Chapter 61 Chapter 61
"A rebel only makes the hunt sweeter"
Bryant’s sat behind the broad desk, Bryant sat with calculated ease, fingers clasped beneath his chin as he watched Mayor Brattfield pace back and forth in the room.
Brattfield looked… worn, not physically but there was a tightness in his movements, a strain in his eyes that hadn’t been there before
“You need to start thinking long-term,” Bryant said smoothly “Your next tenure is approaching, and I can’t support you when you're doubting yourself "
Brattfield stopped pacing, exhaling through his nose. “I might not run"
Bryant’s brows lifted slightly, though the rest of his face remained composed "Might not?”
“Marilyn has been…” Brattfield hesitated, choosing his words carefully “Difficult, she’s been making messes I have to clean up constantly. It’s becoming tiring”
Bryant leaned back in his chair, studying him. “You’ve handled worse"
“This is different.” Brattfield ran a hand over his face. “And Alayre is on my neck again, I’m being cornered from all sides"
A faint scoff escaped Bryant “You should have killed that crazy wife of yours a long time ago,” he said bluntly “She’s been trouble since the beginning"
Brattfield’s head snapped up, a flicker of something sharp crossing his face. “No.”
Bryant arched a brow.
“I’d rather let go of power,” Brattfield continued, voice firm despite the exhaustion beneath it, “than let go of Marilyn ”
For a brief moment, silence settled between them, then Bryant chuckled softly, though there was no humor in it.
“Don’t give up gold for mere mud,” he said, his tone turning colder. “You’re letting sentiment cloud your judgment. That’s dangerous"
Brattfield didn’t respond, but his jaw tightened.
Bryant leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering, becoming more deliberate. “Besides, you’re worrying over nothing. My new discovery will solve everything.”
That caught Brattfield’s attention frowning "Hale?”
Bryant nodded slowly. “Hale just needs a little more time. What he’s working on… it will change everything, it will” A faint smile tugged at his lips “No more loose ends.”
Brattfield studied him, searching for reassurance and finding just enough to cling to. After a moment, he nodded.
“Alright,” he said quietly.
Bryant’s smile widened just a fraction then, as if shifting to a lighter subject, he added, “Speaking of loose ends.. Rihana....”
Brattfield’s gaze sharpened again
“I’ve found the perfect groom for her,” Bryant continued. “Someone strong, capable and loyal. A man who can protect her from Hale”
Brattfield considered this, then gave a slow, approving nod. “Good"
“Leave it to me,” Bryant said. “I’ll handle everything"
Brattfield checked his phone, his expression darkening as he read a message.
“I have to go,” he muttered. “Marilyn, she’s complaining about her new girl.”
Bryant frowned. “New girl? I don’t recall sending another subject.”
A faint, humorless smile touched Brattfield’s lips. “You didn’t but Marilyn got herself a willing one.”
Bryant’s eyes narrowed slightly, interest flickering beneath the surface.
“Of course she did,” he murmured
Brattfield didn’t stay to elaborate. He turned and left, the heavy door clicking shut behind him.
Bryant remained seated, his fingers tapping slowly against the desk as his thoughts churned. A willing subject that could either be a blessing or a disaster.
The atmosphere in Hale’s apartment was entirely different. It was tense, charged, and alive with barely contained anger and violence.
Weapons were laid out across the table in meticulous rows, guns, knives, ammunition, compact explosives, and medical kits, everything arranged with precision.
Peterson moved with practiced efficiency, loading a trunk with supplies. Each item was checked twice before being packed away.
Hale stood nearby, fastening a strap across his chest, his expression unreadable but his focus razor sharp
“Truck’s ready,” Peterson muttered, slamming the trunk shut with a dull thud “We’re fully loaded and ready for fun"
Hale gave a short nod.
Inside the room, Jason crouched in front of Clara. She sat curled into herself, her back pressed tightly against the wall, as if she could disappear into it. Her breathing was uneven, her fingers clenched in the fabric of her clothes
Jason’s tone, in contrast to the rest of the room, was calm “Clara,” he said “I need you to think. I need anything at all. A detail, a moment or something that can lead us to Trinity”
Clara swallowed, her throat dry “I...I told you everything,” she whispered
“Not everything,” Jason said softly “Not yet”
She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing herself to think past the fear “The Halloween…” she began hesitantly. “The treasure hunt…”
Jason nodded encouragingly “Go on"
“We met a girl,” Clara continued. “She was… cosplaying.” Her voice trembled slightly. “As Harlen Quinzel.”
Jason’s eyes narrowed just a fraction “What happened with her?”
“She wanted to join our team,” Clara said. “But we… when we refused to continue with her" Her fingers tightened "And she got angry. Really angry. It was sudden. Like a switch flipped.”
Jason leaned in slightly. “Was there anything different about her? Anything that stood out?”
Clara hesitated, her brow furrowing as she tried to piece the memory together
“Yes,” she said slowly. “Her ear…”
Jason stilled.
“There was a hole,” Clara continued, her voice growing steadier as the memory sharpened. “A gaping hole on the top side of her ear. Like… like something had been torn out"
Jason’s expression darkened
“And…” Clara added, her voice dropping, “it felt like some part of her body had no sensation. She didn’t react to things the way people should. It was… wrong"
Jason exhaled slowly “Did she have any tattoos?” he asked. “A date, maybe?”
Clara’s eyes snapped open “Yes" The word came out almost as a gasp.
Jason straightened slightly, tension coiling in his frame before he could say anything else, the door burst open and Peterson strode in, his presence instantly suffocating Clara
“We’re ready to...”
Clara screamed as she scrambled backward, pressing herself harder against the wall, her entire body shaking. Peterson stopped, then slowly turned his head toward her, a dark smirk spread across his face.
“Well,” he said, voice dripping with amusement, “look at that"
Clara’s breath came in panicked bursts as she stared at him like he was death itself.
“Relax,” Peterson continued, stepping closer. “Men like me don’t die"
Her scream caught in her throat
“If Hale wasn’t protecting you,” he added casually, “I would’ve killed you a long time ago.”
“Enough,” Jason snapped, rising to his feet. “Leave her alone.”
Peterson chuckled, low and humorless “She’s the one who helped try to kill me,” he said, tilting his head. “You don’t see me complaining.”
Jason stepped slightly in front of Clara, putting himself between them.
“That’s not the point,” he said sharply. “She’s scared right now"
Peterson’s grin widened "She should be" he murmured
For a moment, it looked like he might say more but then he shrugged and turned away.
“Whatever,” he muttered "We’ve got a hunt to get to"
Jason watched him go, his jaw tight then he turned back to Clara, his expression softening immediately
“Hey,” he said gently “It’s okay.”
Clara shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks “No, it’s not,” she whispered.
Jason crouched down again, lowering his voice
“Listen to me,” he said. “You did good. That information will help us"
Clara tried to steady her breathing, but her body still trembled
Jason hesitated, then added, “I think I know where Trinity might be.”
Clara looked up at him, hope and fear warring in her eyes "Really?” she whispered
Jason nodded “Yeah.”
From the doorway, Peterson’s voice cut in, laced with anticipation “Then what are we waiting for?”
Jason stood, giving Clara one last reassuring look before turning away
As they moved toward the exit, Hale already ahead of them, Peterson fell into step beside Jason.
“I’m going to enjoy this,” he said quietly, Jason didn’t respond
“Every single bit of the hunt for my rebel pet.” Peterson’s eyes gleamed