Chapter 1808
Elliot was stunned. “Did Axel send that p>
Tarquin Bradford pressed his lips into a tight line and nodded, his breathing ragged.
Elliot’s heart raced. He scrambled out of bed, pulling Tarquin toward Elijah’s room. He woke his brother, urging him to trace the message-Elijah was the tech genius between them.
The moment Elijah saw the text, he grew just as tense.
Without wasting a single second, he fired up his computer, his fingers flying across the keyboard.
A moment later, Elijah stopped. He frowned deeply. “The SIM card is dead. I can’t track its real-time location p>
Tarquin stared intently at the glowing screen. “Dead p>
Elijah nodded grimly. “Yeah. It looks like the phone and the card were destroyed immediately after the message was sent p>
“The best I can do is pull the last pinged location from right before the signal dropped. That’s where he was when he texted you p>
Tarquin’s expression darkened as a heavy sense of dread settled in his chest.
There were only two possibilities here. Either his enemies had done it, or Axel had done it himself.
But the enemy theory made little sense. If they had killed Axel, there would be no reason to dispose of the phone just to hide his location.
That meant Axel had likely done it himself!
He had deliberately destroyed his comms to mask his whereabouts, ensuring Tarquin couldn’t find him.
This message wasn’t a cry for help; it was a final goodbye. He didn’t want Tarquin risking his life on a rescue mission.
Axel had to be in grave danger, fully convinced he wasn’t making it out alive.
But why? How had things escalated so quickly?
They had spent years carefully orchestrating this plan, leaving no room for error. Just two days ago, Axel had reported that everything was running smoothly.
Who had backed him into a corner?
Was it the nemesis he had been hunting for over twenty years?
Tarquin ground his teeth together, a predator glint flashing in his eyes. Taking a deep breath he stared at the blinking red dot on the screen. “Is that the final location p>
Elijah nodded. “That’s where the text originated p>
Tarquin leaned in. “Zoom in p>
The boy complied, expanding the map until the coordinates were clear. He furrowed his brow. “It’s in the Golden Triangle. Specifically, The Shan Territories in Mariana Land p>
Tarquin stared at the map in heavy silence before issuing an order. “Send those coordinates to my phone p>
He turned on his heel to leave, but Elliot quickly grabbed his hand. “Dad, where are you going p>
Tarquin looked down at his son. “I have to step out p>
Elliot pressed on. “Are you going to the Golden Triangle to find Axel p>
Tarquin gave a slow, curt nod. “I am p>
Both boys looked up at him, their small faces etched with worry.
Even at their age, they knew the Golden Triangle was a lawless nightmare, a haven
for cartels and ruthless mercenaries.
Tarquin crouched down, gently
cupping his sons’ faces as he forced
the lethal edge from his gaze. “To
me
xel is what Evan and Emmett are to you. He’s my brother. He’s family p>
“When family is in trouble, we don’t turn our backs. I have to go get him. We settle our debts, and we don’t let anyone hurt our own without paying the price. Do you understand p>
The two boys nodded in unison. “We do p>
Tarquin let out a steady breath. “I’m bringing him home, no matter what. Dead or alive, I won’t leave him out there alone p>
“If your mother asks, tell her I had to leave on an emergency business trip. Don’t mention Axel just yet p>