Where Petals of Vengeance Bloom

"What do you mean by that?"

Claire arched an eyebrow. "Judging by your faces, you really have no idea who I am, do you?"

"Who you are doesn't matter a damn to us," the man in the passenger seat snapped. "We're just here for a payday. As long as you cooperate, we won't have to hurt you. But you'll need to make sure you keep the two of us happy."

"You sure about that?" Claire glanced at the man beside her, her tone almost amused. "I'm the daughter of the Tempest Group's CEO. If you let me go right now and tell me who hired you, I'll forget this ever happened. Otherwise, things will get very ugly for you."

The driver slammed the brakes so hard that Claire lurched forward against her seatbelt. His eyes went wide with disbelief as he stared at her in the rearview mirror.

"You're the Tempest heiress? The genius scientist?"

Claire nodded. "That's me."

The two kidnappers looked her up and down as if seeing her for the first time. Their pupils dilated with shock.

Kidnapping a regular person was one thing; they could probably get away with it if they were careful. But snatching a world-renowned scientist? That was a whole new level of trouble.

Just a few months ago, this same scientist had been kidnapped right here in Cresthaven. Every last one of the criminals involved had ended up behind bars. The mastermind? Sentenced to death.

And she hadn't suffered so much as a scratch.

The two men trembled, fear overtaking their bravado.

"Y-You're bluffing. We don't buy it."

"If you don't believe me," Claire said coolly, "hand me my phone. Call my parents or my brother and demand a ransom. See what happens."

The man beside her frantically dug through her bag, retrieved her phone, and, after unlocking it, dialed Orion's number without a moment's hesitation.

The line barely rang once before it was picked up.

Orion's voice came through, warm but with a hint of teasing.

"Claire, already missing your big brother? I told you to stay at the office a while longer, but you never listen. If you're lonely, come back and I'll keep you company."

With every word, the kidnappers' faces grew paler. They exchanged uneasy glances, their confidence draining away by the second.

They weren't idiots. They'd taken a job for quick cash, but even they knew better than to mess with someone like this. Kidnapping a scientist was a federal crime-one that carried a heavy price.

One of the men covered the receiver and whispered to Claire, "We'll let you go.

But you can't go to the cops."

Claire nodded, utterly composed. "Deal."

The man let go of the receiver. Claire

chuckled lightly and spoke into the

phone, Sorry, Orion, I hit the call

button by accident. I'll let you get back to work."

She hung up before he could answer.noveldrama

Only then did the kidnappers finally exhale, their relief palpable. Inside, though they were cursing Marina for getting them into this mess. Damn Tramp people. Were they trying to get them killed?

Both men looked at Claire, uncertainty flickering in their eyes.

"If we let you go, you really won't call the cops?"

Claire met their gaze with unnerving calm. "Here's my advice: turn yourselves in. Tell the police who put you up to this. Maybe you'll get a lighter sentence."

They exchanged nervous glances. Neither one looked eager to confess; even with a plea deal, prison was still prison.

Claire saw their hesitation and sighed. "I've given you your chance. If you don't take it, you'll regret it."

"You?" The driver tried for bravado, but his voice wavered. "What could you possibly do to us?"

Claire smiled, almost pitying. "Alone? Not much. But who said I was alone?"

As her words faded, a sleek black Rolls Royce screeched to a stop directly in front of their car, blocking their escape.

The driver's door swung open. A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped out— imposing and unmistakably dangerous.

Claire recognized him instantly. Jeffry Moore-Sean's personal driver, and a retired special forces operative.

Without a word, Jeffry opened the back door. Sean stepped out, his expression cold and steely. The look he leveled at the kidnappers was enough to chill the blood.

"Where exactly were you planning to take my fiancée?" Sean's voice was soft but lethal.

The kidnappers didn't need an introduction. They knew exactly who he was.