The Memory Keeper: Twisted Roots

Chapter 26: Leverage and Lies

"Listen to this."

And then I heard it.

A scream. A gut-wrenching cry of pain.

"Arrrggghh! Rainnnnn—don't give it to them... Arrggghhh!"

My blood ran cold. Aunt Joanne.

I shot up from the bed, my grip tightening on the phone until my knuckles turned white. "Joanne? JOANNE!"

The voice chuckled darkly. "How does it feel, Rain?" he taunted. "Listening to the only family you have left in agony—knowing you can't do a damn thing about it?"

My chest constricted. My pulse roared in my ears.

They had her.

And if I didn't act fast—

I sprinted down the hall, my heart hammering against my ribs as I reached Therese and Ikaris' room. My fist pounded against the door.

"Therese! Therese!" My voice cracked, my breath uneven.

A few seconds later, the door creaked open, revealing a groggy and irritated Therese.

"Rain, calm down—it's five fucking o'clock in the mor—" She stopped mid-sentence, her expression shifting as she took in my pale face and trembling hands. "What the hell happened? Come in."

I pushed past her, barely able to catch my breath.

"They have her! Aunt Joanne—they have her!"

Therese blinked, still half-asleep. "What? Wait—slow down. Who has her?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I don't know! I—I got a call this morning. A man, his voice was distorted, and then I heard Aunt Joanne—she was screaming, Therese! She was in pain. I need to go back to Chicago—"

"Rain, you can't just go back there!" Ikaris interjected, his voice sharp with concern. "It's obviously dangerous, and you don't even know who took her."

I turned to him, my jaw tightening. "I know exactly who took her." My voice was ice. "Either your grandfather or Letty is behind this."

The room was thick with tension. No one could refute it.

Before anyone could respond, the door swung open again. Khai stood there, her eyes darting between us, sensing the urgency in the air. "What's going on?"

I turned to her, my voice breaking. "They have Aunt Joanne, Khai. They took her—the only family I have left."

Her expression hardened in an instant. And just like that, I knew—Khai wouldn't let me go through this alone.

Without a word, Khai pulled me into her arms, holding me tightly as if she could shield me from the chaos unraveling around us.

Then, she turned to Ikaris. "Call Glen. Have the plane ready. We're leaving in an hour."

An hour later, we arrived at a private airport in Calgary. The jet was prepped and waiting, engines humming softly in the dim morning light. But just as we were about to board, I noticed Khai wasn't following.

"Wait—you're not coming?" I asked, confusion and panic lacing my voice.

Khai shook her head. "Listen to me. When you land in Jackson, Jessica will be there to meet you. Ikaris and Therese will take you to the penthouse. But I need to go to Chicago—I have to meet with Frederick. I'll work with him to figure out who's behind your aunt's abduction."