Chapter seventy one
Chapter seventy one
Dallas
After several hours of strategizing, we finally had a solid plan on how to capture Lucien and him. I've had enough time to process what Oliver told me, but the more I thought about it, the less sense it made. So I stopped thinking about it. I made up my mind to go to the address and figure it out there.
“There's an abandoned factory a few miles from the address Lucien sent. I have a strong feeling that's where he is. He must have purposefully chosen a place close to civilians so his agenda seem less suspicious. If he were to choose somewhere deserted and faraway, it'd be easier to capture him.” Ethan said.
He was sitting on the couch across me, while Oliver sat beside me, his arms draped around my shoulder.
“We don't know for sure if it was Lucien who sent the text. What if it's…” I gritted my teeth together “... him?” I managed to force out.
I can't even say his name without feeling nausea crawl up my throat. Despite the video Oliver showed me, a big part of me still believes it was a misunderstanding. It has to be. There is no way he would do that to me. There's no reason for him to hate me to the extent of trying to kill me.
But if I get there and found out what Oliver said was true, than my whole life for the past four years has been a huge lie.
“There's a high chance that they're together.” Xavier said quietly from his seat at the far end of the couch.
He wore a very bored expression as if he'd rather be anywhere but here, despite the contradicting emotion shining in his eyes. He'd shown up a few hours ago to discuss some business with Oliver and decided to join in. I felt bad that he was looped in my shenanigans when he clearly had something important to discuss with Oliver, but the latter wasn't hearing him out.
It didn't escape me that three of America's most richest men are currently cramped up in a study and helping me with my family drama. I was so grateful to them despite that I can't seem to comprehend why they're helping me.
I was so caught up in the emotions swirling in me earlier that I hadn't stop to think how they knew about it. Ethan didn't seem surprised when he was trying to find the source of the text, nor did he flinch when the caller dropped the bombshell on me.
Xavier strolled into the office hours ago and took one quick glances at all of us before setting down his laptop. He seem to immediately know what was going on.
Neither Xavier nor Ethan questioned the close proximity I was in with Oliver.
I made a mental note to ask Oliver about it when this is all over.
“I hacked into the security cameras surrounding the area. While there were no cameras outside the factory, I was able to get a view from one of the cameras placed in a corner. I saw a black car drive towards the factory.” Ethan said, throwing a glance at me.
“I wasn't able to see their faces as the camera was too far away, but I ran the car's plate number and it belongs to…” he paused, probably reading from my face that I didn't want to hear his name.
“They're definitely together.” He added instead.
“I contacted the cops. They'd surround the factory while Dallas goes in to distract him. There are only civilian houses within miles of the place. There's no way he's getting away.” Xavier said, a hint of menance crossed his face before it quickly vanished.
It was almost as if he had a personal grudge to settle. Or this was just a typical Friday to him.
I didn't get to focus on it before the sound of a phone ringing pierced through the air. Ethan answered his phone while I leaned into Oliver's embrace.
“It's here.” Ethan said as he ended the call.
Oliver gave him a simple nod. Ethan walked out of the home office only to return with a small box in his hands. He placed on the coffee table in front of me.
“What's this?” I asked, my brows furrowed in confusion.
“Something to ensure your safety. You didn't I was going to let you walk into the lion's den unprotected, did you?” Oliver said and gave me a small smile.
“It's a tracking device.” Ethan said as he brought out a tiny device from the box. “It also has a recorder on it. You have to keep it on you, just Incase things go sideways.”
He placed it in my hand gently. The device seem even more tiny in my palm. Oliver took it from me.
“Turn around.” He said.
I stared at him in confusion for a few seconds before doing as he said. He attached the tracker to my hair.
“Okay, I think we're all set. Everyone clear on the plan?” Oliver asked.
“Dallas goes in first. Xavier handles the cops. I spy from here.” Ethan relayed.
“Not just spy, you tell if you see anything suspicious in the area.” Oliver said to his cousin.
“Noted,”
I glanced a look at Xavier to see him focused on his phone as if nothing around him matters. I couldn't blame him. He probably had a very tight schedule but he chose to help me instead. My chest tightened.
“Thank you so much for this. I really appreciate it.” I said and meant it.
Xavier glanced up from his phone and our gaze collided. His eyes softened and he gave me a simple nod before turning his attention back to his phone.
“You're welcome, darling.” Ethan said and grinned widely.
Oliver leveled him with a glare but Ethan didn't meet his cousin's eyes. I let out a chuckle.
“Let's do this.” I said, despite a part of me sounding unsure.
I glanced at Oliver and he smiled softly, easing my nervousness a bit.
.
.
.
I got to the address I was sent and parked my car. I did a quick sweep of my surroundings. Sure enough, the address was just a small house with a small family.
I tightened my hold on the steering. There's no need to be nervous. Oliver's nearby. He would come out of hiding if I'm faced with any threat.
It took a lot to convince him not to ride in the car with me. I saw the conflicting emotions in his eyes before he finally let me go. But I could still see the black SUV from the rearview mirror of my car.
I took a few deep breaths to calm my nerves. I brought out my phone and shot a text to the caller.
“I'm here.”
A few minutes passed before my phone rang. I quickly answered the call despite how unstable my hands were.
“Turn your car around, take a left turn, drive straight down, take a right turn, and park your car.” The call ended before I could say anything.
The voice was so deep and unfamiliar, but Ethan had pointed out earlier the possibility of the caller using a voice cloner. But I was still holding on to the hope that the caller was a total stranger, and that he really wasn't involved.
I followed the direction I was given. I got out of the car and threw my gaze around. I could spot the factory Ethan was talking about from here so I started walking towards it.
I was so focused on where I was going that I didn't see someone approaching beside me. I glanced at my sides and gasped when I saw the person's face. I would recognize that face anywhere.
It was the truck driver who killed my mother. The one that Lucien hired.
“Keep quiet and follow me.” He said, raising his shirt slightly to shoe me the gun tucked in his belts.
I pressed my lips together and decided to go with him. I walked before him, my held high despite the threat of death behind me. But even if he decided to shoot, I wasn't going to make it easy for him. I didn't make it to the Olympics for nothing. I could easily take him.
But instead of walking to the factory, he led me towards a car.
“Where are we going?” I asked as panic slowly crawled into me.
“Shut up and get in!” He snapped at me.
No, no, no, Oliver wouldn't know where I was now. Xavier already stationed the cops to the abandoned factory. This is bad. Really bad.
I discreetly reached for the tracker in my head and found it still intact. Thank God.
We drove for a few minutes before he stopped at a…is that a cliff?
“Didn't know I'll be going hiking today, would have dressed appropriately.” Sarcasm dripped in my voice.
“Shut. Up.” He said, punctuating each word.
He pressed the gun to the back of my head, and I prayed silently that he doesn't find the tracker.
“Stand over there.” He pushed me towards the edge of the cliff.
I forced my facial expression to remain neutral. I would not give this asshole the satisfaction of seeing me frightened. I could see two figures approaching from where I stood.
“Glad you could make it to the family meeting, Dallas. I'm sorry for all the extra drama you had to go through.” I heard Lucien's voice before I saw him. He sounded anything but sorry.
I opened my mouth to fire a retort at him but snapped it shut when I finally got a good view of the man beside him.
“I'd choose your next words carefully. Jim, here, doesn't have much patience.”
I gritted my teeth together as I stared at the man who I had considered my father for the last four years. The man who had picked me up whenever I was down. The man who had believed me when the whole world didn't. The same man is now grinning at me while I was held at gunpoint.
Atlas Cooper.