Chapter 1198:
“I’m granting you full authority to negotiate,” Ares said calmly. “Money is no object. We can discuss market share. If VS is amenable, we might even collaborate in certain areas to eliminate mutual competitors. Carter, this situation is both a crisis and an opportunity — it all depends on how you handle it.”
The line went dead, leaving only silence.
Carter remained seated in the dim safe house, motionless as the quiet stretched on. This operation might be his only chance to walk away with his life and fortune intact. Slowly, he raised his head. Doubt receded, replaced by a grim, all-or-nothing resolve.
He activated a second encrypted device and began mobilizing a handpicked team of assassins — operatives he trusted implicitly. He knew better than to rely solely on Ares’s promises or expect VS to follow any conventional rules. A backup plan was essential. He had to prepare for the worst.
“VS,” Carter muttered under his breath, his expression dark and unreadable. “Let’s see what kind of opponent you really are — if even Ares treads carefully around you.”
Cillian and Frieda waited anxiously at their hotel for word from Frank and Kristen. From sunset to sunrise, there was no contact. All communications had gone silent.
Just as they prepared to investigate, a news broadcast caught their attention. Brad, leaning on a cane, was giving a live military briefing on a street corner alongside Rylie. Both appeared completely unharmed.
Frieda stared at the screen in disbelief. “The plan was to leave no traces. Why is she on live television?”
On screen, Rylie casually mentioned she had been contemplating how to address the public since returning home the previous night.
𝖬orе 𝗇𝗼𝘃𝖾𝘭𝘴 о𝗻 g𝗮𝗹n𝗈v𝘦𝗅𝘀.𝗰о𝘮
Cillian knew instantly that something was wrong. “They failed to get her,” he said sharply, already hailing a taxi and rattling off an address to the driver.
Frieda frowned. “Did the plan go wrong?”
Cillian clenched his jaw. “No. If our cover had been blown, Brad would have come for us already. We wouldn’t be standing here untouched.” He paused. “Then who took Kristen and her people without a trace?”
Frieda’s voice cracked. “My son — if anything happens to him, I won’t survive it.”
If not Brad and Rylie, then who?
A single name surfaced in Cillian’s mind: VS — the elusive arms dealer operating in Eshea whom Kristen had accidentally crossed. They hadn’t captured him before, but that didn’t mean they had ignored such a dangerous loose end.
The car pulled up in front of a heavily secured apartment complex. Carter was just stepping out, about to transfer to another vehicle, when they spotted him.
Breathless, Cillian rushed over. “I wouldn’t trouble you unless it was critical. Something serious has happened — VS took Frank and Kristen. You can’t ignore this. You know Kristen—”
“I know,” Carter interrupted, scrutinizing him. “A military strategist, correct?”
Cillian nodded.
“Then you understand how negotiations work,” Carter said calmly. “Come with me.”
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