Chapter 174 Don't Want to Help Tyrants Do Evil
His men were shaking with fear, and no one dared to say a word.
"You bunch of useless idiots! Can't even watch two people!" Jason was so mad he punched the wall, his knuckles turning white.
His obsessive rage exploded. His eyes were bloodshot, like a wild animal out of control.
He immediately ordered his men to grab the caretaker. He wanted to see who dared to betray him.
Soon, the caretaker was brought before Jason.
Jason stared him down hard, his voice cold and scary: "Was it you who let them go? Where's Olivia? Which way did they go?"
The caretaker looked up calmly, not scared at all: "I didn't betray anyone. I'm just the mountain keeper. I don't want to get involved in your stuff, and I don't want to break the law with you. Illegal detention is a serious crime. I won't go down that path with you. I won't tell you their route. You can beat me to death, and I still won't say."
Jason lost it completely. He shook with anger and punched the caretaker.
"Good, very good!" Jason gritted his teeth, his eyes full of menace. "If you won't talk, don't blame me for being rough."
He ordered his men, "Lock him up. No food or water without my say-so. Don't let him out! Also, get everyone together and chase them into the mountains full force. Turn this whole mountain upside down and bring them back to me!"
His men didn't dare delay and split up to act right away.
Jason stood at the cabin door, staring at the dark mountain path, his eyes full of unwillingness and jealousy.
He liked Olivia so much and had done so much for her, but she would rather run away than stay away from Luca.
He would never let them go. Never!
Olivia drove along the small road for over an hour.
As she neared the halfway point up the mountain, the car bumped, and the low fuel light came on.
Her heart sank. She pulled over to the side.
She checked the gas tank—barely any left, not enough to reach the city.
No choice but to ditch the car and walk the small paths on foot.
Olivia quickly carried Leo out and hid the car in the roadside woods.
She knew Jason's men would catch up soon. She had to leave clues fast.
She took off Leo's little jacket and tied it to a branch by the road, making it stand out.
She also pulled out her hair clip and stuck it in the tree trunk—something Luca would recognize.
After that, she carried Leo and kept heading down the mountain.
They'd been traveling all night, and Leo was exhausted, his little face full of tiredness.
"Mommy, I can't walk anymore," Leo mumbled, his short legs wobbly.
Olivia's heart hurt. She put the kid on her back and pushed forward step by step.
"Baby, I'm sorry. Mommy's fault for making you suffer like this," she said softly.
"Hang on a bit longer. We'll see Uncle Luca soon, and we'll be safe."
"Mommy, it doesn't hurt," Leo said from her back, his little arms hugging her neck tight. "I'll protect Mommy."
Olivia's tears fell right away. Her heart felt sour and warm.
She clenched her teeth, sped up, and didn't dare stop.
But not long after, she heard faint footsteps and voices behind her.
Jason's men were coming!
Olivia's face changed. She couldn't stick to the mountain road.
She looked around, hugged Leo, and quickly hid in the thick woods nearby.
She covered Leo's mouth so he wouldn't make a sound, pressing tight against a tree trunk.
Her heart pounded like it would jump out. She didn't even breathe.
The pursuers got closer. Their footsteps passed on the nearby road.
Olivia squeezed her eyes shut, praying they wouldn't find her.
Only when the footsteps faded did she let out a breath and slowly uncover his mouth.
Leo was pale with fear but smart enough not to cry.
Down at the mountain base, Luca was leading his team full speed based on the clues.
He spotted the little jacket on the branch and knew it was Leo's right away.
Then he saw the hair clip in the tree trunk. His pupils shrank, and his heart tightened.
It was Olivia! They were nearby!
"Speed up! Chase this way!" Luca ordered sharply, his voice urgent.
He figured out exactly which way Olivia went and led the team into the mountain at full speed.
One thought in his mind: Olivia, Leo, hold on. I'm almost there.
I won't let anything happen to you. No way!
Olivia stayed hidden in the woods, not daring to come out.
She held Leo tight in a hidden spot, waiting quietly.
After a while, bright headlights appeared in the distance.
One car after another drove up the mountain road—Luca's team!
Olivia's eyes lit up. She shook with excitement.
It was Luca! He really came!
She shouted at the top of her lungs toward the lights: "Luca! We're here!"
She waved hard, afraid he wouldn't see.
Luca caught her voice and moving figure instantly.
"There!" He was thrilled and told his men to stop.
He jumped out and ran straight to where Olivia was hiding.
But right then, Jason's men closed in and bumped right into Luca's group.
Both sides faced off, tension maxed out.
Jason arrived too. Seeing Olivia safe and hiding there, his eyes burned with obsession.
"Stop them! No one takes them away!" Jason ordered loudly.
His men rushed forward to block.
Luca got to Olivia in big strides and shielded her and Leo behind him.
He turned, glaring coldly at Jason: "Jason, do you know what you're doing? Illegal detention, kidnapping—you've broken the law. Let them go now and come with me to face the consequences!"
"I'm not letting them go!" Jason yelled, eyes red, totally worked up. "Olivia's mine. I just want to be with her. I'm not wrong!"
"That's not love—it's obsession, it's kidnapping!" Luca shot back. "You locked them in the deep mountains, scared the kid. And you think you're right?"
Jason saw Olivia clinging tight behind Luca, fully on his side.
Jealousy and bitterness overwhelmed him. He lost all reason.
"Attack! Bring Olivia back! Don't hurt the kid!" He ignored his men's warnings and ordered a full assault.
"Protect Olivia and Leo!" Luca told his men. He pushed Olivia back a bit and said firmly, "You two get in the car and go. I'll handle this."
"No, I can't leave you alone," Olivia grabbed his arm, face full of worry.
"Listen to me. Take Leo and go. I'll catch up soon." Luca's voice was steady.
He sent two men to escort Olivia and Leo back to the cars fast.
Olivia sat in the car, looking back over and over, her heart in her throat.
She was terrified something would happen to Luca. Every second dragged on painfully.