Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 503 Christian's POV I hung up the phone and set it down on the table harder than I meant to. I dragged a hand over my face, feeling the exhaustion of the past few hours sitting heavy in every muscle. We were in our apartment in Belmonte. We'd come as soon as we heard about Aurora's birth, wanting to be close to Marcus and Madeline. Now, staring out at the city lights through the window, I regretted not insisting we stay at the hospital with them. Zoey was at my side immediately, her presence grounding even in the middle of all this chaos.

"So?" she asked, her voice low but tight with anticipation. "Did you get anything?" I looked at her-my wife, the mother of my son, the person who always kept me anchored when everything threatened to fall apart. "The Valentian police are on it," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady and professional, even with the knot of worry twisting in my gut. "Interpol too. Aurora is an Valentian citizen, so the consulate is pushing hard. And best of all... they're working with the uncorrupted arm of the Verdanian police. People we can actually trust." I sighed and rubbed my tired eyes.

"Dominic went too far this time," I continued, and there was a dark satisfaction in saying it. "Kidnapping a newborn. International abduction. There's no way out for him now. He screwed up. This time, we know exactly who we can rely on." Zoey stepped closer, her hands settling on my shoulders, slowly working out the knots of tension in my neck. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting myself sink into the comfort of her touch. "Madeline must be losing her mind," Zoey said softly, pain threading through her voice. "I wish I could do something for her. I wish...

I understand, at least a little, what it's like to be a mother who can't protect her child." I turned to look at her, catching the shadow in her eyes. What we'd gone through when Matt was born had been far more than "a little." I took her hand, stroking it gently. "We're going to get Aurora back," I said firmly. "As long as Madeline and Marcus keep their heads and don't do something stupid, everything will be fine. The police are on it. We have resources. We have connections. We'll find her." Zoey nodded-but before she could reply, a sharp beep cut through the room.

tracker. "What is it?" Zoey asked, coming closer to

not in Dominic's pocket. Then to the private security team Kensington kept precisely for situations like this. And finally, to emergency medical services. I wasn't waiting. I wasn't taking risks. My cousin was out there somewhere, in the middle of nowhere, probably walking straight into a trap. And I was getting him out. Ten

her arms, awake now, stirred by

the taste, the smell, the feel of her. Just in case. Just to be safe. "I love you," I whispered against her lips. "I love you too," she replied. "Now go. Bring them back." I left the apartment and stepped into the elevator, my fingers drumming impatiently against

silently-no sirens, no flashing lights. They didn't want to warn anyone they were coming. Surprise was on our side. Good. I drove fast but controlled, eyes locked on the road, my mind racing through every possible scenario. What had Marcus found out there? Why had he activated the tracker? Was he in danger? Was Madeline