Chapter 2 The Bargain

• The sun was just beginning to rise when Vanya Forrest burst into her husband’s study, her breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps. She slammed the door shut behind her, the noise reverberating through the room.
• Garrett Forrest looked up from the papers scattered across his desk, his sharp green eyes narrowing as they landed on her. His salt-and-pepper hair was still mussed from sleep, and the faint trace of his British accent cut through the morning air like steel.
• “What on earth is the matter, Vanya?”
• “She’s gone.” The words tumbled out, heavy and damning. “Madison is gone.”
• Garrett froze, his pen hovering midair. “What do you mean, gone?” His voice was low and dangerous, a tone reserved for moments when he felt control slipping through his fingers.
• “I mean she’s run away!” Vanya snapped, pacing the length of the room. “She took her things and left in the middle of the night. Andrei was waiting for her—God knows where they’ve gone.”
• The silence that followed was deafening. Garrett set the pen down slowly, the scrape of metal against wood the only sound.
• “Do you understand what you’re saying? What this means?”
• “Yes, I understand!” Vanya rounded on him, her eyes wild. “She’s abandoned us. Left us to face Ivan Callahan with nothing but excuses. He’ll kill us, Garrett. All of us.”
• Garrett rose from his chair, his tall frame imposing as he strode toward her. “And what did you do to stop her? You were supposed to keep her in line.”
• “She’s not a child, Garrett!” Vanya’s voice broke, her composure slipping. “What was I supposed to do? Tie her to the bed? She was determined to leave—just like always.”
• Garrett clenched his jaw, his hands balling into fists. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to speak calmly. “We need to think. If we go to Ivan empty-handed, he’ll destroy this family. He’ll think we’ve betrayed him.”
• “There’s nothing to think about,” Vanya said bitterly. “We’re out of options.”
• But even as she spoke, her gaze flicked toward the far side of the room. Toward the mantelpiece where a photograph sat in a simple silver frame.
• Two young women smiled brightly in the picture, their identical faces almost indistinguishable—except for the gleam of mischief in one’s eyes and the softer, shyer smile on the other.
• Garrett followed her gaze, and understanding dawned. “No,” he said flatly, shaking his head. “Absolutely not.”
• “Do you have a better idea?” Vanya challenged, her voice rising. “Because unless Madison miraculously reappears, Madeline is our only chance.”
• “She hasn’t spoken to us in years,” Garrett said, his tone cold. “And you think she’ll agree to this?”
• “She doesn’t have to agree,” Vanya replied, her voice hardening. “We’ll make her.”
• 6:23 a.m. – Across the City
• Madeline Forrest awoke to the harsh sound of knocking on her apartment door, the noise cutting through her dreams like a knife. Groaning, she rolled over and glanced at the clock on her bedside table.
• Too early for visitors. Too early for anything.
• She shoved a hand through her messy curls and trudged toward the door, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
• Her heart skipped a beat when she peeked through the peephole.
• Vanya and Garrett.
• Panic flared in her chest. They hadn’t come looking for her in years—not since the day they pushed her out of their lives like she was nothing more than an inconvenience. What the hell did they want now?
• For a moment, she considered pretending she wasn’t home. But the thought was fleeting. Her parents weren’t the type to give up easily, and if they were here, it wasn’t for something trivial.
• With a resigned sigh, she unlocked the door and pulled it open.
• “What do you want?” she asked, her voice groggy but edged with irritation.
• Vanya pushed past her without waiting for an invitation, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. Garrett followed, his expression as stony as ever.
• Madeline frowned, shutting the door behind them. “Good morning to you, too.”
• “We don’t have time for pleasantries,” Garrett said curtly. “We need to talk.”
• “Oh, this should be good.” Madeline folded her arms across her chest, leaning against the door. “What is it this time? Another family drama you need me to clean up?”
• “This isn’t about drama,” Vanya said sharply, her tone making Madeline’s eyes narrow. “It’s about Madison.”
• The mention of her twin’s name sent a jolt through her, though she kept her expression neutral. “What about her?”
• “She’s gone,” Garrett said simply.
• Madeline blinked. “Gone where?”
• “She ran away,” Vanya interjected, her voice tight. “Last night. And she took your father’s money with her.”
• For a moment, Madeline could only stare at them, her mind struggling to process the information. Madison? Running away? It sounded impossible. Madison never defied their parents. Not like Madeline.
• “And this affects me how?” she asked, her tone cool despite the unease curling in her stomach.
• Vanya exchanged a glance with Garrett before stepping closer. “Madison was supposed to marry Ivan Callahan today.”
• Madeline’s blood ran cold. The name was as familiar as her own, though she’d only ever heard it in hushed tones. Ivan Callahan. The infamous mafia lord. The man who could make people disappear with a snap of his fingers.
• “And what does that have to do with me?” she asked, though she already knew the answer.
• “You’re going to take her place,” Garrett said, his voice as calm and steady as if he were suggesting she pick up a new hobby.
• Madeline barked out a laugh, though there was no humor in it. “You’re joking.”
• “We’re not,” Vanya said firmly. “This is the only way to keep this family alive.”
• “No.” Madeline shook her head, the word falling from her lips like a reflex. “Absolutely not.”
• “You don’t have a choice,” Garrett said, stepping forward. “If you don’t do this, Ivan will kill us. Do you understand that? He’ll kill your brother, your mother, me—and you, if he feels like it.”
• Madeline’s stomach churned, her mind racing. “You expect me to just step into Madison’s shoes and marry a man who—who kills people for a living?”
• “We expect you to save your family,” Vanya snapped. “Do you think we want this? Do you think this is easy for us? You’re the only one who can fix this mess.”
• Madeline looked between them, her parents’ faces hard and unyielding. The weight of their words settled over her like a crushing tide. She wanted to scream, to tell them to leave and never come back. But beneath the anger and fear, a small voice whispered, reminding her of Matteo.
• Her brother. The only one who had ever treated her like she mattered.
• “What happens if I refuse?” she asked, her voice barely audible.
• Vanya’s expression softened just enough to make her look human again. “If you refuse, there’s nothing we can do to stop him.”
• The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.
• Madeline swallowed hard, her throat dry. She could feel her walls crumbling, the weight of responsibility pressing down on her shoulders.
• “I hate you,” she whispered, tears burning at the corners of her eyes.
• Her mother’s lips tightened, but she didn’t argue.
• “You don’t have to like us,” Vanya said. “You just have to do this.”