marie’s father. He had an affair with her mother, and when his wife found out, she sent Matteo—her nephew—to kill Marie and her mom. But instead, Matteo fell in love with her.”

I frowned. “Funny what some people consider funny.”

My gut told me that story didn’t have a happy ending for everyone involved. When I thought of the Mafia, all I could picture was bloodshed.

Then again, maybe people thought the same thing about doctors—we had plenty of blood on our hands, too.

“Oh sweetie, you’re…” Chloe’s voice softened as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear, her touch gentle and familiar, like it had always been since we were kids.

“I’m what?” I challenged, narrowing my eyes. “Finish that sentence, I dare you.”

“Innocent,” she said simply, without a trace of teasing. “And it’s not a bad thing. Look, if anyone could find Dave, it’s the New York Mafia.”

I exhaled shakily.

“I guess you’re right.” Deep down, I knew she was right—but that didn’t make it easier to accept.