Page 157 of Under Construction

"Come inside." She turns toward the house. "There's much to explain, and very little time."

The living room feels warm, lived-in—what seems to be family photos line shelves, but none show Chris or his mother. A folder sits on the coffee table beside a laptop displaying multiple security feeds.

This isn't a home, Dennis realizes. It's a command center pretending to be one.

"Isabelle's been my eyes and ears," Chris's mother says, gesturing for Dennis to sit. The PI—Isabelle—moves to the laptop, fingers flying across keys. "Watching over Chris while I gathered what we needed."

"For ten years?" The words scrape Dennis's throat. "He thought you were dead."

"I had to let him think that." Her fingers twist together—Chris's nervous gesture. "Christopher killed my father for control of Rhodes Construction. Made it look like an accident." She meets Dennis's eyes. "I discovered evidence, but speaking out would've put Chris in danger—he would’ve hurt Chris to try and silence me."

"The PI fees Chris paid," Isabelle adds without looking up from her laptop, "went into a fund his mother established for him. My real employer has always been Jessica."

Jessica Rhodes. The name hits Dennis like a physical blow. He'd seen it in the background check—Chris's mother who'd changed her name back before disappearing.

"Why come forward now?"

"Because Chris was finally ready." Jessica's voice carries steel beneath the softness. "Strong enough to stand against his father. All these years, I've gathered evidence of Christopher's crimes—financial fraud, corporate espionage,systematic destruction of rivals." She reaches for the folder. "Everything needed to ensure he can never hurt anyone again."

"But first," Isabelle interrupts, "we need to find Chris." Her phone buzzes. She scans the message, face tightening. "Team's traced recent activity to—" She looks up at Dennis. "Oakview Heights."

The air leaves Dennis's lungs. Of course. Where else would Lancaster hide Chris but in his own building?

"Christopher's arrogance made him sloppy," Jessica says. "He never imagined the son of Kim Industries would live in one of his properties."

"Top floor." Dennis's mind races through possibilities. "I know every inch of that building. The security systems, the staff, the layout—"

"That's our way in." Isabelle's already pulling up building schematics. "But we have to move fast. If Christopher realizes we're closing in—"

"He won't hurt Chris permanently," Jessica says quietly. "But he'll try to break him. Turn him into what Christopher's always wanted—a perfect copy of himself."

Dennis thinks of Chris's bruised face in the garage. Of everything Chris has endured trying to protect them all.

To protectDennis.

"Then let's go get him back."

53Princess Packs A Punch

"A tactical team would spook him," Isabelle says, spreading building schematics across the coffee table. "And we can't involve police—Christopher's got too many in his pocket."

"Then it has to be me." Dennis studies the layout he knows by heart. "I can get in without raising alarms. The day guard, he knows me."

"How will you know which unit they're keeping him in?" Jessica leans forward, eyes scanning the plans.

"Heat signatures show activity on the twenty-second floor," Isabelle reports, turning her laptop. "Two guards outside Unit 2201."

Dennis's throat tightens. Just three floors below his apartment. "There's a maintenance room on that floor. The electrical panels for that section are there." His fingers trace the route. "If I can cut power to that unit—"

"The electronic locks will default to open," Isabelle finishes. "But the guards—"

"I can fight." The words come out matter-of-fact. "Better than they’ll expect from Kim Industries' pampered heir."

Jessica's eyebrows lift—an expression so like Chris's it makes Dennis's chest ache.

"We'll monitor through security feeds," Isabelle says. "But you'll be on your own once you're inside. If anything goes wrong—"

"It won't." Dennis stands, already moving toward the door. Every minute they waste is another minute Chris is alone with his father's people.

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