Chapter 564
Hank spun a good narrative, but Mira wasn’t naive. An organization willing to take a kidnapping contract was drowning in dark money.
Still, it worked perfectly in her favor. The more brutal they were, the worse Roxanne and Mara would suffer.
“I don’t care what you do overseas,” Mira said, her tone absolute. “But while you operate in Mavaria, you will not compromise this country’s interests, and you will not disrupt the peace. Cross that line, and you make an enemy out of me p>
“You have my solemn vow, Ms. Mercer. Aegis will not cross Mavaria’s borders with malicious intent p>
“See that you remember that p>
With the terms set, the meeting concluded. Hank’s men would hunt down Roxanne, and Mira could finally close this ugly chapter.
Miles away, Roxanne shot up in bed, a cold sweat clinging to her skin. Her heart hammered wildly against her ribs.
*Did something go wrong? No, how could it p>
Her contacts had messaged her yesterday. The job was done. Mira was supposedly in their custody.
So why the suffocating sense of dread?
Was Ethan onto her? Or Owen? Mara had mentioned that Owen and Mira were practically inseparable lately. But how could they possibly trace it back to her? She had been meticulous. The Syndicate was airtight; they wouldn’t leak her name. And on paper, Mara had orchestrated the entire trap. Even if Ethan dug deep, the trail ended with the younger Mercer sister.
*Wait… where is Mara p>
She hadn’t reported back. Had Ethan intercepted her? Was she currently singing to the authorities to save her own skin?
Roxanne threw off the covers and paced the room. Panic gnawed at her. Lawrence had told her to head straight to Aethelgard once the job was finished. She had planned to linger in Melvion City for a few days to ensure the dust settled, but that was no longer an option. She needed to run.
Once she was in the capital, Lawrence would shield her. She could pull the strings from the shadows, entirely untouchable.
She scrambled to her closet and began throwing clothes into a suitcase.
Her phone buzzed violently. It was an encrypted number.
“Ms. Porter,” a rough voice crackled over the line. “The package is secured. It’s time to settle the final invoice p>
“I have the money,” Roxanne snapped, trying to keep her voice steady. “But I need proof of life—or rather, proof of misery. I need to know you actually got her p>
“It’s been a day, Ms. Porter. Have you not verified the intel yourself? Every hour my men hold her, our risk multiplies. You’re covering any hazard pay for the delay p>
Roxanne gritted her teeth. “The money isn’t an issue. Send me a video of Mira in your custody. And what about my inside girl? She’s MIA p>
“Your target is drugged and prepped for international transport in an hour. If you want proof, come down here and look at her yourself. As for your loose end, she’s not our problem p>
*Mara is a useless idiot,* Roxanne thought viciously. She couldn’t afford to waste time looking for her. The priority was getting out of Melvion City before the walls closed in.
But she couldn’t leave without
seeing Mira broken. She needed that
closure. She needed to look into Mira’s defeated eyes and know that she had finally won. That victory would be her golden ticket when she reported back to Lawrence.
“Fine. Text me the address p>
“Will do. And bring the final payment. USD cash only. No digital footprints p>