Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

The dawn broke over the sleepy town as Emma filled her water bottle from the stream and wrapped a handful of wild berries in leaves. When she returned to the pit, her heart sank-Dustin was nowhere to be found. "Dustin?" Her voice wavered, the berries tumbling to the ground as panic set in. She searched the surrounding area, calling his name, but he was gone.

Meanwhile, Dustin had already been scooped up by Patrick, who had been waiting all night for them to return. When they didn't show up, he decided to drive out and search. Near the edge of town, he spotted tire tracks that led him straight to an unconscious Dustin. Patrick didn't waste a moment. He hoisted Dustin into the car and headed back to Emma's humble abode. Realizing Emma had saved Dustin, and recognizing the limited medical resources at their disposal, Patrick left a stack of cash for her troubles and whisked Dustin away.

Back at the pit, Emma searched desperately for three long hours. With no sign of Dustin and concerns for her mother's health looming, she made a quick trip into town to alert the authorities, her mind racing with dreadful scenarios-had Dustin wandered off in his weakened state and been abducted?

Despite her myriad fears, duty called her home. When she arrived, she was greeted by her mother's coughing fits and the sight of the cash left on the table. Her eyes narrowed. Dustin had been here-and he'd left money?

Emma silently placed the bills in a drawer, deciding that if Dustin ever returned, she'd give it all back to him. After taking care of her mother, Emma stood before the mirror, studying her reflection. Her usually tan skin was pale, her neck marked with bruises that were, thankfully, barely visible. It all felt like a dream.

In the speeding car, Dustin finally awoke. Patrick, who had moved to the backseat, let out a sigh of relief.

"Mr. Lynch, how are you feeling?"

Dustin's brows furrowed, recognizing the voice. "Patrick?" he asked, his tone polite but distant.

Patrick nodded, relieved that Dustin seemed coherent. "I'm taking you back to Beaconsfield. You're still recovering."

Dustin glanced outside, his expression darkening. "Where are we? You saved me?"

Patrick was taken aback. "No, it was a doctor."

Unbeknownst to Patrick, this revelation barely stirred Dustin. His injury had caused memory loss, and the brief time spent recuperating in the woods had slipped from his mind.

As they reached the county, a helicopter was waiting to take them the rest of the way. Brielle and Max had already departed, planning to meet up in Beaconsfield.

As Dustin watched the helicopter

rise, his thoughts from the previous

night-of intimacy with a woman

such a raw environment-had vanished. Now, his mind was consumed with thoughts of Dummy, his eyes flashing with a cold

intensity.

He never expected such betrayal from someone who'd been by his side for years.

Kenzo, Dummy-it was all a cunning game.

Dustin's chest heaved with emotion. "What's Kenzo up to these days?"

Was he frantically searching for Dustin's whereabouts? After all, Dustin had seen his face that night their guns pointed at each other. He'd never imagined that Dummy

would be unscarred, nor could he

have pictured that face.

He had met with Kenzo before in Beaconsfield. What had Kenzo thought of him then? Did he revel in the power of manipulating everyone around him?

A bitter laugh escaped him as he

looked down at the rolling green bills

below, a heavy feeling in his heart.

He couldn't shake the sense that he was forgetting something crucial.