Free Web NovelChapter 124: Caught
The tires screeched as the driver pulled over to the side of the road. The second car stopped right behind them.
"Lily, can you loop the signal? Make it look like I am still driving toward the docks while I change course."
"Yes, sir. I can ," Lily replied. "But you only have a few minutes before they realize the data is fake."
"Do it," Julian commanded. "And find out where that signal is being sent and send the location to me now. In the meantime, send the police to the docks, to meet the welcome party."
"Right away, sir."
Back in her room, Seraphina was still watching the red dot. It was heading towards the harbor area. She leaned back, satisfied.
"Almost there, Julian," she muttered. "Just a little bit further."
She didn’t notice that the red dot was flickering slightly. She didn’t realize that the man she was hunting had just become the hunter.
Suddenly, her phone rang, the vibration rattling the wooden desk. She picked it up immediately.
"Is he there yet?"
It was Andrew Thorne. His voice was deep and impatient.
"Almost," Seraphina replied, a cruel smile stretching across her face. "He’s heading straight into the trap. I am going to fucking enjoy this so much."
"Don’t celebrate just yet," Andrew warned. "Julian Blackwood is a dangerous man. He can be full of surprises."
"Love has made him weak," Seraphina hissed. "Love always makes people weak."
"Still. I wouldn’t underestimate him, if I were you. Stay with him and let me know as soon as he gets there, so I can alert my men."
She turned her attention back to the laptop, waiting for the red dot to reach the warehouse.
Just then, the red dot stopped. It didn’t just stop. It vanished.
Seraphina’s heart skipped a beat. She leaned forward, her fingers flying across the keys as she tried to refresh the tracking software.
"What? No... no, no, no!" she whispered.
"What is it?" Andrew asked.
The screen blinked. A new message popped up in the center of the map, replacing the red dot.
SIGNAL TERMINATED...
"Andrew, he found the tracker. He’s gone."
"What do you mean he’s gone?" Andrew roared. "Where is he?"
"I don’t know! The signal is dead! It’s gone."
Click. He ended the call.
Seraphina stared at the empty screen, the blue light making her pale face look like a ghost’s. A cold realization washed over her. If Julian was smart enough to find the tracker, he was smart enough to trace the signal back to her.
She threw on a dress, not even bothering with shoes. Then grabbed her laptop and stuffed it into her handbag.
The house was in a suburban area with similar looking houses Lining the block.
She reached her car and yanked at the handle, but it was locked.
"Dammit," she hissed, fumbling with her bag to find her keys. She finally fished them out, but as she reached for the lock, she heard movement behind her.
Her heart skipped a beat. She half expected it to be Stephan, coming back. But just in case it wasn’t, she reached for her gun in her bag.
Before she could turn, a powerful hand clamped over her mouth and the cold metal of a gun barrel pressed firmly against her neck.
"Drop it?" a deep voice whispered in her ear. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
She dropped the gun. It hit the pavement with a heavy thud. The hand over her mouth stayed tight, making it hard for her to breathe.
"Who are you?" she managed to choke out when he loosened his grip on her mouth.
"You don’t recognize my voice, Seraphina?" the man whispered. "I’m hurt."
He slowly turned her around, but he didn’t lower his weapon. As the light from the streetlamp hit his face, Seraphina’s eyes went wide. It was Ethan.
"Ethan. I should have known. What the fuck do you want from me?"
Ethan gave a small, dark laugh.
"What I want? That’s simple," he said, pressing the gun harder against her skin. "Julian would like to have a word with you."
"What about?"
"You’re going to have to ask him that yourself."
"Why don’t you lower the gun? There is no need to be so aggressive. Let’s be civilized."
"You know, you’re not as smart as you think, bitch," Ethan whispered.
He didn’t lower the weapon. Instead, he grabbed her arm and began to drag her toward a dark SUV parked down the block. Three men stood by the vehicle, their weapons drawn and ready.
"Wait! Wait!" she cried, struggling to pull away from his iron grip.
Ethan stopped and leaned in close to her ear. "Shut up and get in to the car quietly. If you don’t, I’ll decide that Julian doesn’t need you in one piece to talk. Do you understand?"
Seraphina looked at the armed men and nodded slowly. She got into the back seat.
Ethan slid in last and slammed the door shut. "Drive," he commanded.
The car pulled away from the curb smoothly, as if nothing had happened. The quiet neighborhood disappearing behind them. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
"Where are you taking me?" she asked, her eyes darting between the men.
Ethan didn’t even look at her.
"You talk too much." He signaled to one of his men.
Before Seraphina could move, they grabbed her. They tied a cloth tightly over her mouth and bound her hands together. Finally, they pulled a black hood over her head.
....
Elsewhere, Lyvana woke up again. Her head felt heavy, but her mind was clear.
Thankfully, they hadn’t drugged her this time. The fog in her brain was gone, but it was replaced by a sharp, cold fear.
She sat up slowly, her hands immediately moving to her stomach.
"Please be okay," she whispered.
Just then, the door opened and someone entered.
Lyvana froze. She squinted against the bright light from the hallway. A tall figure stood in the doorway, their shadow stretching across the cold floor.
She put on the light.
It was a woman she didn’t recognize. She was dressed in a clean, dark dress and carried a small tray. She didn’t look like a kidnapper, but her eyes were void of any kindness.
"Who are you?" Lyvana asked. "Where am I?"
The woman didn’t answer. She placed the tray on a small table near the bed. On the tray was a glass of water and a plate of rice and some meat and vegetables.
"Eat something," the woman ordered, then turned to leave.
"You expect me to eat with my hand tied to the corner?" Lyvana asked. She pressed her back against the headboard, feeling the cold metal of the cuff on her wrist.
The woman stopped at the door. She looked back with a cold stare. "You don’t need both hands to eat. Use the one that is free."
"I’m not an animal," Lyvana snapped. Her voice was shaking, but she didn’t want to show her fear.
"Right now, you are a guest," the woman said. "If you don’t eat, you will become a patient. My job is to keep you healthy for Master Thorne. If I have to use a feeding tube, I will."
The door clicked shut, and the lock turned.
Master Thorne? The name echoed in her mind. She knew only one Thorne. Andrew Thorne. Was it possible?
