Chapter 103: Ambush

Chapter 103: Ambush
Cattleya’s POV

The rain had finally stopped, and I was starting to feel a little peckish. I headed downstairs, planning to grab a snack in the kitchen. But as I approached, I heard a loud crash. 

My heart lurched. 

Three figures, masked and menacing, stood frozen in the doorway.

Panic rushed through me. I reacted instinctively, snatching a heavy vase from the counter and hurling it at them. 

The vase shattered against the wall, glass raining down. 

Then, like a ghost, Jaxon appeared. His gun barked three times, and the intruders crumpled to the floor.

"Ow!" I hissed, wincing as a sharp pain shot through my foot. 

Jaxon asked, "Are you hurt?" 

"I'd stepped on a shard of glass...." 

Jaxon rushed towards me, scooping me up in his arms. "We need to go," he growled, carrying me out of the house. 

Gunfire erupted behind us. It wasn't just three men. It was an ambush!

He threw me into the car, buckling me in before sliding behind the wheel. "They found us," he said, his voice grim.

"I know," I whispered, my breath catching as he roared away from the house, tires screaming on the rain-slicked road.

"Vlad, where are you? We're under attack! I think it's Salvatore. We need backup now!" I clicked the chip embedded in my neck, my voice tight with panic.

"Okay, I'm on my way—" Vlad's voice cut off abruptly, replaced by a deafening ringing in my ears. I screamed, clutching my neck.

Jaxon glanced at me, his eyes narrowed. Without a word, he pulled the car to a screeching halt under the cover of darkness.

He pulled a small, sharp knife from his pocket. "I need to get that chip out of you," he said, his voice grim.

I nodded, fear and confusion swirling within me. "What's happening?"

"Someone hacked the system," he explained, his voice low and urgent. "It's trying to fry you from the inside."

"Oh, shit." I closed my eyes, bracing myself. 

"You, ready?" 

"I don't have a choice, Jaxon." I cried in fear. 

Thirty minutes later, Jaxon rushed me to the nearest clinic. He paid the nurse who treated my wound, his hand lingering on mine as he thanked her. 

"You okay?" he asked, his voice soft.

I nodded, "Yeah."

I pulled out my phone, frantically dialing Vianne's number. It went straight to voicemail. My heart pounded against my ribs, anxiety clawing at my throat. 

What if something happened to them? I couldn't forgive myself if I'd put them in danger.

"What happened?" Jaxon asked, noticing my distress.

"They're not answering," I whispered, my voice trembling.

"Who?"

"Vianne... and she's with..." I took a shaky breath, trying to suppress the panic rising within me. "She's with our..." I paused, the word catching in my throat. "Our twins."

Jaxon's eyes widened in surprise. "Twins?"

Tears welled up in my eyes. "Yes, Madison and Matthew..."

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration carved on his face. "Keep calling them..." 

He pulled out his phone and dialed another number. "Is the mansion secure? Everyone accounted for?"

He stepped outside, continuing the conversation. "Okay, go to the council and inform them of everything. Let's get this over with."

He ended the call and turned to me, his gaze intense. "I'm not letting anyone hurt our babies. How did I not know they survived that incident?"

I gulped, my heart pounding. "They're fighters..." My lips trembled, and I frantically redialed Vianne's number. "Vianne, please answer the phone..."

I slipped my phone back into my pocket and returned to the car. Jaxon followed close behind, and I buckled myself in. 

A heavy silence settled between us, broken only by the pounding of my own heart. My mind raced, replaying the events of the past few hours.

"I'm scared," I whispered, the fear threatening to consume me.

He pulled me close, his arms a comforting cage. "Sshhh, we'll keep trying to reach them."

He grabbed my phone, quickly copying Vianne's number into his contacts. Then, he sent a message to someone named "Z," presumably his secretary, who also happened to be the leader of his security detail.

"Track this number," the message read.

He turned to me, his gaze intense. "Catt, I'm doing everything I can."

"What if something happened to them?" I choked out, the fear threatening to overwhelm me.

"I hope not," he said, his jaw clenched. 

We arrived at the safe house, a discreet location where Jaxon could keep me safe while his men hunted down Salvatore and Elise. 

The threats had escalated, and this was to be expected. I was fortunate that Jaxon had secured alliances with other mafia families. 

With the Salvatores now declared enemies of the underworld, their downfall would be swift and inevitable.

I retreated to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face. I tried to calm my racing heart, the constant urge to call Vianne gnawing at me. Still no answer.

My phone rang, and the caller ID displayed an unknown number. My heart leaped into my throat.

"Y-Yes? Who is this?" I answered, my voice trembling.

"Oh, Cattleya... before you make another mistake, don't try to tell Jaxon about this."

"What do you mean, Elise?!" I demanded. "What do you think you're doing?!" 

"Lower your voice," she hissed, her voice chillingly calm. "Or your two lovely twins will die in my hands... bloodily."

I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth. "Y-You have them?"

"I'm not that stupid, Cattleya," she hissed, her voice dripping with venom. 

"I knew your twins survived three years ago. And now, if you don't want them to die, you will come here alone. In exchange for their precious lives."

"Elise, you're a mother too," I pleaded, "You can't do this to innocent children."

She let out a chilling laugh. "This is my revenge, Cattleya. You took everything from me. If you hadn't returned, none of this would have happened. So, do as I say, or I will kill them. And nothing will stop me."

"Okay, okay, please, don't hurt them. Where can I see you?"

"If you truly love them, you will come alone... completely alone. If I hear any sign of anyone else, they will die. A slow, agonizing death from toxic gas. Don't worry, they're still sleeping!"

I hung up the phone while clutching my chest. Then, I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself before leaving the washroom. I didn't want Jaxon to see the terror written on my face.

I cautiously opened the window and peered out. Some of Jaxon's men were leaving the safe house, their faces grim—an idea formed in my mind.

I slipped out of the room and quietly made my way to the garage.

I crouched inside the trunk of a spare car, holding my breath as the engine roared to life. 

A few minutes later, the car came to a stop. I listened intently until I heard the distinct click of the car doors closing.

I carefully eased open the trunk and slipped out, hurrying down a quiet side street. I hailed a taxi, my fingers trembling as I gave the driver the address.

My heart beat against my ribs as the taxi sped through the city. My phone rang, and the caller ID displayed an unknown number. 

"Elise?!" I answered, my voice a mere whisper.

She laughed softly, "The clock is ticking, Cattleya."

"I—I'm coming..." I breathed nervously.

"Yeah, you better come alone, alright? They're waiting for you, or else you know what will happen if you don't show up in the next hour." She hung up the call.

When I arrived at the place, it was like an abandoned building, eerily empty. I wasn't sure if my twins were actually there. But to my surprise, I heard a loud scream in the distance. 

I walked inside and gasped when I saw myself reflected in a mirror. 

The door opened again, and I stepped inside.

"I'm here!" I said.

Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Vianne. I answered it with a doubtful tone, "Vianne?"

Vianne replied, "Where are you, Catt? We're already here..."

I gasped in confusion, "Where?!"

"In the safe house, with Madison and Matthew... Jaxon's so happy to see them," she said excitedly.

And that's when I realized it was a trap.