The Lies That Binds

Chapter 155

The pale morning light filtered through the curtains as Piper sat at the dining table, her phone gripped tightly in her hand. The message from Anton was burned into her mind, each word a brand that seared deeper into her every time she thought about it. “You can’t protect her forever. She belongs to me now.”

Her throat felt raw, her heart heavy. For hours, she had replayed the possibilities, the consequences, and the risks. Every scenario ended the same: if she didn’t act, Lily would never be safe.

Across from her, Gabriel stood with his arms crossed, his expression a mask of frustration and disbelief. “This is a bad idea,” he said, his voice low and firm. “You’re walking into a trap, and you know it.”

“I don’t have a choice,” Piper replied, her voice sharper than she intended. She met Gabriel’s gaze, the weight of her resolve forcing him to look away. “He threatened Lily, Gabriel. What do you expect me to do? Sit here and hope he gets bored?”

Gabriel leaned forward, his dark eyes locking onto hers. “I expect you to trust me. To trust us. We can protect her.”

“And what if you can’t?” Piper’s voice cracked, her composure crumbling for a moment before she steadied herself. “This isn’t about trusting you. It’s about taking control before he does. If I don’t meet him, he’ll keep coming, and next time, it might not be a warning.”

Jasper, who had been leaning silently against the wall, spoke up. “She’s right. As much as I hate this, we’re running out of options. Anton’s not going to back off unless we force him to.”

Noah, sitting in a nearby chair, frowned but didn’t argue. Instead, he rubbed his temples, his frustration evident. “And what happens if the meeting goes south? What if Anton decides he doesn’t feel like negotiating?”

“Then I’ll deal with it,” Piper said firmly, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her fear. “This is my fight. My responsibility.”

“It’s not just your fight,” Gabriel said, his voice softening. “You’re not alone in this, Piper. Don’t act like you are.”

She looked at him, her chest tightening at the earnestness in his tone. For a moment, she wavered, the strength of his resolve nearly breaking through her own. But the image of Lily, asleep in her fortified room, flashed in her mind. There was no room for hesitation. No room for failure.

“I’ve made up my mind,” Piper said, standing. “I’m meeting him. Today.”

Gabriel stepped in front of her, his jaw tight. “Then I’m coming with you.”

“No,” she said firmly. “This has to be just me.”

“You don’t know what he’s capable of,” Gabriel said, his voice rising. “I do. You won’t stand a chance if things go wrong.”

“Which is exactly why I can’t bring you,” Piper shot back. “If you’re there, it’ll escalate. He wants me vulnerable, not surrounded by protection.”

Gabriel stared at her, his fists clenching at his sides. “You’re making a mistake.”

Piper hesitated, her resolve cracking under the weight of his words. But she couldn’t afford to falter. Not now. “It’s my mistake to make.”

The café was crowded but not loud, the hum of conversation and the clinking of cups providing a steady background noise. Piper sat at a table near the window, her back to the wall, her eyes scanning every face that entered. She had chosen the location carefully—a public space, bustling enough to deter immediate violence but intimate enough for a private conversation.

The minutes dragged by, each one heavier than the last. Piper’s hands trembled slightly as she clutched her coffee cup, her mind racing with every possible outcome. She had no plan beyond confronting Anton. No strategy for what would come next.

The door swung open, and Piper’s breath caught. Anton stepped inside, his presence commanding despite his unassuming appearance. Dressed in a tailored gray suit, he moved with the ease of a predator confident in his domain. His sharp eyes scanned the room before landing on Piper, and a small, chilling smile curved his lips.

Piper forced herself to stay calm as he approached, every instinct screaming at her to run. Anton pulled out the chair across from her and sat, his movements deliberate and calculated.

“Piper,” he said, his voice smooth and dangerous. “It’s been a long time.”

“Not long enough,” she replied, her tone icy.

Anton chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Still feisty. I admire that. It’s a shame, really. You and I could have been great partners.”

“Cut the theatrics,” Piper snapped. “What do you want with Lily?”

His smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. “I want what’s mine.”

“She’s not yours,” Piper said, her voice shaking with anger. “She’s my daughter.”

“And she’s the key to everything,” Anton said, his tone matter-of-fact. “You’ve built a life around protecting her, and I respect that. But you’ve also made enemies. Powerful ones. Lily is leverage, Piper. Leverage I need.”

Piper’s stomach churned. “Leverage for what?”

“To tie up loose ends,” Anton replied. “You know how this game works. People like us can’t afford weaknesses. And you, Piper... you’ve let your emotions make you weak.”

Piper clenched her fists under the table, her nails digging into her palms. “You’re wrong. My emotions make me stronger.”

Anton smirked. “We’ll see.”

Piper leaned forward, her voice low and trembling with fury. “You’ll never get to her. I’ll die before I let that happen.”

Anton studied her, his gaze sharp and assessing. “You’re brave, I’ll give you that. But bravery isn’t enough. I hold the cards here, Piper. You came to me, remember?”

The reminder stung, but Piper refused to back down. “If you’re so confident, then why haven’t you made your move? Why are we here?”

“Because I’m a businessman,” Anton said simply. “And negotiations are part of the job.”

Piper’s heart raced as he leaned forward, his smile returning, colder and more menacing than before. “You want Lily safe?” he asked. “Fine. But there’s a price.”

“What price?” Piper asked, though she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer.

Anton’s eyes gleamed with malice. “Gabriel.”

The word hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Piper stared at him, her mind reeling. “What are you talking about?”

“Trade him for her,” Anton said, his tone almost casual. “Gabriel is an asset I’ve been after for years. You deliver him to me, and I’ll leave Lily alone.”

Piper’s chest tightened, her breathing shallow. “That’s not a negotiation. That’s blackmail.”

“Call it what you want,” Anton said with a shrug. “The choice is yours. But I suggest you make it quickly.”

Piper’s pulse pounded in her ears as she struggled to process his words. The weight of his ultimatum bore down on her, threatening to crush her resolve. Anton leaned back, his smile widening as if he could sense her turmoil.

“I’ll give you 48 hours,” he said, standing. “After that, all bets are off.”

Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Piper alone at the table, her world unraveling around her.

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