After the Divorce: Crushed on My Lawyer Ex-wife

#131 “Don’t Mistake This for Trust.”

Alexander’s nerves were on the edge the entire flight. The plane seemed to crawl through the air, and every passing minute only amplified his anxiety. He was heading to Vegas. Sophia was in trouble, and that gnawed at him with every passing mile.

The moment the wheels hit the runway, Alexander practically bolted out of the plane. He had to get to Vegas, had to make sure Sophia was okay. The airport hustle and bustle faded into a blur as he raced to meet Evelyn at the hotel.

When he arrived, Evelyn was there, wearing a mix of worry and relief on her face. Next to her stood a guy with an easy confidence, the kind that usually comes from being close to someone important. Sandro, introduced him, Kyle’s cousin, the one who’d been hanging around with Sophia lately.

Alexander’s jaw clenched at the mention of Kyle’s cousin. Jealousy, sharp and unexpected, twisted in his gut. He tried to push it down and focus on the situation at hand, but it lingered like an unwelcome guest.

“Alexander, meet Sandro. He’s been looking out for Sophia,” Evelyn said, a hint of gratitude in her eyes.

Sandro extended a hand, a polite smile on his face. “Nice to meet you. Wish it was under better circumstances.”

Alexander shook his hand, forcing a nod. “Yeah, me too.”

The three of them huddled in the hotel room, maps and hastily scrawled notes spread across the table. Evelyn briefed Alexander on what she knew, her concern evident in the furrow of her brow.

“Sophia’s smart, Alexander. I am sure she is handling the situation while we are searching for her,” Evelyn reassured him.

“I know, I just… Did the kidnappers try to contact someone?” he muttered, frustration etching lines on his face.

they contacted me. They want 5

me that from the beginning? I’ll pay the damn money. I can’t believe you didn’t catch on

we’re all worried,” said Evelyn in an attempt to defuse the

if we give them the money and they don’t return her?” continued Alexander. The tension in the hotel room was thick enough to cut

We won’t involve the

frustration bubbling over. Sandro’s eyes, steely and unyielding, met Alexander’s. “We can’t. There’s history here, a messy

more important than Sophia’s life?” Alexander

if you involve the police, Alexander. It’s one of their conditions, “Sandro countered, his tone heavy with the weight

contain the building tension. The

something you’re not telling me, isn’t there?” Alexander’s eyes bore into Sandro, a cold intensity in his gaze. “Why did they snatch her out of nowhere? And why the hell did they call you? What’s your connection in all

hesitated, his eyes flickering for a moment before he sighed, recognizing

bottom line is getting Sophia out unharmed,”

wore

question. I want to help

time to keep

nod following. “We had a run-in with a thug named Daniel a few days back. He’s probably tied to this gang – the same gang that’s got Sophia. We’ve got some beef with them, business feuds, you know? Daniel saw Sophia with me

hung in the air, heavy and loaded.

was kidnapped because

Sophia’s paying for your