Chapter hundred and thirty one

Chapter 131

Oliver

“When you said you found Alberto, I really thought you meant you found his secret hideout and we're going to barge in, take him, and tie him up for questions. This is the exact opposite of what I had in mind.” Xavier groaned, his mask slipping slightly.

He crouched further behind the bushes, his dark clothes, making him almost invisible in the dark.

I groaned and slapped away the fly buzzing in my ears. Xavier was right, this wasn't what I pictured at all. C

“Well, it's your problem for interpreting my words differently. I told you the man is difficult to catch. Ever since I began searching for him, this is the closest I've ever gotten.” Ethan shrugged.

“An earlier warning would have been nice.” I snapped. Xavier grunted his agreement

“I specifically told you to where dark and comfortable fit. How's that not warning you?”

He was right. He did tell us that. But still, a literal warning about our destination would have been nice.

“So what? We hide behind the bushes closer to the sewer grates and just hope this person shows up?” Xavier asked.

“Yes, little Carson, that's exactly what we do.” Ethan said. I snorted at the nickname.

Xavier scoffed and glared at me, but I ignored him.

Ethan couldn't track down Alberto directly so he did the next possible thing. He tracked down Mason.

Well, not exactly, but something along the line.

After Alberto went into hiding, he took his son with him, probably to avoid anyone using Mason against him. But the younger Castillo didn't seem to understand that because he was still in very much contact with his friends.

But Mason's new phone was difficult to hack into. So Ethan hacked into one of Mason's friends phone and sent him a link. Once Mason opened it, Ethan was able to hack into his phone.

He was able to go through everything on Mason's phone. There was little to no mention of the Older Castillo in all of Mason's chats.

Ethan lured Mason out of hiding by sending him a text through his friend's phone and offering him something he would never refuse. Drugs.

Turns out the younger Castillo was drug starved and there isn't much marijuana in hiding.

While I agree with Ethan that the plan was genius, a lot of things could go wrong. Like Mason not showing up like we expected. Or Alberto catching on our plan and disrupting it.

But when Ethan went through their chats, he found out that the drug exchange had been going on ever since the Castillos went into hiding.

I didn't know why we hadn't seen that opportunity and exploited it earlier. Somehow Ethan had.

The only downside to his elaborate plan was that he only informed us on the car ride here.

“I just hope he shows up or this will all be for nothing.” I muttered.

“No, it wouldn't. We'll always have the bonding we did here.” Ethan said.

“We're kneeling next to a sewer grates. How's that bonding?” Xavier scoffed.

Ethan was about to reply when I sensed movement ahead of us. I immediately clasped a hand over his mouth.

I gestured towards the figure standing few feet away from us before removing my hand. The three of us shared a look before nodding and splitting into position.

The trick was to surround him without alerting him of our presence. We had no idea if he came alone or with some companions and I'm not willing to take that risk.

I'm not exactly dressed for a fight since I didn't know what we were coming to do and I'd rather not get blood on these pants.

The three of us surrounded him, blocking all possible routes of escape. Mason didn't even notice anything suspicious and it didn't seem he came with anybody.

He was either really starved that he didn't care or he was arrogant enough and thought nothing bad could happen to him. I was sure it was probably both.

Mason began typing on his phone, probably texting his friend and asking for his whereabouts. He was so focused that he didn't even hear Ethan approaching.

“Hello, Mason. Long time no see.” Ethan said before ramming him fist into his face. The punch knocked him out cold and he fell face first on the floor.

“Ethan! Why did you punch him in the face?” Xavier whisper yelled.

“I was knocking him out. You're welcome.”

“That's what the chloroform on the handkerchief was for, genius.” Xavier scoffed.

“I like my way better.”

Xavier wasn't with us the last time we were in this scenario. Only I knew that punch was personal.

“Would you both stop bickering and help me get him into the car before someone else shows up.” I said, moving towards an unconscious Mason.

“Relax, I'm sure he came alone. He's that stupid.” Ethan said.

“Well, I'm not looking to test that theory out by hanging around for too long. Let's get out of here.”

They nodded in unison. The three of us carried Mason to the car, while moving quietly in the dark.
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“Wakey wakey.” Ethan said in a singsong tone as he splashed water on Mason's face.

His eyes fluttered opened before shutting back. He squeezed his eyes tightly and opened it gently. His eyes widened in fear as he scanned the room and took note of the three of us.

“Hello, daddy's boy. Miss me?” Ethan's grin was nothing short of feral.

Mason seem to think so too as he tried shifting in his seat. But there was little he could do due to the ropes restraining his movements.

“Why have you kidnapped me again? I've done nothing against you.” Mason's voice cracked as he spoke. He seem to be on the verge of tears.

“Oh, hush up!” Xavier snapped and put a duct tape on his lips to stop him from talking. He picked up Mason's phone from where we dropped it while we were tying him up.

“We're gonna call his old man or what? Ethan seem very content to keep torturing him.” He gestured to Ethan towering over Mason, his creepy grin still in place.

“Ethan!” I called, a warning in my tone.

He groaned.
“You never let me have any fun.”

I shook my head and trudged towards Xavier. I took the phone from him. There were several missed calls from Alberto. He's probably noticed his son was gone by now.

“I'll try to trace the number while you're on the phone with him. Keep him talking.” Ethan said.

Mason mumbled something but the sound was muffled. None of us paid him any attention.

I dialed Alberto's number on Mason's phone and waited impatiently as the phone rang. He picked up almost immediately as if he was expecting the call.

“Where the hell are you, Mason? I've warned you several times about sneaking off. How many times do I have to tell you outside is not safe right now before you listen to me?” He thundered.

I could literally feel the anger pouring out of him from the other end.

“Well, I guess you didn't make your point clear because we found your boy wandering the streets.” I said.

The other end went silent. I almost thought he hung up but I could still hear the rapid accelerating of his breath.

“Oliver?” He called, his voice barely above a whisper.

A smirk touched my lips as I heard the slight hint of fear in his voice.

“You don't have to hide from me anymore. I've got your son.”

He took another long pause before doing something so shocking. He burst into laughter.

“I don't get what's so funny about learning that your son is being held captive.” I frowned.

But he didn't stop laughing which only annoyed me further.

“What's funny is you thinking I was hiding from you. For someone who claimed to be so smart, you certainly don't pay attention to things happening around you.” He chuckled.

“Don't talk in riddles, old man. What do you mean?” I asked.

He laughed again. This time, it almost sounded sad.

“I wasn't hiding from you. I was hiding because of you, Oliver Kang.”