Chapter 114. Bait

**114\. Bait**

***Third Person's POV***

Sabrina sat anxiously, waiting for Travis to return. A heavy sense of dread hung over her, an unshakable feeling that something terrible was about to happen. She couldn't pinpoint why she felt this way, but the unease gnawed at her, leaving her helpless except to wait for Travis.

Her thoughts drifted to her parents, their unjust deaths weighing heavily on her mind. All she wanted was for the truth to come to light and justice to be served.

Wynter played around her, giggling and babbling, but even her sweet presence couldn’t lift Sabrina’s spirits. Her mind was consumed with worry for Travis. She had tried questioning Stav earlier, but he had remained tight-lipped, assuring her that Travis would explain everything once he got home.

Suddenly, her phone rang, the shrill sound cutting through the tense silence. The number was unfamiliar, but she answered it anyway.

“Hello?” Sabrina’s voice was cautious.

“Mrs. King, please come to the location I’ve just sent you. Mr. King has been in an accident.”

Sabrina froze. Her breath hitched as her heart felt like it had stopped. “Wait—who is this? What’s your name?” she asked frantically, but the call ended abruptly. The line went dead before she could get more information.

The phone slipped from her trembling hands, but she didn’t waste a second. Sabrina bolted down the stairs, her thoughts in chaos, completely unaware of the danger she might put herself in by rushing.

“Mama Iris, where are you going?” Wynter’s small, concerned voice called out behind her.

Sabrina stopped mid-step, tears spilling from her eyes as she turned to look at her daughter. She crouched down and scooped Wynter into a tight embrace, holding her close.

“I’ll be back, my love,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Stay here, okay? Don’t go anywhere.”

“Are you going to get Daddy?” Wynter asked softly, her wide eyes glistening with worry.

“Yes, sweetheart. I’m going to bring Daddy back to us. I promise,” Sabrina replied, forcing a reassuring smile even as her heart clenched.

“Okay, Mama Iris. I’ll stay here,” Wynter said, giving a small nod.

Sabrina kissed Wynter’s forehead before rushing out the door. Her vision blurred with tears as she climbed into the car and started driving toward the address the caller had given her. The ominous feeling in her chest only grew heavier with every passing mile.

As she drove, her phone rang again. She glanced at the screen—it was Mark. Relief mingled with her anxiety as she answered.

“Mark,” Sabrina choked out, her voice thick with emotion.

“Sabrina? Why are you crying, baby girl? What’s wrong?” Mark’s voice was laced with concern.

“I got a call,” Sabrina began, her words shaky. “A woman said that Travis—he’s been in an accident.” She quickly recounted everything to him.

“Oh no. Are you okay? Do you need me to come with you?” Mark asked, his tone tight with worry.

“No, Mark,” she replied, taking a deep, shuddering breath. “Please stay with Wynter until I get back. I need to know she’s safe. I’ll explain everything when I return.”

“Of course, Sabrina. Don’t worry about anything here. Chris and I will be with Wynter. Call me if you need anything, okay?” Mark assured her.

Sabrina was grateful for Mark’s unwavering support. He was always there when she needed him most. She wasn’t upset about not asking Mrs. Ann to watch Wynter—Ann was too old to keep up with the little girl’s boundless energy.

“Thank you so much, Mark. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you,” Sabrina said, her voice trembling with gratitude.

“Don’t mention it, baby girl. Just go and find out what’s going on. Let me know when you can,” Mark replied, his voice firm yet reassuring, before hanging up.

Sabrina let out a shaky breath, comforted by Mark’s words. As she pulled up to the location sent by the mysterious caller, confusion washed over her. There was no sign of an accident—no wreckage, no Travis, no crowd. The area was eerily quiet.

She got out of her car and looked around, scanning every corner for any clue. Her heart raced as the silence pressed in. It didn’t make sense. If there had been an accident, there should have been signs—debris, flashing lights, anything.

Suddenly, she felt a hand clamp tightly over her mouth from behind. Panic surged through her, and she screamed, but the sound was muffled against the intruder’s grip. She struggled violently, twisting and turning to free herself, but then she felt a sharp sting at the base of her neck, like a needle piercing her skin.

Her vision blurred, and her strength drained away as a heavy haze pulled her under. She succumbed to unconsciousness, her body going limp in her attacker’s grasp.

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Meanwhile, Travis had made another call after speaking with the mysterious caller.

“Shaun,” he said, addressing a trusted friend and ally.

“Travis,” Shaun acknowledged, his tone alert and ready.

“I’m heading to the location now. I need you to have my back. Bring everyone and meet me at the address I just sent you,” Travis instructed firmly.

“Understood. Do you need anything else?” Shaun asked.

“That’s all for now. Just hurry,” Travis replied before ending the call.

As he drove toward the location, Travis couldn’t shake the ominous feeling settling over him. The address led him to an abandoned building on the outskirts of town, its structure crumbling and forgotten. The place reeked of danger, yet he pressed forward, his resolve unwavering.

“I’m here!” Travis shouted, his voice echoing through the hollow space. He stepped cautiously between the dilapidated walls, scanning his surroundings.

The silence was unnerving, broken only by the sound of his own footsteps. Suddenly, a shadow flitted past him. He spun around, but no one was there.

Travis’s instincts screamed that something was wrong. He turned in circles, his eyes darting to every corner, searching for any sign of movement.

“So, you really came, King,” a voice called out from the shadows, laced with mockery.

Travis whipped around to face the speaker, his body tense and ready. The man stepped into view, his smug expression lit by the faint moonlight streaming through the broken windows.

“Of course I came. I have unfinished business with you, John,” Travis said, his teeth clenched in fury.

John smirked, his confidence radiating. “Unfinished business? How quaint. Tell me, how many times do I need to knock you down before you finally realize you’re not the king anymore? Or should I just call you Travis? After all, you lost that crown long ago.”

Travis took a step closer, his voice low and venomous. “A coward like you doesn’t deserve to utter my name, let alone taunt me. You’ve been hiding in the shadows of a woman’s schemes. Do you think that makes you worthy of anything?”

John’s smirk deepened, his tone dripping with mockery. “Ah, but you know what I think? That silly nickname your wife gave you suits you far better now. How does she say it?” He paused, then mimicked Sabrina’s voice with cruel precision. “‘Nio,’ isn’t it?”

Travis’s fists tightened, his rage bubbling dangerously close to the surface. This wasn’t just about unfinished business—it was about protecting Sabrina, Wynter, and the life they were building together.

“How dare you use your filthy mouth to utter Sabrina’s name?” Travis roared, lunging at John and landing a hard punch to his face.

John staggered but didn’t retreat. Instead, he laughed—a maniacal sound that echoed through the space. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he grinned like a lunatic.

“You’re already this upset, and I haven’t even touched her,” John taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. “Maybe I’ll have some fun with her when I get the chance.”

That was the final straw. Blinded by rage, Travis slammed John to the ground, his fists pummeling with relentless force. He didn’t care about the consequences anymore. John’s words burned in his mind, and nothing but vengeance mattered.

Even as John’s laughter faded into grunts of pain, Travis didn’t stop. His fury surged with every blow. It was only when something hard struck him at the back of his head—a sharp, unforgiving impact—that his world began to spin.

Dazed, his vision blurred, and the strength drained from his body. Travis collapsed to the floor, darkness swallowing him whole.

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Sabrina’s eyes fluttered open to a suffocating darkness. She blinked rapidly, struggling to adjust. The faint smell of damp concrete and rust filled her nostrils.

She tried to move, but her arms and legs wouldn’t budge. Panic set in as she realized her wrists and ankles were bound tightly to the chair.

“Where… where am I?” she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. Memories of being lured with a fake accident report came rushing back. She had walked right into their trap.

“Nio!” Sabrina called out instinctively, her voice echoing off unseen walls.

From somewhere in the darkness, she heard a groan—a familiar voice breaking through the silence.

“Sab…” The faint response sent chills down her spine.

“Nio? Is that you?” she sobbed, tears streaming down her face. “Where are you? Are you okay?”

“I’m here, Sab,” Travis answered weakly. “Just a blow to the head. I’ll be fine. But what are you doing here?”

“They told me you were in an accident,” Sabrina cried. “I couldn’t just ignore it. I—I came looking for you.”

“Damn it, Sabrina,” Travis groaned, tugging at his restraints. “You shouldn’t have come. This is exactly what they wanted. If you get a chance, you need to run. Don’t worry about me—I’ll handle this.”

“I’m not leaving without you!” Sabrina’s voice was firm, though her fear was evident. “We’re getting out of this together.”

Travis sighed, his frustration mixing with concern. “Where’s Wynter? Is she safe?”

“She’s home. Mark and Chris are with her,” Sabrina assured him.

Before either of them could say more, the sound of approaching footsteps broke through the tension. Heavy and deliberate, the steps grew louder, sending shivers down Sabrina’s spine.

“Who’s there?” Sabrina called out, her voice wavering.

“Show yourself!” Travis demanded, his tone a mix of anger and desperation.

A female voice replied, the same one that had lured Sabrina to the site. “Mrs. King, I regret to inform you that Mr. King was involved in an accident.”

The taunting tone sent chills down Sabrina’s spine. “Who are you?” she demanded, but no response came, only the steady sound of heels clicking against the floor.

A moment later, harsh lights flickered on, momentarily blinding them both. As their eyes adjusted, the first thing Sabrina saw was Travis—bound and battered, sitting across from her. Relief mixed with terror as their eyes met, silently assuring each other they were still alive.

Then they turned to the doorway, their breath catching as they saw the figure standing there.

“Helen!” they exclaimed in unison, their shock palpable.

Helen smirked, stepping into the room with a confidence that felt entirely out of character.

“Well, well,” she said, her voice calm but laced with malice. “I see the lovebirds are finally reunited.”

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