The Footage
Three days had passed since the alley.
Three days of waiting. Planning. Watching the clock tick toward Tuesday.
Bella hadn't slept much. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Jack's face—bruised, broken, bleeding. Heard his voice in her head, weak and desperate.
Hold on, she kept thinking. Just hold on a little longer.
Now it was Tuesday afternoon, and they were running out of time.
The first hotel had been a bust. No reservation under "Bron." No reservation under "Vanessa."
The second hotel—same story.
Bella sat in the passenger seat of Hela's car, staring out the window at the third hotel on their list. The Riverside Inn. Four stories, red brick, modest but clean.
"This is it," Hela said from the driver's seat. "Last one."
Mara leaned forward from the back seat. "And if there's nothing here?"
"Then the informant lied," Bella said flatly. "And we're back to square one."
"Great." Mara slumped back. "Fucking fantastic."
Bella opened the car door. "Wait here. I'll be quick."
She crossed the parking lot and pushed through the glass doors into the lobby. The air inside was cool, sterile. The front desk was staffed by a young woman in her early twenties, blonde hair pulled back in a tight ponytail.
Bella approached, forcing a smile. "Hi. I'm checking in. Reservation under Bron."
The woman typed into her computer, her fingers clicking against the keys. After a moment, she looked up. "I'm sorry, I don't see a reservation under that name."
Bella's stomach dropped.
No. No, not again.
"Are you sure?" Bella asked, her voice tight. "Can you check again?"
The woman typed again, slower this time. "I'm sorry. There's nothing under Bron."
Bella's hands clenched into fists at her sides. She forced herself to breathe.
Think. Think.
"What about Vivian?" she asked. "Can you check under Vivian?"
The woman's fingers moved across the keyboard. A pause. Then: "Yes. I have a reservation under Vivian. Room 312."
Bella's heart nearly leapt out of her chest.
Yes. Fucking yes.
"Great," Bella said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline flooding her veins. "Can I get the keys?"
The woman smiled politely. "Of course. Can I see your ID?"
Bella froze.
Shit.
She'd forgotten about that part.
"I—" Bella hesitated, her mind racing. "I don't have it on me right now. I left it in the car."
The woman's smile faltered slightly. "I'm sorry, but I can't give you the keys without a valid ID."
Bella leaned forward, resting her forearms on the counter. She reached into her purse slowly, deliberately, and pulled out a thick stack of cash. She set it on the counter between them.
"I really need those keys," Bella said quietly. "And I'm willing to make it worth your while."
The woman stared at the money. Her eyes flicked up to Bella's face, then back down to the cash.
"I could lose my job," she said softly.
"You could also make three hundred dollars in the next thirty seconds."
The woman bit her lip. Her hand hovered over the money.
Then she took it.
She slid the cash into her pocket and turned back to the computer. A moment later, she pulled a keycard from a drawer and handed it to Bella.
"Room 312," she said. "Third floor. But I need that key back by ten AM tomorrow morning. If it's not returned, I'm reporting it stolen."
"You'll have it back," Bella said. "I promise."
She turned and walked toward the elevator, her heart pounding in her chest.
Got it. Now the hard part.
***
The hallway on the third floor was quiet. Beige carpet, white walls, the faint smell of cleaning products.
Bella found Room 312 at the end of the hall. She slid the keycard into the lock, heard the click, and pushed the door open.
The room was small but clean. A queen-sized bed with white linens. A desk by the window. A bathroom to the left.
Bella closed the door behind her and pulled the bag of cameras from her purse. She'd bought them online—small, wireless, motion-activated. Easy to hide.
She moved quickly, placing the first camera on top of the TV stand, angled toward the bed. The second went on the desk, facing the bathroom door. The third she tucked into the corner of the room, near the ceiling, where it would capture the entire space.
She was adjusting the angle of the fourth camera when she heard the door open behind her.
Bella spun around.
An elderly woman stood in the doorway, holding a cart stacked with towels and cleaning supplies. She was in her sixties, maybe seventies, with gray hair and a tired face.
"Oh," the woman said, startled. "I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone was in here."
Bella's heart was racing. She forced a smile. "It's fine. I just checked in."
The woman's eyes moved to the small hidden camera in Bella's hand. Her expression shifted. Confusion. Then suspicion.
"What are you doing?" the woman asked slowly.
"Just—" Bella hesitated. "Just setting up some security. For the room."
"Security?" The woman stepped further inside, her eyes narrowing. "Is this your room?"
"Yes." Bella pulled the keycard from her pocket and held it up. "See? I have the key."
The woman didn't look convinced. "Where's the main key?"
"My husband has it. He's away right now."
"Your husband." The woman's tone was flat. "What's your name?"
"Vivian."
"Can I see your ID?"
Bella's jaw tightened. "I don't have to show you my ID."
The woman stared at her for a long moment. Then she turned and started walking toward the door, muttering under her breath.
"I'm calling security," she said. "This isn't right."
Panic surged through Bella's chest.
No. No, I can't let her do that.
Her eyes darted around the room. Landed on the lamp on the nightstand.
She moved without thinking.
Bella grabbed the lamp, yanked the cord from the wall, and ran into the hallway. The old woman was halfway down the corridor, her hand reaching for the phone clipped to her belt.
Bella raised the lamp and swung.
The base connected with the back of the woman's head with a sickening thud.
The woman gasped, her body going rigid. Then she collapsed, crumpling to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut.
Bella stood there, breathing hard, the lamp still clutched in her hands.
Oh god. Oh god, what did I just do?
The hallway was empty. No one had seen.
Bella dropped the lamp and grabbed the woman under the arms. She dragged her back toward the room, her muscles straining with the effort. The woman was heavier than she looked, dead weight, her head lolling to the side.
Bella pulled her into the room and kicked the door shut behind her.
She stood there for a moment, staring down at the unconscious woman on the floor.
She's still breathing. She's alive.
Bella's hands were shaking. She forced herself to move.
She grabbed the cleaning cart from the hallway and wheeled it into the room. Then she pulled the woman's belt off and used it to tie her wrists together behind her back. She tore a pillowcase into strips and gagged her, tying the fabric tightly around her mouth.
The woman didn't stir. Her breathing was shallow but steady.
She finished placing the cameras, her movements quick and mechanical. Then she lifted the woman—grunting with the effort—and shoved her into the large cleaning bin on the cart.
The woman's body folded awkwardly, her legs bent at strange angles. Bella covered her with towels and cleaning supplies, hiding her from view.
She wheeled the cart out into the hallway and down to the janitor's closet at the end of the hall. The door was unlocked. Bella pushed the cart inside, closed the door, and locked it from the outside using the woman's keyring.
She stood there for a moment, her heart pounding, her hands still shaking.
Someone will find her, Bella thought. Eventually.
Jack's priority comes first, she told herself. That's all that matters.
She turned and walked back down the hallway, forcing herself to breathe.
***
Bella slid into the passenger seat of Hela's car and closed the door.
Hela looked at her. "How'd it go?"
"It was a success," Bella said. Her voice was steady. Calm. "Now we wait."
Mara leaned forward from the back seat. "That's it? We just sit here?"
"That's it."
Hela started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. They drove to a side street two blocks away, where they had a clear view of the hotel entrance but wouldn't draw attention.
Then they waited.
***
Hours passed.
The sun set. The streetlights flickered on. The city grew quiet.
Hela and Mara had both fallen asleep in their seats, their breathing slow and even.
Bella sat in the passenger seat, her phone clutched in her hands, her eyes fixed on the screen.
She'd synced the cameras to an app on her phone. Four separate feeds, each showing a different angle of the hotel room.
Empty. Still. Waiting.
Bella's eyes burned. Her back ached. But she didn't move. Didn't look away.
Come on, she thought. Come on.
At 9:47 PM, the door to Room 312 opened.
Bella sat up straight, her heart pounding.
Two figures stepped inside. A man and a woman.
The man was tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair and a sharp jawline. He wore a leather jacket and jeans, his movements confident and easy.
The woman was older—early sixties, maybe—with silver hair and an elegant face. She wore a long coat and heels, her posture graceful.
Bella's breath caught.
That's them. That's Bron and Vivian.
She watched as they closed the door behind them. Bron pulled Vivian into his arms, kissing her deeply. She laughed against his lips, her hands sliding up his chest.
They talked as they undressed. Their voices were low, intimate, too quiet for the cameras to pick up clearly. But Bella could see the way they looked at each other. The way they touched.
Like lovers.
They showered together, the steam fogging up the bathroom mirror. When they emerged, they were wrapped in towels, their hair damp.
Bron ordered room service. They ate on the bed, watching Netflix on the small TV. A romantic comedy. Something light.
For hours, Bella watched.
And for hours, nothing happened.
They laughed. They talked. They kissed.
But it wasn't enough.
I need more, Bella thought. I need something that will destroy Kain.
***
At 11:32 PM, Bron's hand moved lower.
Bella's eyes snapped to the screen.
Bron's fingers slid under the hem of Vivian's towel, tracing slow circles on her thigh. Vivian shifted, her body leaning into his touch, her breath catching.
He kissed her neck. Her shoulder. His hand moved higher, deliberate and possessive.
Vivian's towel fell away.
Bella's pulse quickened.
Here we go.
She reached over and shook Hela's shoulder. "Wake up."
Hela stirred, blinking groggily. "What?"
"Watch this."
Mara woke up too, leaning forward from the back seat. "What's happening?"
"Just watch."
On the screen, Bron pushed Vivian back onto the bed. His hands moved over her body—over her breasts, down her sides, gripping her hips. She arched into his touch, her mouth open, her breathing heavy. Her hands reached for him, pulling at his towel until it fell away.
He was already hard.
Bron kissed her deeply, his tongue sliding against hers. His hand cupped her breast, thumb circling her nipple until it hardened. Vivian moaned into his mouth, her fingers tangling in his hair.
He pulled back, his eyes dark with hunger. Then his mouth moved lower. Down her neck, pausing to bite gently at her collarbone. Down to her breasts, taking one nipple into his mouth while his hand worked the other.
Vivian's back arched off the bed. "God, I missed this," she breathed. "I missed you."
"I know." His voice was rough. "Me too."
His mouth continued its path downward. Over her stomach. Her hip bones. He settled between her legs, spreading them wider with his hands.
Vivian's hands gripped the sheets.
Bron's tongue moved slowly at first, teasing. Then faster, more insistent. Vivian's hips rolled against his mouth, her breathing ragged.
"Don't stop," she gasped. "Please don't stop."
He didn't.
Hela leaned closer to the screen, her expression unreadable. Bella's jaw was tight, her hands clenched around her phone.
This is it. This is what I need.
After several minutes, Vivian's body tensed. Her thighs trembled. She came with a sharp cry, her hands fisting in Bron's hair.
He didn't give her time to recover. He moved up her body, kissing her hard, letting her taste herself on his lips. Then he pulled back and flipped her over onto her stomach.
"On your knees," he said.
Vivian obeyed, rising onto her hands and knees. Bron positioned himself behind her, his hands gripping her hips. He pushed inside her slowly, inch by inch, until he was fully seated.
Vivian's head dropped forward, her breath coming in short gasps.
Bron started to move. Slow at first, deliberate. Then harder. Faster. His fingers dug into her hips, pulling her back against him with each thrust.
The sound of skin against skin filled the room.
"Fuck," Vivian moaned. "Yes. Like that."
Bron's hand slid up her spine, tangling in her hair. He pulled her head back, forcing her to arch.
"You like that?" he growled. "You like being fucked by someone your son's age?"
Vivian's moan was answer enough. "Yes. God, yes."
"Say it."
"I like it. I like being fucked by you."
His thrusts became rougher. More possessive. "You're a whore," he said, his voice low and rough. "Kain's mother, and you're a fucking whore."
"Yes," Vivian gasped, her voice breaking. "I'm a whore. Your whore."
Mara let out a low whistle from the back seat. "Holy shit."
Hela's eyes were wide, fixed on the screen. Her breathing had changed—slower, deeper.
Bella stayed silent. Her heart was pounding. Her hands were shaking.
This is it. This is what will break Kain.
Bron pulled out suddenly. Vivian whimpered at the loss. He flipped her onto her back, climbing on top of her. His hands moved to her throat, his grip firm but not choking.
"Look at me," he said.
Vivian's eyes locked on his.
"You know what I'm going to do?" Bron said, his voice rough with need. "I'm going to be Kain's new step daddy."
Vivian's breath hitched. Her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer.
"I'm going to give him a little brother," Bron continued, pushing back inside her. "Fill you up until you're carrying my baby."
Vivian's eyes rolled back. "Yes. God, yes. Give me a baby."
"You want that?" His thrusts were deep now, deliberate. "You want me to knock you up at your age?"
"Yes. Please." Her nails raked down his back. "Impregnate me. Fill me up."
Bron's rhythm became erratic, desperate. His hand tightened slightly on her throat. "You're going to take all of it. Every drop."
"Yes. Yes. Give it to me."
Their bodies moved together with a frantic urgency—the desperation of two people who only had this one night. This one stolen moment in a hidden hotel room. Every touch was hungry. Every kiss was bruising.
Vivian's hands gripped his shoulders, her body rising to meet his thrusts. "I love you," she gasped. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." Bron's voice cracked. "Fuck, I love you."
His body tensed. He buried himself deep inside her, his hands gripping her hips hard enough to bruise.
He came with a low, guttural groan.
Vivian's body arched beneath him, her mouth open in a silent scream. Her inner walls clenched around him, pulling him deeper.
They stayed like that for a long moment, their bodies pressed together, their breathing heavy. Sweat-slicked skin. Trembling limbs.
Then Bron collapsed beside her, pulling her into his arms.
"Jesus," Mara muttered. "That was intense."
Hela said nothing. Her expression was dark. Hungry.
Bella lowered her phone slightly, her hands still shaking.
That's it. That's what I needed.
On the screen, Bron and Vivian lay tangled together for several minutes, their breathing gradually slowing. Then they separated, moving toward the bathroom.
The sound of the shower running filled the room.
Bella kept the cameras recording.
When they emerged twenty minutes later, they were dressed in robes, their hair damp. They sat on the edge of the bed, side by side, their hands intertwined.
"I wish we didn't have to hide," Vivian said softly. Her voice was barely audible through the camera's microphone.
Bron squeezed her hand. "I know."
"I wish we could just—be together. Out in the open."
"Me too."
Vivian looked at him, her eyes sad. "But we can't. Can we?"
Bron was quiet for a long moment. Then he shook his head. "No. We can't."
"Because of Kain."
"Because of Kain."
Vivian's jaw tightened. "He'd kill you if he found out."
"I know."
"And he'd never forgive me."
Bron pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Then we make sure he never finds out."
Vivian leaned into him, her head resting on his chest. "I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too."
They sat like that for a long time, holding each other in the dim light of the hotel room.
Bella turned off the screen.
Her chest was tight. Her jaw clenched.
I have it. I have everything I need.
Hela looked at her. "That's the footage?"
"That's the footage."
Mara leaned back in her seat, letting out a low whistle. "Kain would lose his fucking mind if we sent that to him."
Bella stared out the window, her expression hard.
Good, she thought. Now they have leverage. Great leverage
Now all she needed to do was let Bron know she had it.
And then we'll get Jack back.
She glanced down at her phone one last time. The cameras were still recording. Bron and Vivian were lying in bed now, wrapped in each other's arms.