CHAPTER 102: TARGET ACQUIRED

~AXEL~

"Don’t move," I ordered, stepping away a few steps to take the call.

"Updates," Tye’s deep voice demanded without preamble.

"None for now," I replied, keeping my tone even while keeping one eye on Erica.

"Seriously, Axe? You’re not beating the allegations at all... you’re getting softer daily. Is this how you want to end this? I thought by now we’d have Watson on his knees, begging for mercy."

I said nothing, letting him continue his tirade.

"Five years, man. Five years of planning, and what do we have? A daughter who’s got you wrapped around her finger and a father-in-law who’s still walking around free. At this rate, Charles Watson will die of old age before you get your revenge."

Still, I remained silent.

"And don’t get me started on how you’re handling things. Soft approaches, legal channels, playing by the rules. Since when do we play by rules? You are supposed to be ruthless, Axe. Now you’re what? A businessman with a conscience?"

I let out a slow breath, waiting.

"The Axel I knew would have had Watson destroyed by now. Would have crushed him and everyone around him without a second thought. That was the fire I left in you. But now you’re married to his daughter and... What happened to you?"

I stayed silent, holding back what I wanted to say, knowing it would come out all wrong.

"Aren’t you going to say something?" Tye finally asked after a few seconds of silence.

"You done?" I asked calmly.

There was a pause on the other end. "What?"

"I asked if you’re done. You know, sometimes you forget that I’m not one of your lackeys you command. I let it slide most times, but it’s making you arrogant."

Tye let out a rough, familiar laugh. "There he is. Thought you’d gone completely soft on me."

"I’m strategic, not soft. There’s a difference."

"Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that." His tone shifted, becoming more playful. "So how’s married life treating you? Still pretending you don’t have feelings for your revenge wife?"

"We’re not having this conversation."

"Oh, we’re definitely having this conversation. Come on, Axe. It’s me. You can admit it."

"Admit what?"

"That you’ve fallen for her. That Layla O’Brien née Watson has got you thinking about things other than revenge."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Can we focus on business?"

"That’s a yes. Wow. Never thought I’d see the day. The great Axel O’Brien, brought to his knees by a woman."

"I’m not brought to my knees."

"You’re defending her honour, protecting her, buying her armoured vehicles. That’s practically a marriage proposal in our world."

"We’re already married, genius."

"Yeah, but now it’s real. Isn’t it?"

I didn’t answer, which was answer enough.

Tye chuckled. "Damn. She must be something special. So where is Mrs. O’Brien anyway?"

"Business trip."

"And you let her go without you? Look at you, trusting your wife to handle things on her own. You really have changed. No wonder you can talk back... because she’s not around."

"Speaking of not around..." I glanced back toward the foyer, about to tell him about Erica, but froze. Erica was gone. No trace of her anywhere.

"Hold on a minute." I walked quickly through the house, then outside, scanning the driveway. Her car was gone too.

I shouted for the guards. "Did you see Erica leave?"

"Yes, sir," one of them replied. "About a minute ago. We thought you’d let her go."

Damn it.

"What’s going on, Axe?" I heard Tye ask through the phone.

I put it back to my ear. "Remember Erica? The one with the mafia boyfriend issue I asked you to look into?"

"Oh yeah, that lying bitch. I told you I found nothing, right? No mafia boyfriend, no dangerous connections. She was feeding you bullshit from day one."

"Yeah, I know."

"She’s still roaming free? Thought she’d be in a body bag by now."

"Relax, mafia lord. Not everything’s settled that way. I was planning to use her against Cassandra, but she slipped away while I was on the phone with you."

"Wait, back up. What happened?"

I narrated the entire encounter: Erica’s unannounced visit, her pathetic seduction attempt, the listening devices I’d found, and her escape while I was distracted.

Tye chuckled darkly. "Amateur hour. So seeing you’ve caught her red-handed with evidence..."

"She’d run home," I interrupted, already thinking three steps ahead.

"Grab what she can..."

"Cash, fake IDs, anything incriminating..."

"And disappear," we said in unison.

"Exactly," Tye said. "So what’s the play?"

"Something unexpected." I grabbed my second phone and activated the tracker I’d installed in her car. It was one of the vehicles my security team used, and I always kept tabs on them.

The blinking dot showed she was heading straight for the safe house. Perfect.

I dialled my team at the safe house. "Erica’s incoming to the safe house. ETA ten minutes. Take her out temporarily, and transport her to the address I’ll text you. Use the sedative, keep her unconscious until I arrive."

"Copy that, sir."

I ended the call and switched back to Tye. "All set."

"I don’t know why you haven’t joined me full-time," Tye said with genuine admiration in his voice. "You’re built for this life. Strategic mind, ruthless when needed, connections everywhere. You’d be unstoppable."

"Someone made me this way," I shot back with a hint of bitterness creeping in.

"Exactly. Charles Watson created his own worst enemy when he killed your parents. And speaking of ending that someone..." He paused dramatically. "Guess what?"

"What?"

"I’m flying in tomorrow."

I stopped walking. "You’re coming here? To the city?"

"Yes, is that a surprise?"

I paused, choosing my words carefully. "After what happened with you-know-who, I thought you wouldn’t want to come back here."

"Fuck that bitch," Tye said harshly. "I can come anytime I want. This is my city too."

"Last time I mentioned you visiting, you said the city reminds you too much of her. That you couldn’t handle being here."

"That was the past. I’ve moved on." His voice dropped. "The hole in my chest is enough reminder of her betrayal. I don’t need geography to remind me. Either way, I’m coming, and you’ll pick me up from the airport."

"I’m not your driver, Tye."

"And you won’t leave your best friend stranded at the airport like some nobody. Come on, Axe. When’s the last time we saw each other in person? Two years? Three?"

"Eighteen months," I corrected.

"See? Way too long. Plus, I want to meet this wife of yours who’s got you acting all domesticated. And I want to help you finally take down Watson. Face to face, the way it should be done."

"When’s your flight?"

"Landing at 2 PM. Don’t be late."

"What if I have meetings?"

"Cancel them. Your best friend takes priority."

"You’re insufferable."

"And you love me for it. See you tomorrow, Axe."

He hung up before I could respond.

I stood in the driveway, staring at my phone. Tye coming here would definitely complicate things. He was brilliant, loyal, and absolutely ruthless, exactly the kind of ally I needed to take down Charles Watson.

But he was also unpredictable, especially when it came to matters involving betrayal and revenge.

My phone buzzed with a text from my security team: Target acquired, on standby.