TRAP

TRAP

Brianna’s POV

"Brianna, where are you going?"

"Sorry, Mum, but something came up. I have to go."

"Go where?"

"I'll explain everything when I get back. But if I don't return by tomorrow, someone will come here. A Chinese guy with his friends—but please, let them do their job, okay?"

Everyone stared at me like I had lost my mind. The worry in my mother’s eyes made my chest tighten, but I had no time to ease her concerns.

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Eric demanded.

"Chan will be here," I said firmly.

"Why is Chan coming here?"

"He’ll explain to you, Eric. Please, just cooperate with him. Gia, Mum, Dad—don’t go anywhere alone. Make sure someone is always with you."

"What the hell is going on? Why do you sound like you’re about to walk into your own death?" Eric’s voice was thick with frustration, but beneath it, I heard something else—fear.

"Jake is out of prison. And he’s threatening my family."

The room went dead silent. Mum gasped, clutching her chest. Dad’s face darkened. Gia’s hand trembled as she reached for mine.

"Then let's go to the police," Mum said, her voice shaking.

"I know, Mum. That’s where I’m headed. But I can’t let my guard down. Chan is like my master—he trained me back in China. He’ll be here to protect you, so please, don’t make things difficult for him."

"Wait, wait. You’re saying Jake is out of prison?" Eric’s voice was hoarse.

"Yes."

"But how? How did he escape, and how the hell did he get to Chicago without the police stopping him?"

"Isn’t it obvious? Someone with power pulled the strings. And whoever helped him—" I took a breath, my hands curling into fists. "They are just as dangerous as he is."

"Where are you going?" Gia asked.

"To meet Dax. We have unfinished business." I turned to Dad. "Can I borrow your bike? Just for today."

He hesitated, his expression conflicted. But after a moment, he sighed and handed me the keys.

"Be careful, sweetheart."

"I will." I dropped my crutches. The sharp jolt of pain in my leg reminded me that I wasn’t fully healed, but I ignored it. I couldn’t afford to be weak. Not now.

"Brianna, you need those," Gia said, reaching for me.

"Don’t worry. I can manage. No one threatens my family and gets away with it."

"You better not get yourself hurt even more."

"I won’t, Mum. I promise."

I started the bike, the roar of the engine drowning out the sound of my pounding heart. As I sped toward the station, a single thought burned in my mind.

Jake made the biggest mistake of his life coming after my family.

Dax’s POV

"What is it, Nancy? You said it was urgent."

Nancy’s expression was tense. "Your girlfriend was here. She looked furious—I think she already knows Jake is in Chicago."

A chill ran down my spine. "Where is she?"

"She left. Told me to tell you to meet her at your place."

I didn’t waste another second. I was already halfway out the door, running as fast as I could.

When I reached my apartment building, she was standing there beside her bike, arms crossed, her body taut with restrained anger. The streetlights cast long shadows over her face, making her look even more intimidating than usual.

But what killed me the most was that she wouldn't even look at me.

"We need to talk," she said, her voice clipped and distant.

"Let’s talk inside," I said carefully.

To my surprise, she didn’t argue. Instead, she turned on her heel and walked straight into the elevator.

Once we were inside, the doors sliding shut behind us, I waited for her to say something. Anything. But she just stood there, staring at me with a look that sent a lump straight to my throat.

It wasn’t just anger.

It was betrayal.

"Where are your crutches?" I asked the moment I noticed she wasn’t using them.

Brianna let out a dry chuckle, crossing her arms. "Really? So now you’re trying to change the topic after our little staring contest?"

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. "I know you’re angry, but I didn’t tell you because I thought I could keep you safe."

"How?" Her voice rose, frustration crackling through every word. "By paying someone to follow me around? This is exactly my problem with you—you always think you can fix everything on your own!"

"I was just trying to avoid what happened eight years ago," I admitted, my voice quieter. "Back then, I ignored the possibility that Jake could really harm you. And he did."

Her eyes darkened, something raw flickering behind them. "And you think what he did eight years ago was because you were Eric’s friend? Because we were close?" She shook her head. "He would have done it either way. That was eight years ago. Back then, he had nothing against me. But this time, he has a reason to hurt me."

A knot tightened in my stomach. Her words made no sense. "I don’t understand. What other reason would Jake have to come after you if not me?"

Brianna’s jaw clenched, her gaze dropping for a moment before she finally spoke. "Because he’s the way he is now because of me—because of the accident I caused. He was half-paralyzed because of it."

My entire body stiffened. A cold wave of shock rushed through me. She knew.

"You—" My throat went dry. "You knew about that?"

She nodded slowly. "Of course, I knew. You think I wouldn’t find out?" Her voice was quieter now, almost distant. "I was in a coma, but when I woke up, I did my digging. I needed to know why he hated me so much. And now I do." She took a deep breath. "I always knew he’d come for me eventually. I just didn’t expect it to be this soon."

Guilt clawed at my chest. "I’m sorry I didn’t tell you," I murmured. "I thought… I thought he was back for me."

"I'm not here to listen to your apology." Her voice was firm, but there was a tremor beneath it. "I was going to see you today because I wanted to end things between us."

A sharp pain twisted in my chest.

"I can't keep up with you," she continued, her eyes glistening. "I can't keep up with someone who refuses to open up to me."

I saw the hurt in her gaze, and I hated myself for it. I never meant to hurt her.

"Brianna, I—" My phone buzzed in my pocket, cutting me off. I glanced at the screen—my father. Why the hell was he calling me now?

She let out a sigh. "I think you should take that call. For once, hear your family out." She stepped back. "We’ll talk some other time."

I wanted to stop her, to explain everything, but my feet refused to move.

Why am I the one always pushing people away?

I exhaled and picked up the call. My father had been trying to reach me for a while now.

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice cold.

"Please… save your brother. They have him, and they want you in exchange."

A chill ran through me. I didn’t need to ask who they were. This was Jake’s doing. His last call echoed in my head—I have a gift prepared for you.

I clenched my jaw. "I’ll be on the first flight tomorrow morning. If they call again, tell them I’ll turn myself in."

I ended the call and headed straight back to the station. Within minutes, I secured a permit from the commissioner. No questions asked.

That evening, I booked my flight.

I can’t believe I’m doing this.

But it wasn’t just about my brother. It was for Brianna too. And because Kami had nothing to do with this mess.

"You look worse than you did before you left to meet her," Nancy’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Did she break up with you?"

I turned to her, my expression unreadable.

"You’re always good at guessing," I muttered. "She wants nothing to do with me."

Nancy scoffed. "I don’t blame her. I would have done worse." She folded her arms. "I know you're trying to protect her, but all she sees is that you don’t trust her."

Her words hit hard.

"You’re making me feel worse about myself," I admitted. "I have to go to Europe. I need you to handle things here."

"You need to start worrying about yourself for once," she shot back. "Did you at least tell her what’s going on in Europe?"

I hesitated.

"I didn’t get the chance to."

Nancy threw her hands up. "Oh my God, Dax! You had to tell her. Now she’s going to think the worst of you."

I didn’t respond. There was no point.

"Just take care of things here," I muttered before walking away.

Brianna’s POV

"Where are you?" Chan's voice crackled through my earpiece.

"The location he gave me," I whispered, scanning my surroundings.

"You’re not supposed to go there alone in the middle of the night."

"I know," I admitted, gripping the knife in my pocket. "But I just need to meet him."

Chan sighed. "And you really think he’s coming alone?"

"That was the plan," I murmured. "Getting captured."

"Let me guess," he said dryly. "You planted a tracker on yourself."

"Yes."

A beat of silence. Then Chan’s voice returned—more serious this time. "Okay, Brianna, listen to me. I think you just stepped into a trap, smarthead."

His words sent a ripple of unease through me.

"What do you mean?" I whispered.

"Your caller," he said. "The guy who told you to meet him?"

"Yeah?"

"He’s not in Chicago."

A sick feeling crept up my spine.

"He’s in Europe."

My breath hitched.

Oh my God—

A sharp sting shot through the back of my neck. Instinctively, my hand flew up. My fingers curled around a small dart lodged in my skin.

Tranquilizer.

Panic surged through me, but my limbs were already turning to lead.

The last thing I heard was Chan shouting my name before everything went black.