Chapter 6 - The Price of Being a Morgan
Luke learned about the threat before Sophia did.
His security chief, Marcus Hale, entered the office shortly after midnight and placed a photograph on Luke's desk.
Sophia leaving the hospital.
A red circle had been drawn around her stomach.
Luke stared at it.
“Source?”
“Anonymous account. Sent to one of our people as a warning.”
“Who knows?”
“Me. You. Nobody else.”
Luke stood.
“Keep it that way.”
Marcus hesitated.
“Sophia won't accept our protection.”
“Then don't give her Morgan protection.”
Marcus frowned.
“Hire a private firm.”
“She'll recognize them.”
“Not if Maya hires them.”
Marcus understood.
“You want her attorney to arrange it?”
“I want Sophia to know the truth and make the decision herself.”
That was new.
Old Luke would have surrounded the townhouse with armed men before sunrise.
New Luke called Maya.
Sophia was furious when Maya told her.
Not because Luke had informed them.
Because someone had turned her unborn daughter into leverage.
“Who?”
“We don't know,” Maya said.
Sophia paced the townhouse.
“I won't live in a fortress.”
“You don't have to.”
Maya explained Luke's proposal.
Independent security.
Chosen by Sophia.
Paid initially through her own company if she preferred.
No reporting to Luke.
Sophia stopped pacing.
“He suggested that?”
“Yes.”
“Not his people?”
“No.”
Sophia looked toward the window.
“Fine.”
That afternoon, she hired former federal agent Rachel Kim to oversee her security.
Luke never interfered.
For several weeks, their strange separation settled into a routine.
Luke attended every legal meeting through his attorney.
He asked for medical updates only when Sophia voluntarily authorized them.
He sent no gifts.
Made no surprise appearances.
And when Sophia finally texted him an ultrasound photograph, he replied with only four words.
Thank you for telling me.
She stared at the message for an embarrassingly long time.
Then another arrived.
May I keep this?
Sophia laughed through tears.
Yes. She's yours too.
Luke printed the image.
Marcus found it framed on his desk the next morning.
He wisely said nothing.
But peace did not last.
Sophia's design firm was preparing its largest project ever—a boutique hotel redevelopment worth nearly eighty million dollars.
Three days before contracts were signed, the client abruptly withdrew.
Then another client postponed.
Then a supplier canceled.
Jonah stormed into Sophia's office.
“Someone is squeezing us.”
Sophia's stomach sank.
“Luke?”
Jonah shook his head.
“No. I checked.”
That surprised her.
“You checked my husband?”
“Your terrifying almost-ex-husband, yes.”
“And?”
“He's not behind it.”
By evening, Rachel had identified the likely source.
Russell Development Group.
Vanessa's family company.
Sophia felt sick.
She called Vanessa.
“Tell me you didn't do this.”
Silence.
Then Vanessa said, “Come to my office.”
“No.”
“Sophia, this isn't what you think.”
“That's becoming everyone's favorite sentence.”
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“My father is involved.”
An hour later, Sophia entered Russell Development accompanied by Rachel.
Vanessa was waiting.
She looked furious.
“My father has been trying to acquire your hotel project.”
“So he sabotaged my contracts?”
“I think so.”
“Why?”
“Because your project sits on land adjacent to one of Luke's planned developments.”
Sophia stared.
“This is about Luke?”
“Everything with my father eventually becomes about Luke.”
Vanessa revealed the truth.
Her father, Richard Russell, had spent years resenting the Morgan family's dominance in Chicago's development industry.
He had hoped Vanessa's relationship with Luke would eventually unite the families.
When Luke married Sophia instead, Richard lost both influence and access.
“He wanted me to marry Luke?”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
“I refused.”
Sophia studied her.
“Your father is the person threatening me?”
“I don't know.”
Vanessa looked genuinely afraid.
“But I found this.”
She slid a folder across the desk.
Inside were copies of private financial reports concerning Sophia's company.
Someone had been monitoring her business for months.
Sophia's blood chilled.
“Why are you giving me this?”
“Because my father is wrong.”
Vanessa swallowed.
“And because I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“For enjoying it.”
Sophia frowned.
“Enjoying what?”
“Being the woman everyone compared you to.”
Vanessa looked ashamed.
“I never slept with Luke. I never tried to take him from you. But I knew Isabella preferred me. I knew people whispered. And sometimes I liked knowing I could make you uncomfortable.”
Sophia said nothing.
“It was petty and cruel.”
“Yes.”
“I know.”
Sophia closed the folder.
“Thank you for telling me.”
It wasn't forgiveness.
But it was a beginning.
That night, Sophia called Luke.
He answered on the first ring.
“Sophia?”
“I know who's been targeting my business.”
“Who?”
“Richard Russell.”
Silence.
Luke's voice became colder.
“Are you certain?”
“Vanessa showed me documents.”
“Where are you?”
“My townhouse.”
“Security?”
“Outside.”
“Good.”
She heard movement.
“Luke.”
“Yes?”
“Don't do anything stupid.”
He almost laughed.
“You'll need to define stupid.”
“Threatening him. Hurting him. Burning down a warehouse. Whatever men like you do when you're angry.”
“Sophia.”
“What?”
“I own legitimate businesses.”
“You also have a man named Knuckles in your contacts.”
“His name is Nicholas.”
Despite herself, she laughed.
Luke went silent.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're smiling.”
“No.”
“You are.”
The warmth vanished as quickly as it came.
Luke said, “I'll handle Russell legally.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
It was the first promise Sophia trusted him to keep.
Two hours later, however, Rachel called.
“We have a problem.”
Sophia sat upright.
“What?”
“The man who photographed you outside the hospital has been identified.”
“Who is he?”
“He works for Russell.”
Sophia closed her eyes.
Then Rachel added something worse.
“He disappeared tonight.”
“What does that mean?”
“We don't know.”
Across Chicago, Luke stood inside an empty warehouse staring at the same information.
Marcus waited.
Luke's phone rang.
Vanessa.
He answered.
She was crying.
“Luke.”
“What happened?”
“My father is gone.”
Luke's expression hardened.
“Vanessa—”
“He left a note.”
“What does it say?”
She read it.
May you like
Luke's blood went cold.
If Morgan wants his wife and daughter safe, he knows what he owes me.
