"If talking doesn't cut it, we'll use force," Gerard interjected coldly. "Just tell us, who has it?"

"Arya," Xavier replied in a low voice. “Last spring she had a lot of Winter Wood saplings planted in secret. I don't know what she plans to use them for, but my guess is that she wants to sell them."

“She's already locked up, so that part's easy," Devonte murmured in a tone that could freeze hell.

Just then, a young man about Xavier's age burst into the room. “Arya has escaped!"

"We have to go after her!" Gerard declared in a tight voice. His eyes found Xavier's almost immediately.

Xavier caught on immediately, and as one, the two men ran to the car parked outside. They were just about to enter when Barth arrived.

When he saw them, he hopped into the car without asking them where they were going.

During the drive, Xavier glanced at Barth through the mirror and suddenly announced, “Arya's really not someone to be underestimated. She managed to escape despite the tight security. She's definitely got her own people planted everywhere."

In that moment, Barth finally realized what was going on. His lips thinned and an embarrassed flush stained his cheeks but he didn't say anything.

"It doesn't matter. Let's just track her to see where she's going. If we're lucky, she might just lead us straight to the Winter Wood,"

Gerard replied grimly, his gaze on the car ahead.

The SUV sped along, keeping a healthy distance between it and the black sedan up ahead. This was the car Arya was in.

“Damn, she's planning to escape on a cruise ship," Xavier exclaimed, his voice rising in alarm when he realized that they were heading to the port.

"First she tries to assassinate Gerard, and now she's on the run. She's really something else," Barth muttered. A gloomy cloud settled over him as he emitted a short, bitter laugh.

"The most important thing right now is to catch her," Gerard reminded them.

They sped up, tires screeching, and narrowly intercepted Arya at the dock, blocking her path to the ship just as she was about to slip away.

Arya's eyes darted wildly, her breathing ragged, as she desperately tried to escape. But she was outnumbered and less skilled than the men blocking her path. In a matter of seconds, they had her subdued.

“Barth, really? Are you going to drive me to my death for Lilah's sake?" Arya demanded as she glowered accusingly at Barth. At the moment, she was pinned to the ground, but her spiteful gaze was fixed on Barth.

Barth didn't say anything in reply. But he was beginning to doubt everything he had seen and heard.

He couldn't understand how the gentle, kind girl he knew could be the same ruthless and cruel woman in front of him now.

"What else have you hidden from me?" he spat in a voice laced with anguish as he dabbed at the tears on his face.

"You idiot! I've been completely open with you. I practically laid everything at your feet but you're so weak and incompetent. You've completely disgraced me!" Arya sneered.

She had a lot more vile words to spew but Barth had heard more than enough.

His shoulders, usually held high with pride, slumped in defeat as he climbed back in the car. Xavier and Gerard were capable of interrogating her without his help, so he didn't need to be there.