Niklaus point of view

"I'm sure your predecessor must have briefed you on everything about me," I said to Lucas who stood upright before me without a slant in his posture.

"Yes, sir Niklaus" the man acquiesced.

"I don't care about your negative traits. After all, we are all humans with flaws but what I can never condone is betrayal- I need your unquestionable devotion and loyalty" I said to him firmly.

"I give you my life, sir Niklaus" Lucas bowed his head.

"Fine then, that would be all for today. Just go with him, he would fill you in on anything else" I directed him to the head guard who then ushered him out of the living room.

Lucas was my new shadow guard and was personally hand-picked by Judy - I trusted his judgment. Lucas was not from our family's security department rather I purchased his services at a handsome price.

Adam was still the family head and currently had power over the security system of the spencers. It was his responsibility to assign shadow guards and all, ensuring that every spencer by blood, marriage, or adoption was adequately protected.

So, this was the reason why Eden was struggling to be the next Family head; he would possess absolute power even if I was the president of our conglomerate.

After declaring war on the old man, I was not foolish enough to get a shadow guard from his security department. Even if the moron of a guard pledges service to me, he would still be a double agent.

He would not be entirely honest with me since my father has a strong dominance over him - he would spy for both father and son. I needed someone who would be honest and stick with me through thick and thin.

So I hired the guard from the outside; a mercenary Adam has minimal control over and someone who would not divulge my whereabouts to my father- it was time to build my people.

Appearance-wise, Lucas was not tall nor huge framed like Judy, he looked scraggly. In fact, I questioned his capability that if not because of Judy's affirmation, I wouldn't have hired him at all. 

Not to mention the fact that Lucas had an effeminate look that did nothing but remind me of Eden - my cousin possessed the same epicene features. 

This new Shadow guard of mine was so tender looking that I wouldn't be surprised if he turned out to be a girl crossdressing for God knows why.

Lucas had voluminous black hair that was brushed and slicked back with gel while featuring low fades on both sides.

At that moment, Amanda came around and placed a cup of tea on the stool beside the sofa while I went through my tablet, occasionally glancing at the wall clock.

"Where did you say Isabella went again?" I asked for the umpteenth time already.

"Isabella is at Maya's place. She organized a small party to celebrate her release from the hospital" 

"Hmm" was all I muttered, returning my gaze to the headline I was going through. Since she was at Maya's, there was no cause for alarm.

Isabella being at Maya's place somehow calmed me because my dear daughter could spy on her - I'm not saying that's a good thing but who cares.

At least, with her around, I could get updated on Maya's relationship status. Gosh, how worse could I get? This is driving me crazy.

The call that came in afterward, did drive me insane.

"Hello?"

"Hey brother, it's Emily" 

My face was neutral, Emily recently has been avoiding me for reasons best known to her.

"What is it?" I asked. Since my sister called me finally, she probably needed something from me.

"Umm, how am I going to put this?" She cleared her throat, dilly-dallying my time away.

"Call me when you're ready to talk" I dismissed her, about to end the call when she yelled

"Isabella is missing!"

"What?!" I shot up to my feet, bewildered, "How is that possible, wasn't she with Maya?" 

"That's the problem, I'm with Maya but we can't seem to find your daughter," she said.

"I'm coming over" I informed her, hanging up the call.

I gulped, my hand shaking unconsciously. I didn't want to believe it. Isabella was too smart to get missing yet what if she was truly missing? Worse, what if she was in the hands of my enemy or something - Sakuzi, to be precise.

No, I had to be sure before disturbing the balance between both of us that's resting on a thin line. Starting a war with the Falcon Gang on false grounds would be a huge detriment to our business.

"Follow me" I tracked down Lucas who was still going over the dos and don'ts with the head guard. 

Lucas didn't complain, he obeyed by following me silently- he didn't even call into question where I was heading to. 

Just from these few minutes of interaction, I discovered he did possess a bit of Judy's temperament- Maybe, he was his mentor.

My mind was all over the place during the journey as I kept mulling over where my daughter was.

As soon as we arrived, I literally jumped out of the car and headed to Maya's apartment.

Expecting my arrival, the door to her apartment was left open and I let myself in.

My vision fell on the women in the living room: Maya was pacing up and down the room while chewing on her nails out of worry; Cecil was no better than Maya, just that she kept tapping her feet repeatedly while staring at her phone as if waiting for a call from her son; Emily was on her feet and kept tugging on her hair out of frustration.

"What is going on here?" I asked, drawing the attention of the panic-stricken women.

"Oh my God," Emily placed a hand on her chest, startled by my appearance. They must have been lost in thoughts not to have noticed me come in.

"Thank God, you're here. We have a bit of a situation " Emily scurried over to me.

"We can't find the kids," Maya announced.

I stared at her longer than usual, her voice was a bit hoarse and her eyes swollen and red as if she had been crying. I felt the urge to take her into my arms, hold her tight, and stroke her hair while assuring her we'd find my kids - wait a minute, kids?

"Did you say, kids?" I questioned, my ear must have heard wrong.

"The trio- Isabella, Anabelle, and Pedro- we can't find them anywhere"

My brows furrowed. But then, I loosened up a bit. If those three partners in crime were together, then it wasn't a kidnapping but a prank. 

"They could be playing hide and seek, have you searched the whole house?" 

"I did but then, the door to my apartment was left open which means they must have snuck out while we were engrossed with our discussion- you do know how mischievous the kids are" 

Maya was right, Anabelle was a good kid but when around my daughter Isabella, I wouldn't exactly vouch for her conduct. 

Something clicked in my head," Did you call Eden?" 

Maya swallowed - a gesture I noticed quite well, which made me slightly uncomfortable. Maybe, she's just scared of relaying this bad news to him and not what I'm thinking.

She shook her head, "No, I haven't. I didn't want to give him such bad news. I was hoping you would find the kids with your influence" 

Just as I thought, phew!

Somehow, it warmed my heart that I was the first person she thought to call and not my cousin. It gave me hope that I still had a place in her heart.

I turned to Lucas who had been scrutinizing the arena since we arrived, " If the kids really snuck out of here, they would be captured by the building's surveillance cam - "

"This is an old cheap building, Niklaus, not your mansion" Maya interrupted me with a hint of sarcasm in her tone "It doesn't come with a camera"

Somehow, this news didn't sit well with me. How could she live in a place that doesn't have an ounce of security? I wanted to just grab her hand and drag her out of this pithouse forever - that is after I rescue my kid.

But knowing her personality, she would probably kick me in the crotch for deciding for her without consenting her opinion.

"Though there's a convenience store just opposite the building with surveillance cameras. I'm sure one of them would capture anyone who leaves here" She directed me.

I gestured to Lucas to go and check it out leaving me with the women.

I didn't sit, just leaned against the wall with my arms wrapped across the chest while studying everyone.

Cecil was a bit comforted by my presence - this made me feel like I was superman or something. She had stopped tapping her legs but you could see the restlessness in her eyes.

Emily was still not looking at me in the eyes and I knew why. She was nervous I would begin to criticize her new careless lifestyle but that's none of my mistakes.

If my own experience had not taught her anything, then she's the greatest fool. Moreover, she's old enough to take responsibility for her actions.

Maya was still pacing up and down the room but that moment she looked up, our eyes met and held. My breath hung in my throat while my heart slammed against my chest, she looked as beautiful as ever.

With the way she looked at me, it was obvious the attraction between us still existed. Shivers ran down my back as my mind turned dirty; what I would do to her if she were in my arms right now.

Maya looked away, cheeks burning but I was grateful for that. I had literally stripped her with my eyes; the huge bulge on my trouser evidence of what I had in my mind. This was so unbelievable, Maya still had this much power over me.

Almost immediately, Lucas returned with her finding. 

"None of them left the building"

"What?!"

Everyone was shocked.

"If they didn't leave that means - "

"They're here and neatly hidden" 

"But where could they …."

Cecil was still asking when the so thought missing Anabelle staggered into the room, walked past me, and lied down on the empty couch.

What in the world...