Til Debt Do Us Part (Married At Midnight #4)

Chapter 33

Thirty-Three

Dare

M y mind races, thoughts swirling like a hurricane as I pace the length of the penthouse. Solana's wide brown eyes and dimpled smile flash through my mind. That sweet little girl, abducted from the hotel by one of the nannies. I find myself going over and over the fact that Solana was kidnapped by my own uncle. Rage boils up inside me and I slam my fist against the wall. The dull thud does nothing to abate the tempest whipping through me.

I hear soft footsteps and Talia appears, her face creased with worry. She opens her arms wordlessly and I go to her, pressing my face into the crook of her neck. Her floral scent envelops me as she strokes my hair.

"We have to get her back, Dare," Talia murmurs. "I don't know how, but there must be something we can do."

I clench my jaw and pull back to meet her gaze. "I should have known Felix would try something like this. He's always wanted control of the company."

Talia cups my face in her hands. "This isn't your fault. But we can still save Solana. We just need a plan."

I cover her hands with mine, hope flickering inside me. With Talia by my side, I feel like I can do anything. "You're right. Felix wants my future shares of the company. I'll offer them to him in exchange for Solana."

Talia's eyes flash. "Yes. Make him think you're willing to give him what he wants."

My heart swells looking at this fierce, brilliant woman. I lean in and kiss her deeply. Just as our lips meet again, the elevator doors slide open. We spring apart and find ourselves face to face with my brother Burn.

He raises an eyebrow, glancing between us. "Am I interrupting something?"

I clench my jaw, irritation flaring. Trust Burn to show up at just the wrong moment.

"You came. I wasn't sure you would."

Burn saunters into the loft, hands in his pockets. "I was in the neighborhood, thought I'd stop by." His gaze travels over the modern furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows. "Nice place you've got here."

"Cut the small talk," I snap. "I don't have time for this."

Burn's eyes narrow, his nonchalant facade cracking. "Time for your own brother? I'm wounded. Besides, you called me ."

Talia touches my arm, a subtle reminder to stay calm. I take a breath. "I have a situation to deal with. It's... urgent."

"What kind of situation?" Burn asks. When I hesitate, he adds, "Maybe I can help."

I consider him for a moment. Bringing Burn in is risky, but he could be the key to this puzzle. And despite our incredibly rocky past, he's still my twin brother.

"All right," I say finally, heaving a sigh.

"Solana's been kidnapped by Felix."

Burn's nonchalance evaporates, his eyes widening. "The little girl you took in? Why would he do that?"

"To get at me. He wants my shares of the company." I run a hand through my hair. "I need to get Solana back safely. Whatever it takes."

Burn is silent, processing. Then he meets my eyes. "Tell me what you need me to do."

I let out a breath, gratitude welling up. I clasp his shoulder. "Thank you. First we need to meet with a lawyer, start the process of transferring the shares of company stock that I will inherit into your name."

Burn frowns. "Wait, I thought…" His brow knits. “I’m confused.”

"It's a ruse to get Solana back unharmed. I will transfer all my future shares to you first. Then I’ll sign my shares over to Felix… only I will have already signed them over to you. So I will essentially be signing nothing over to him. Then when I sign the papers that Felix wants me to sign, he'll give me back Solana and get nothing in exchange."

Burn nods slowly. "Clever. Felix won't see it coming. But... that means you would have to trust me not to screw you out of your entire inheritance."

I nod, my jaw clenching tightly. "I don't have many other choices."

Our gazes clash. Burn's eyes probe my face for several long moments.

"I know I haven't given you many reasons to trust me," Burn says, his voice low and sincere. "But I swear to you, Dare, I'll do whatever it takes to get Solana back. I won't let anything happen to her."

I look into his eyes, searching for any hint of deception. But all I see is determination and sincerity.

"Okay," I say at last. "Let's do this."

I look at Talia. Her eyebrows raise in question, but I give her a subtle nod to let her know it will all be fine.

"We're heading in to meet with the lawyer now," I tell her. "I know it's a lot to ask, but can you give us a few minutes?"

"Of course." She comes over and gives me a quick kiss. "Be safe. And let me know as soon as you have a plan for getting Solana back."

"I will. Thank you, Talia." I squeeze her hand, then head to my office.

Burn hangs back a moment. "Don't worry," he tells Talia solemnly. "We're going to make this right."

She smiles faintly. "I know you will."

* * *

A short while later, I am crammed into my small office with Burn and the family lawyer. They both stand with their arms crossed as I pour over the transfer documents, reading each line carefully. My birthright, my legacy, all spelled out on sheets of paper. Signing them over to Burn feels like chopping off one of my limbs.

But for Solana, I'll do it. I'll sacrifice anything.

"This is the only copy of the contract," the lawyer explains. "Once you sign, any future shares you might inherit are legally Burn's."

I nod, jaw tightening. Burn grips my shoulder.

"It's just a means to an end," he reminds me gently. "We'll get her back."

Taking a deep breath, I scrawl my signature on the pages. The lawyer gathers them up and snaps his briefcase shut.

"It's done," I say heavily.

Burn pulls me into the briefest of embraces. His show of solidarity takes me aback. After so many years of resentment between us, I'm not accustomed to having him at my side. But Solana's life is on the line.

Old grudges can't matter now.

I return his embrace firmly, letting the gesture speak what words cannot.

That I'm grateful for his support.

That I want to believe our fractured relationship can be repaired.

That I'm trusting him, against my better judgment, not to betray me again.

When we separate, Burn searches my face, as if gauging the sincerity of my response. I meet his gaze steadily, letting him read the truth there.

After a tense moment, he nods. The hint of a smile touches his mouth.

"Brothers to the end," he says gruffly.

"Brothers," I echo. And for the first time in forever, I mean it.

I extend my hand. Burn grips it without hesitation, completing the unspoken pact between us. We will save Solana, together.

For now, that's enough. The rest of it, rebuilding our bond, restoring our family... that can come later. What matters is Solana's safety.

When we emerge, Talia is waiting in the next room, her worried gaze fixed on nothing at all. When Burn and I enter, her eyes dart between us, taking in our resolute expressions.

"It's done," I say simply. "The shares are Burn's now."

Talia lets out a shaky breath, pressing her palm to her heart. I know this has not been easy for her either, watching me surrender my birthright and tie my fate to my estranged brother's. But she has supported me without question or complaint.

Talia is as fierce as she is steadfast. For that, I count my many blessings. I open my arms and she steps into them, hugging me tightly.

"Thank you," she whispers against my chest.

"Of course. You and Talia have plans to adopt Solana. Therefore, she is our family. And when it comes to family, there is no other choice. You have to give up everything to save them."

I smooth back her hair, kissing the top of her head. After a long moment we separate. Talia dabs at her eyes, then gives Burn a quivery smile.

"Thank you," she says softly. "For standing with Dare. It means a lot."

Burn shifts, seeming both moved and uncomfortable with Talia's open gratitude.

"Yeah, well," he mutters. "You’re both family."

The lawyer heads out the door, contracts locked away in his briefcase. The deed is done. I've signed away my legacy and future, placing all my trust in the brother who was once my greatest rival.

Talia slips her hand in mine again, grounding me. On my other side, Burn grips my shoulder.

“Done. Now it’s time to play our trump card with Felix. He thinks he has me over a barrel—but little does he know that I already sealed away my stake in the company.”

“What do you plan to tell him when you contact him?”

I light up with a sly smile. “That I’ll gladly give my shares to him in exchange for Solana’s safe return. He'll assume he's won, so he'll agree to meet, confident that I'll be willing to give him anything he wants. But what he doesn't know is that we're setting up an ambush. We'll propose a trade. Then once she's back in my arms, you and Tristen will swoop in and take Felix down for good.”

I glance back at Talia, seeing the same fierce protectiveness reflected in her eyes. Talia nods, silently supporting me.

I take a deep breath to steady my nerves before dialing Felix's number. My heart pounds as the line rings, each trill ratcheting up the tension.