11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

-Jared-

How long could one fixate on a photograph? That question consumed me as I sat in my dimly lit office, my head filled with haunting images of Alison. Beside her portrait sat that of Louis's wife. Remarkably similar in appearance, they could easily be mistaken for sisters, yet subtle differences remained apparent—their noses, the contours of their faces, and the contrasting textures of their hair. Despite the resemblance, my gaze inevitably returned to my own wife, a bitter reminder of my vulnerability.

This sense of powerlessness echoed the anguish of her abduction years prior. It took weeks to reclaim her then, enduring the torment of knowing she suffered at the hands of a depraved captor. Now, with days slipping away since her disappearance once more, I feared history might be repeating itself. Louis, undoubtedly recognizing the resemblance between our spouses, held the key to her fate. Though Alison was older, the resemblance to his wife's younger self was uncanny, fueling my anxiety.

As I stared at Alison's image, reflecting on the years spent entwined in our complex relationship, a troubling thought surfaced: was I always Louis's intended victim, or was it my wife? If Alison, despite her age, still evoked memories of Louis's wife, did he harbor an obsession of his own?

Suddenly, my phone broke the silence with its insistent ring. At first, I considered ignoring it, but the sight of the caller's number piqued my interest. I reached for the device, hesitating briefly before answering and activating the speaker.

"Yes?" I responded.

"You want to know where my son is?" The voice on the other end wasn't Dominic's, but his wife's.

I nearly gasped in surprise. "Should you really be telling me?" I questioned cautiously.

"I spoke with my husband. We both agreed that action needed to be taken," she replied.

"Why?"

"Because Louis has our granddaughter," she revealed.

"What?" I exclaimed, taken aback by the revelation.

"If you want to locate our son, you'll need to help us retrieve our granddaughter."

"I understand. Blood ties can indeed be a powerful motivator," I reflected aloud, met with silence on the other end. "Very well. I'll return your granddaughter to you."

"In return, we'll offer our assistance," she declared.

"Assistance?" I echoed, surprised by her offer.

"Do you think we trust you?"

"If you're capable of rescuing your granddaughter, why involve me?" I questioned.

"Louis knows us well, and he uses our granddaughter to control us. We're paralyzed. He's prepared for any move we make. But we can provide you with manpower and distractions," she explained.

"Do you believe I'm better suited to rescue her?" I inquired.

"Well, aren't you renowned as The Hunter? Or at least, for years, you were his right-hand man. You've executed for him and operated in the shadows. Have you lost that edge?" she challenged.

I couldn't help but smirk. This woman was clever and fast, adept at getting what she wanted through words alone. It reminded me of Alison.

"No, I haven't lost that edge," I affirmed.

"Then we'll find a way for you to gain access," she assured me.

"Is Louis still in Seattle?" I pressed.

"Possibly."

"What do you mean, possibly? Do you have any leads or not?" I demanded.

"We have some leads."

"Great. So nothing is definite?" I retorted.

"Give us some time," she requested.

I wanted to curse at her, declaring the call pointless if she couldn't even locate her own son. Yet she remained my sole option for now.

"Very well. When can I expect to hear from you?" I relented.

"Tomorrow," she promised.

"You'd better find him," I insisted.

"We will, and you'll have your wife back, provided we get our granddaughter," she countered.

"You'll have her," I assured her.

With nothing more to add, we both ended the call, leaving me restless. This war had only just begun.

The next day, I was on edge, pacing the entire house in anticipation of a call. Instead of the expected ringtone, however, I received an alert about visitors. Once their identities were confirmed, I granted them access, and soon Louis's brothers appeared at my door, dressed in attire that seemed almost too refined for the impending confrontation.

"What brings you here?" I inquired, masking my skepticism. "I wasn't expecting company."

"We've been in contact with our brother," the eldest brother explained.

"And?" I pressed.

"And we're heading to his residence," he clarified.

"For a social gathering?"

"For a family meeting, yes. But our intention is to assist you in gaining entry," he elaborated.

"You're going to unlock all the doors for me?"

They all nodded in unison.

"And your parents?" I probed.

"They'll remain uninvolved."

"Don't want to be implicated?" I suggested.

"They prefer to remain neutral. Despite everything, he's still their son, and they've chosen to let us handle the situation," he elucidated.

As the others remained silent, it became evident who held the authority and who would assume control later.

"All right. What's the plan, then?" I inquired.

The brothers advanced further into my domain, encroaching upon my space. I felt the urge to usher them outside. Their presence made me uneasy. When one of them glanced at the portrait of Alison in my foyer, a surge of anger threatened to surface. However, I maintained my composure, keeping my hands in my pockets to avoid any reckless actions. Time was of the essence.

"We'll stay in touch. You'll drive out there with your team, but maintain a safe distance," the eldest explained. "Once we've disabled the security system and eliminated any remaining obstacles, you'll move in."

"If you can gain access, why not rescue the granddaughter yourselves?" I questioned.

"As our mother already mentioned, Louis uses her as leverage against us. Any suspicion on our part could endanger her life," he clarified.

"He'd truly harm his own daughter?"

"There are rumors that she may not even be his," the eldest disclosed.

"And yet, you're all willing to risk everything for her?" I remarked.

They exchanged glances before nodding in unison.

"Our parents consider her family, and so do we. They cherished Mila, her mother, more than Louis," the eldest admitted candidly.

"They favored their daughter-in-law?" I inquired.

"Yes."

"I understand," I acknowledged.

"Once we've assisted you, we'll vanish. You'll take the lead. While Louis's team is preoccupied with the chaos you create, you'll focus on locating our niece, not Louis," he instructed.

"I have a wife waiting for me. She's my priority."

"Our niece takes precedence. Otherwise, we can't guarantee Louis won't harm her," the eldest warned.

I stepped closer to him, locking eyes in a silent battle of wills. Though we were the same height, neither of us was willing to back down. If he believed for a moment that Alison was anything less than my top priority, he was sorely mistaken. Nevertheless, for now, I acquiesced to his demands.

"Very well, I'll find your niece," I conceded.

"And ensure she remains unharmed," he added firmly.

"Without a scratch."

"Then gather your team. We depart as soon as you're ready," he instructed.

Excitement surged within me, knowing that I was one step closer to reuniting with Alison.