Cass hid beside a display cabinet on her side away from Daniel's office , eyeing the closed door. Luckily, it was nearing midnight or she'd feel extremely weird. She chewed on her already abused lips as her mind tried to force her to move. Just go, she told herself, her fingers clutching spasmodically on the bag in her hand.

It's been close to two months since she left the clinic and Daniel was nowhere close to finding Bryan. That man was a slippery eel and they'd not crossed paths again since Jeremy. So Daniel was understandably frustrated and short-tempered.

Which was why she should help him.

But she'd been on her own for so long that it wasn't intuitive to extend any assistance. Despite having gotten closer to him during her stay, she could never forget his treatment of her. His driving need for revenge. His tunnel vision that excluded everything else.

On the other hand, she wanted the spectre that was Bryan to be gone. She wanted Kendall to be able to play at the playground without fear of anyone reporting to Bryan. Or make friends. Ultimately, have a normal life. She'd do anything to give him that.

Her mind made up, she approached the door and the angry voice she'd been aware of peripherally before became words. And when she comprehended it, her feet stopped moving.

"- why the fuck am I working with you if you can't keep my son safe?"Daniel raged loudly. "Can't you fucking trace the fucking message?" Silence and then, "Burner phone? Well, good-fucking-job if you let that stop you." Suddenly, there was a change on his tone. "Isn't there anything else? I want to catch the bastard but giving Kendall to him?"he said brokenly. Then, resignation. "Fine. I'll get him ready and meet you tomorrow. The park near the office, right?"

Cass couldn't believe what she heard. Was Daniel really going to surrender Kendall to Bryan? She had to have heard that wrong. Daniel loved Kendall. Even though they'd just met, a strong bong had developed between them. Surely, Daniel wasn't even entertaining the thought. Right?

Wanting to be certain, she burst into his office and absently noticing he jerking to his feet. Not wasting time, she asked the important question. And knew his answer the moment his face changed, darkened.

"You can't do that,"she shouted. Throwing her bag onto his table, she took out all her research and information she'd gathered while living with that monster. Desperately presenting them, she looked at him and knew it wasn't going to change anything.

Trembling with her fear and her mind scrambling to find an alternative, she unleashed her rage upon him.

"This is why I didn't want to tell you about Kendall. You're using him for revenge, just like I expected,"she spat. His implacable face morphed into rage.

"This isn't about revenge,"he denied vehemently. "This is about keeping him safe. We need to exterminate that piece of shit or you're never going to be rude of him."

"By sacrificing Kendall? I think not. And here I thought you cared about him."

Turning to leave, she was surprised when Daniel's arms caged her to his chest. She struggled to get out but he was too strong. Panting, she stopped.

"Let me go,"she snarled, glaring into the door.

"I can't let you jeopardise our only chance of getting him. I'm sorry but if this is the only way to get rid of him, I'll have to take the chance." His voice broke at the end but she couldn't allow that to affect her.

Suddenly, he threw her to the side and rushed out the door. Momentarily stunned, she ran to the closed door, banging on it when she couldn't open it.

"Daniel, let me out,"she cried, tears filling her eyes at the betrayal.

"I'm sorry, Cassandra. I'll make sure Kendall is safe but there's nothing else to be done."

With that, he left.

------@@@@@--------

Daniel walked into the park apprehensively with Kendall bouncing happily beside him. He still couldn't wrap around the idea that he was putting his son in danger. Even though he knew it was the only way to catch the bastard, this was his son.

The level of trust Kendall had in him had been carefully cultivated. As much as Kendall was young, he had a deep distrust in adults. Especially men. He was close with Gwyneth. Going to her with his complaints and grievances, as much as any five year old had. But, with any male, including his brother, father and himself, it had taken Cassandra's approval before he began to trust them with anything more than playtime.

To betray him like this was a step back.

And Cassandra. He felt bad about her. When he'd left breakfast on the table earlier, he'd felt a part of him break when he noticed the tear tracks on her face. He wished there was something, anything else, he could do but this had been going on for so long. It needed to end.

"Daddy, I want ice-cream,"Kendall implored, looking up at him with puppy-dog eyes. Daniel had to laugh even though he felt his throat closing up. Not able to say anything else, he nodded and helped Kendall onto the pre-chosen bench, one that was easy to monitor and get to in case anything happened. There was barely any trees around the hilltop and the playground was at the other side of the park, meaning not much foot traffic. Plus there were cameras in the entire park. No blind spots whatsoever. Kendall was fine.

Placing the bag with the microphone and tracker beside Kendall, Daniel gave him a tight hug. He didn't want to leave him. He'd only just gotten him. If anything went wrong-

No. He told himself firmly that the people he was working with knew what they were doing. If he could place his trust in anyone, it's them. Letting Kendall go, hard as it was, he extracted a promise from his son that he'd stay put and left.

Left his son to be taken by that bastard.

-------@@@@@------

"What is taking so long?"Daniel mumbled while suppressing the urge to break all the surveillance equipment. He was in a van with the crew, watching the screen like a hawk. It had been a quarter of an hour and nothing had happened.

He'd been on pins and needles every time anyone walked by the bench. Kendall was surprisingly obedient and played with his toys while he waited. He did wander off once in awhile but always went back to the bench within two minutes.

"This takes patience,"Fred, the FBI agent he was working with, said, sounding irritated. Daniel had been approached by the organisation when he'd begun uncovering information that implied Bryan was perpetuating federal crimes. They'd been in contact, on and off, for the last five years and this was the closest they'd been to catching him. It just required him to put his son in danger.

"If you can't wait, leave." Daniel knew he was not happy having to include him but this was his son. Nothing was going to tear him away.

"That's out of the question,"he snarled distractedly, his eyes glued on a scantily-clad woman entering the park. She looked familiar. Despite having black hair, her gait, her nearly-exposed breasts and ass showcased in the tight shorts reminded him of someone. Cassandra?

Unsure, he didn't dare say anything. He just watched her move from screen to screen, getting closer and closer to Kendall. Catching a glimpse of her face in one screen, Daniel felt a deep-seated sense of revulsion when he saw how made-up she was. Just like how she'd looked when she'd come to see him a few months ago. She looked much like the women he usually chased. But it wasn't her. He wanted her usual self. Make-up free and beautiful.

And now she was within sight of Kendall. Watching her as closely as he was, Daniel saw the slight relaxation of her shoulders. When she sat on the bench, Fred and his team became more aware of her presence and they were watching her closely.

Daniel was more concerned about Kendall.

Initially, he ignored her, continuing to play with his miniature cars. When she began conversing with him, he frowned up at her. But Daniel saw the moment he recognised her. His face was split with a wide smile and he climbed up her lap.

Daniel didn't know if Cassandra knew there were cameras but she acted like there weren't and treated it like a normal day in the park. She bounced Kendall in her lap, making her breasts bounce distractingly in the deep-V crop top. Played with him.

"Do you know who she is?"Fred asked suddenly. Tearing his eyes away from the domestic tableau, Daniel nodded.

"It's Cassandra. She knows about Bryan wanting Kendall. I didn't know she was going to be here,"Daniel explained softly, still unable to believe she was there. He was shushed when Kendall suddenly ran off, down the hill, leaving Cassandra alone.

A woman sat down beside Cassandra. Daniel thought it was one of the operative but was shocked when everyone began to scramble. Fred began to station people nearer to the bench but it was difficult as there was no cover near enough.

"Tell your boss I'll sign over everything to him if he leaves my son alone,"Cassandra's voice came from the microphone in Kendall's bag which was still with her.

"I don't think he cares about you. As long as you're dead, he can take whatever you own,"the woman drawled flippantly.

What were they talking about? Daniel narrowed his eyes. From what he knew, Cassandra had nothing. No inheritance. No trust fund. All had been funnelled to her sisters. So what was she throwing around like it held so much weight?

"I have a will. Ironclad will. All my aliases will automatically be changed to Kendall's name the moment I'm dead. Grandma's money, the company shares. So tell him he won't get anything unless I sign everything to him,"Cassandra returned calmly.

Daniel was stunned. There had been an uproar nearly ten years ago when the Willis matriarch had passed away and the majority of her wealth had disappeared. Everyone had suspected Cassandra, since she was the closest grandchild, but she'd only received an album in the will.

So what Cassandra was saying was she got the money? How?

His mind trying to find a way, he forced himself to pay attention when the woman spoke again.

"He agrees." When had she talked to Bryan?

"Good. Let's go, shall we?"Cassandra said, getting up. Her face was turned to the woman as she said,"You'd better call your watchdogs away, Kelly. I can very much commit suicide from here to wherever he is in Minessota. I don't think he'll like it if that happens."

Silence and then there were no more words. The women walked together and disappeared from view.

AN: Hey guys. Sorry for the long wait. I'm planning to finish this in the next month or so.

So does this chapter sound realistic? Or somewhat in the realm of possibility? I didn't edit it at all because I fear I wouldn't publish it at all if I did. 😅

Anyway, please VOTE & COMMENT if you like it. Or don't like it. Please leave a comment.

Thanks in advance. :)