Chapter 80

Chapter 80

Fernandez's eyes blazed with fury, his jaw clenched in a tight, angular line. The air around him seemed to vibrate with tension, making everyone in the room tremble. Reena, Alexandra, and the servants exchanged nervous glances, fearful of approaching him.

The team of agents, huddled around their laptops, sweated profusely as they frantically tried to reestablish the lost connection. Their fingers flew across keyboards, but every attempt ended in failure.

Fernandez's gaze pinned them, his eyes void of emotion, yet radiating menace. "Have you found her location?" he asked, his voice cold, detached.

The lead agent, trembling, met Fernandez's gaze. "Sir, we...we were tracking her through the wedding band and necklace, but...but the connection dropped. It seems the kidnapper discovered our trace."

The agent's words hung in the air, unfinished, as Fernandez's face darkened. He lunged forward, grasping the agent's collar, his fingers digging deep into the fabric.

"You're useless!" Fernandez bellowed, his voice echoing through the room. "Can't even do your job! What am I paying you for?"

With a swift motion, he flung the agent away, sending him stumbling backward. Laptops crashed to the floor as Fernandez swept his arm across the table, scattering equipment.

"Get out! All of you! Now!" he thundered, his eyes blazing.

The agents scrambled to gather their belongings, fleeing the room with tails between their legs.

Alexandra stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the floor, tears welling up. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was all her fault.

Reena approached Fernandez cautiously, her hand extended. "Brother, calm down. Let's think this through."

Fernandez's chest heaved, his anger still simmering. Reena's gentle touch on his shoulder anchored him.

Fernandez strode into his study, the door closing behind him with a soft click. The room's dim lighting and rich wood paneling enveloped him, a sanctuary from the chaos outside.

He approached the safe, hidden behind a portrait of him. With a swift keystroke, the password unlocked, and the safe slid open, revealing its contents.

Fernandez extracted a sleek, high-tech laptop, its matte finish reflecting the faint glow of the study's lamps.

Settling into his leather chair, he booted up the laptop and logged into his secure account. The screen flickered to life, displaying a torrent of messages from his underworld network.

His men, scattered across the globe, reached out, inquiring about his sudden reappearance.

Fernandez's gaze swept past the messages, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

"Don! It's been so long!"

"Don, command us, what do you want?"

"Don, we hope everything is fine?"

Only one person mattered right now.

"Cat," he typed, his message direct and urgent. "Anna's been kidnapped. I want you and your team down here ASAP."

The response came swiftly.

"Yes, Don. On our way."

Fernandez's lips curled into a cold, calculated smile.

His eyes flashed with deadly intent, the wristwatch on his left hand gleaming in the dim light.

"Today, you'll pay for crossing me," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

The laptop's screen glowed, a window into the dark world Fernandez commanded.

As he waited for Cat's team to arrive, his mind rehearsed strategies, anticipating the kidnapper's next move.

Reena knocked softly on the door, her voice concerned. "Fernandez, what's happening?"

Fernandez swiftly closed the laptop, his expression neutral. "Just arranging for additional security, Reena."

Reena's eyes narrowed, sensing more to the story. "Who are you contacting?"

Fernandez's smile reassured her. "Just some old acquaintances. Don't worry."

Reena's gaze lingered, unsure, but Fernandez's confident tone eased her concerns.

She nodded and exited, leaving Fernandez to his plans.

The door closed, and Fernandez's mask slipped. His eyes hardened, focused on the task ahead.

The kidnapper's fate was sealed.

The sound of the chopper's rotors echoed through the mansion, growing louder. Fernandez's face lit up, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He swiftly secured his laptop in the safe and exited his study.

In the living room, the others exchanged hopeful glances. "Could it be Anna?" Reena whispered.

But Fernandez knew better. He had been expecting these visitors.

A knock at the door broke the tension. The servant, Maria, hesitated before answering. She prayed fervently, "Please, let it be Madam Anna. We can't take this anymore."

As she opened the door, her face fell in disappointment. The newcomers didn't look like saviors; they seemed to have stepped out of an action movie.

The group, clad in black tactical gear, exuded an aura of danger. Their leader, a striking woman with a cat tattoo on her neck, commanded attention. A sleek black cat perched on her shoulder, its eyes gleaming like onyx.

Maria's voice trembled. "W-who are you?"

Before the woman could respond, Fernandez's commanding voice resonated through the hallway.

"Let them in, Maria. They're my people."

Maria stepped aside, her eyes darting between Fernandez and the mysterious group.

The woman, Cat, strode in, her gaze sweeping the room. "Boss."

Fernandez approached her, his expression unreadable. "Cat. Right on time."

Cat's eyes locked onto Fernandez's, a hint of curiosity flickering within. "The situation?"

"Anna's been kidnapped," Fernandez replied, his voice low and deadly. "I need your team to track her down."

Cat's expression turned icy. "We'll get her back, Boss."

"Can I check the CCTV footage?" Cat asked, her fingers poised over her laptop keyboard.

Reena stepped forward, her brow furrowed. "There's nothing to check. The footage is empty."

Cat's gaze lifted, her eyes locking onto Reena's. A hint of surprise flickered within them.

"Empty?" Cat repeated.

Reena nodded. "Yes. We've already checked. It's like they knew exactly how to avoid the cameras."

Cat's expression turned thoughtful. She exchanged a glance with her team, and one of them nodded.

"No worries," Cat said, her focus returning to Reena. "The footage will be recovered."

Reena's eyes widened. "How?"

Cat's smile was enigmatic. "Let's just say we have our ways."

Reena's mind eased slightly. These people didn't seem to be all talk; they exuded confidence and competence.

As Cat's team began typing away on their laptops, Reena prayed they would find Anna and bring her home safely.

"Can I ask," Reena began, her voice hesitant, "how you plan to recover the footage?"

Cat's gaze never left the screen. "We'll use specialized software to retrieve deleted files and enhance any available images."

Fernandez stepped forward, his eyes intense. "Cat, I want results. Fast."

Cat nodded. "You'll get them, Boss."

The room fell silent, the only sound the hum of laptops and the soft murmur of Cat's team discussing strategies.

Reena watched, fascinated, as Cat's team worked in perfect sync, their movements fluid and efficient.

These people were pros. And Reena's hopes rose.

They would find Anna.