Chapter 264: Fall into the trap on one's own initiative

**【Luna's Perspective】**

An hour later, Violet's car rolled into the underground parking garage of the spa center. I opened my tablet, reviewing the results of my network investigation once more before making a decision.

"Luna, we're here. Shall we go in?" Violet asked, turning off the engine.

I shook my head, my expression solemn. "No need. I've gathered enough information already."

Violet looked puzzled. "We've come all this way. Why not take a look inside?"

Instead of answering directly, I turned my tablet toward her, displaying corporate registration documents. "Look at this. The legal representative of this spa center is Skyler Hart. This entire facility is actually owned by the Blake family."

Violet's eyes widened in recognition. "Skyler Hart? Isn't she the woman whose head we..." She trailed off, clearly recalling our previous encounter in the restroom.

"Exactly," I confirmed. "I've analyzed the surveillance footage I retrieved. Lily was indeed kidnapped, but there are too many suspicious elements about the whole process."

"Such as?"

"Look at these timestamps." I swiped through several still images from the security footage. "The kidnappers knew every blind spot in the building's surveillance system. And now that I've confirmed the registration information of this spa center, I'm even more certain this place isn't what it seems."

Violet leaned closer to examine the screen. "Luna, I could go in disguised as a customer to investigate further."

I closed the tablet and slipped it back into my bag. "Let's head back. We have enough information already."

As Violet started the engine, we had barely moved two meters when our path was suddenly blocked by several burly men wielding metal batons. Behind us, a heavy-duty SUV rolled into position, effectively boxing us in.

Violet's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "Luna, we're surrounded."

I looked up, quickly realizing we had been monitored since the moment we entered the garage. The situation was deteriorating rapidly—armed men blocking the path ahead, the SUV sealing our escape route behind.

"At least ten men, fully armed," Violet assessed tensely. "We're in trouble."

I checked my phone, confirming my suspicion. "Signal's jammed. They came prepared."

"Looks like we've stumbled into someone's territory," Violet observed. "These aren't ordinary security guards."

Without hesitation, I opened my handbag and retrieved two devices resembling handguns, passing one to Violet.

"What is this?" she asked, examining the unfamiliar weapon.

"Not a conventional weapon—it's a chemical sprayer I developed," I explained. "It contains a high-concentration neural anesthetic. When it hits a target, it releases an aerosol that incapacitates anyone who inhales it within seconds."

I handed her a special mask, putting on my own. "Hold your breath for twenty seconds after firing to avoid inhaling it. These people didn't come to negotiate."

"Ready?" I asked, meeting Violet's determined gaze.

At her nod, we exited the car. Violet immediately fired at the groups of attackers before and behind us. Colorless gas rapidly filled the parking garage as our assailants fell to the ground one by one.

Our momentary advantage was short-lived. Two black SUVs suddenly roared toward us from opposite directions, clearly intending to crush us between them. We dove for cover between parked vehicles, our own car crumpled under the impact of the collision.

I crawled beneath a sedan, trying to remain invisible while assessing our options. Through the commotion, I caught fragments of enemy communications: "Target carrying chemical weapons... request backup... everyone put on gas masks."

My concern for Violet mounted as I calculated our chances of escape once reinforcements arrived. Before I could formulate a plan, rough hands grabbed my ankle.

"Look who I found—the Blake family's precious girl," a masked man growled, dragging me from beneath the car.

I struggled against his grip as he pulled me by the arm. "Violet, I'm over here!" I shouted desperately.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps and muffled impacts filled the garage, followed by precise gunshots. The man holding me collapsed to the ground.

"Mrs. Morrison, Violet—it's safe now. Please come out," Kevin's voice called through the chaos.

Max appeared, crouching to peer under the car. "Are you alright?"

Recognizing him, I felt a complicated surge of emotions but refused his offered hand, crawling out from the opposite side instead.

"Luna, are you hurt?" Violet asked anxiously, rushing to my side.

"I'm fine," I assured her, brushing dust from my clothes.

Around us, all the attackers had been subdued, including the reinforcements wearing gas masks. Max's eyes scanned me thoroughly for injuries, relief evident in his expression when he found none.

"The FBI will handle things from here," he said. "Let's go."

"Thank you," I replied coldly.

In Max's SUV, I deliberately chose the passenger seat rather than sitting beside him in the back.

"Luna, why don't you sit in the back with Mr. Morrison?" Violet suggested awkwardly.

"Get in. We need to leave," I responded flatly.

Violet reluctantly slid into the backseat.

After several minutes of tense silence, Max finally spoke. "If there's anything you want to know, you can ask me directly. There's no need to put yourself in danger investigating alone."

He continued without waiting for my response. "This spa center appears to be Skyler Hart's business, but it's actually a front for the Shadow Organization. Peter and William have been operating here for the past six months."

I remained silent as he revealed more details.

"William and Peter have both undergone plastic surgery. They've been officially declared dead. Peter is now posing as Malcolm Hart, Skyler's brother. He's planted numerous agents within the Morrison Group."

Max's voice remained steady as he explained further. "I sent people to infiltrate the spa center to confirm William's new identity and whereabouts. My plan must have leaked. They deliberately set a trap, kidnapping my operative as bait to lure me in, then deploying a sniper to assassinate you."

His next words caught my full attention. "The order to kill you undoubtedly came from Skyler and Peter. In their eyes, you're William's weakness. As long as you're alive, William will have reservations about fully committing to their plans."

"I'm still investigating how our intelligence was compromised," he concluded. "Is there anything else you'd like to know?"

After a long silence, I finally asked the question that had been burning inside me for weeks: "When I was being attacked, what made you hang up my call and then turn off your phone?"