Chapter 19 Unbelievable Man
Anna’s POV
“I don’t know what you think you’re doing,” I said evenly, keeping my hands where they could see them, “but you’re making a grave mistake. I’m not lying. Ask Patrick. He’ll tell you.”
The men exchanged glances.
One of them, clearly the one in charge, nodded at the guy beside him. “Take her to Patrick, but search her first for any weapons."
Rough hands grabbed me.
They didn’t just search. They patted me down slowly like they were savoring it.
It felt less like procedure and more like harassment.
I kept my face blank. Breathe in. Breathe out.
One of them leaned close, his breath hot against my ear. “If your story doesn’t check out,” he said quietly, “all your holes are going to be put to serious use before we decide whether to kill you or let you walk.”
I didn’t flinch. Didn’t give him the satisfaction.
“Then I suggest my story checks out,” I replied calmly.
They finally stepped back and pushed me forward.
Inside, more armed men stood in the living room. Rifles. Tactical stance. Alert eyes.
Patrick hadn’t run. Unbelievable. A grave mistake he was going to regret.
They led me to the very room.
The same room where Xavier had killed his wife.
The memory of blood flashed through my mind.
Patrick stood near the window. He looked pale. Not just scared, bitter.
“Sir,” one of the men said, “she claims to be your foster daughter.”
Patrick didn’t speak immediately.
My heart thudded once. If he denies me, I’m dead.
His eyes locked onto mine. Then he nodded slowly.
“She is,” he said. His voice was tight. “What are you doing here? Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”
I ignored the accusation. “Where’s Sam?” I asked.
His eyes widened.
Realization dawned across his face like a slow-burning fuse.
“How the fuck did you get out of that psychopath’s grip?” he demanded in a harsh whisper.
“You don’t want to know,” I replied. “Where. Is. Sam?”
He hesitated. “You made a mistake staying here,” I muttered. “But that aside, where is Sam?” I repeated.
“Sam’s friend assured me I'd be safe,” Patrick said quickly. “There’s no way that fool can get past these armed men. They’re some of the best.”
“You have no idea what Xavier is capable of,” I said flatly.
Patrick turned his back to me. “Leave,” he said.
“Listen to me—”
He spun sharply. “Leave. Now!”
The room went silent.
The armed men stared at me like they were waiting for a reason.
I swallowed the rest of my words. If I pushed further, it would blow everything.
So I turned. Walked out without another word.
The men outside watched me suspiciously, but none stopped me.
When I reached Lucas’s car, I slipped inside.
He looked at me calmly. “Well?”
“Patrick’s inside,” I said. “But they're armed men. About twelve or more. Six outside. Four inside. Two watching from a van across the street.”
Lucas’s eyebrow lifted slightly. “What about Sam?”
“No idea. Patrick didn’t say.”
Lucas studied me for a long second.
“What?” I asked.
He leaned back slightly. “I think you’re going to be good at this.”
A small smile curved my lips. If only he knew. I wasn't just good, I was the best.
Lucas pulled out his phone and sent a text.
“What next?” I asked.
“I’ve sent men to storm the house,” he replied casually. “Patrick will be captured alive.”
My head snapped toward him. “What about Sam? How do we find him?”
“We threaten Patrick,” he said simply. “He’ll talk.”
“No, he won’t,” I said, clicking my seatbelt into place. “Patrick loves his son more than anything.”
Lucas’s jaw tightened slightly. “Then we go to the club where Sam used your credit card. I already have men watching it.”
“So we’re just going to sit in the car until nightfall?” I asked.
Lucas glanced at me. “Is there somewhere you’d rather be?”
I remembered Zack Arrow. My mission.
But I couldn’t ask directly. It would be too obvious.
So I tilted my head slightly. “Apart from Xavier… are there other powerful dons? More powerful than him?”
Lucas shook his head instinctively, then paused.
“It appears there are two,” he admitted. “More powerful.”
“Have you met any of them?”
“No. But Xavier has.”
My interest sharpened.
“They reached out to him,” Lucas continued. “They wanted to form one unified clan. Three dons ruling together. They believed it would make them unstoppable.”
“And Xavier refused?” I guessed.
“Yes.”
Why? Pride? Power? Or something deeper?
“Is there any probability,” I asked carefully, “that these two dons might bid for me?”
Lucas’s eyes flickered slightly. “It’s very likely,” he admitted. “But I’ll make sure it doesn’t get to that.”
My pulse skipped.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Why are you asking about dons more powerful than Xavier?”
I leaned back casually. “I just wanted to know if Xavier is all-powerful. Eve once mentioned a particular don she feared might come for Xavier.”
A lie. But it felt smooth on my tongue.
“Did she tell you his name?” Lucas asked.
“Yes.” I paused deliberately. “I think she said Zack. Zack Arrow.”
Lucas’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly.
“Possible,” he muttered. “But Zack wouldn’t risk attacking Xavier right now. He has a lot on his plate.”
“What do you mean?”
“Xavier’s intel reports that Zack has become the prime target of certain secret agencies. They want him dead.”
My stomach tightened. So Xavier knew. Or suspected.
“Wow,” I said lightly. “That’s a mess. Maybe the agencies will kill him.”
Lucas shook his head. “Impossible. It takes a don to kill another don like Zack.”
I watched his profile carefully. “If Zack is off balance,” I pressed gently, “shouldn’t Xavier see it as an opportunity? Expand territory?”
Lucas gave me a small sideways look. “It’s hard to tell how Xavier thinks.”
Once again, his answers were careful. Not revealing anything substantial.
I exhaled softly. “I’m bored,” I said. “Can we go somewhere?"
“There’s nothing exciting we can do,” Lucas replied. “Unless we go into enemy territory.”
A slow smile crept onto my face. “Sounds fun. Which enemy territory?”
He glanced at me. “Zack Arrow’s.”
My eyes widened before I could stop them.