Chapter 22:The Hunt Begins
464 Words
The study remained silent after Nathan Brooks disappeared.
Edward picked up the tiny GPS tracker hidden inside the invitation.
"He wants us to panic," he said.
Damien examined it carefully.
"No..."
"He wants us to believe he's tracking us."
Isabella frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Damien smiled slightly.
"If Nathan thinks we don't know about the tracker, we can use it against him."
Edward nodded in approval.
"Exactly."
A plan began to form.
The next morning...
News of the attack on Lancaster Mansion spread across the city.
Television stations reported that Edward Lancaster had increased security around his estate.
Meanwhile...
Nathan watched the news from a luxurious penthouse.
"They've tightened security," Raven said.
Nathan smiled.
"As expected."
He looked at the blinking signal from the GPS tracker.
"They're afraid."
"But fear makes people predictable."
He turned toward Raven.
"Prepare the island."
"The Lancaster heiress is coming."
Back at Lancaster Mansion...
Edward called a meeting with his most trusted allies.
Only Isabella...
Damien...
The security chief...
And Edward remained in the room.
Edward placed a city map on the table.
"We're not going to Black Serpent Island unprepared."
The security chief pointed to several locations.
"We've discovered one of Nathan's warehouses."
Damien looked interested.
"What's inside?"
"We don't know."
"But trucks have been entering every night."
Isabella stood.
"Then we investigate tonight."
That evening...
A black SUV stopped outside an abandoned shipping warehouse near the harbor.
The area was dark and quiet.
Isabella, Damien, and two trusted guards climbed over the back fence.
They quietly approached the building.
Inside...
Dozens of wooden crates filled the warehouse.
Damien opened one.
His eyes widened.
"It's full of passports."
Another crate contained stacks of cash.
Another held fake company documents.
"This is how they hide their money," Isabella whispered.
Suddenly...
A familiar voice echoed through the warehouse.
"I was wondering when you'd arrive."
The lights switched on.
Nathan stood on a metal platform above them.
Beside him...
Raven smiled confidently.
Around them...
More than thirty armed guards appeared from the shadows.
Nathan applauded slowly.
"Congratulations."
"You found one of my smallest operations."
Damien stepped in front of Isabella.
"This ends tonight."
Nathan laughed.
"No..."
"It begins tonight."
He pressed a button on a remote control.
A loud alarm echoed through the warehouse.
The floor beneath Isabella suddenly shook.
Cracks spread across the concrete.
Edward's voice came through Damien's earpiece.
"Get out of there!"
"It's a trap!"
Before they could run...
The floor collapsed beneath their feet.
They plunged into darkness.
When Isabella opened her eyes...
She was trapped inside an underground chamber.
Damien was beside her.
But Edward...
The guards...
And the exit...
Were gone.
A large steel door slowly closed behind them.
Then Nathan's voice echoed through hidden speakers.
"Welcome..."
"...to the first level of my game."
- Writer
