Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Traces in the Shadows
With Amy finally sedated by sheer exhaustion and carried back to her bed, the bedroom door clicked shut once more. The heavy silence of the upper hallway returned, suffocating and tense, as Alexander, Helen, and Rachel stood in a tight circle outside.
Alexander leaned his frame against the wall, crossing his arms over his tactical vest as he looked down at the two women with a cold, unyielding gravity.
"You need to stop pressuring her" said Alexander, his deep voice dropping to a low, authoritative command that brooked no argument. "If you keep hounding her the second she opens her eyes, she is just going to snap and run away again. And next time, I might not be around to track her down."
"He’s right, Mother" said Helen, her voice trembling as she wiped her eyes, swayed by his logic. "We almost lost her tonight. We need to give her space."
Rachel’s fingers tightened on the silver head of her cane, her sharp eyes boring into Alexander’s stoic face. She didn’t look pleased, but she gave a slow, rigid nod of agreement.
By the time the heavy atmosphere finally settled, the long day had dissolved into night. The high windows of the estate showed nothing but a pitch-black sky, the clock on the wall ticking past a late hour.
"It’s too late for you to drive back like this" said Helen, looking up at Alexander with a soft, lingering gaze. "Please, stay for dinner. Let the staff prepare something for you."
"No, thank you" said Alexander, his tone flat and final as he adjusted the straps of his gear. "I have things I need to take care of in the city. I’m leaving now."
He offered a brief, dismissive nod to his grandmother before turning on his heel, his heavy combat boots echoing down the grand staircase. Helen watched him go with a desperate, longing look, while Rachel remained perfectly still, her calculating gaze following him into the shadows.
Alexander stepped out of the heavy front doors and into the cool night air. As he approached the driveway, he stopped dead in his tracks. The Shelby was parked under the security lights, but the thick layer of dust, mud, and road grime from the high-speed rescue had vanished. The deep black paint gleamed like glass, the carbon-fiber accents polished to a mirror finish.
From the shadow of the garage, the old security chief stepped forward, his face an unreadable mask.
"We gave your car a thorough cleaning while you were waiting upstairs, Alexander" said Xavier, his voice low and raspy as he stopped a few feet away.
"Thank you very much, Xavier" said Alexander, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as he scanned the immaculate exterior of the high-performance vehicle. "I appreciate the efficiency."
"It’s the least we could do for the man who brought the young lady home" said Xavier, giving a polite but chillingly empty nod. "Have a safe drive back to the city."
"Have a good night" said Alexander, his tone clipped.
He opened the driver’s door, slid into the low bucket seat, and fired up the supercharged engine, the low, menacing purr shattering the quiet of the estate. He shifted into drive and accelerated smoothly down the long, cobblestone driveway, leaving the mansion behind.
As the car cruised down the dark, tree-lined residential avenue, Alexander reached down to adjust his posture against the leather seat. His boot brushed against something solid and metallic hidden in the deep shadow beneath the passenger console.
He glanced down. His heart skipped a single, violent beat.
Laying right there on the floorboard, partially tucked away, was his fully loaded tactical rifle—the weapon he had hastily stashed away during his frantic flight from the police perimeter.
Holy shit, thought Alexander, a cold sweat breaking out on the back of his neck as his grip tightened on the steering wheel. I forgot I threw it down there. I desperately hope Xavier and his men didn’t look through the windows while they were washing it...
The realization of how close he had come to exposing his entire operation made his pulse hammer. Then, another critical thought slammed into his brain.
The million dollars.
Alexander smoothly guided the Shelby toward the shoulder of the dark road, pulling the car deep into the shadow of a row of heavy oak trees before shifting into park. He reached into the back row, his hands grasping the heavy leather duffel bag. He unzipped it just an inch, the dim light of the dashboard illuminating the neat, tightly packed stacks of high-denomination bills.
The cash from the traffickers was still untouched.
He zipped the bag shut, a dark, calculating smirk spreading across his features. He reached into his tactical vest, pulled out his encrypted burner phone, and dialed a familiar number, placing the device tightly against his ear.
The line ringed twice before a clicking sound signaled the connection.
"Where the hell are you right now?" asked Alexander, his deep voice cutting through the silence of the cabin with an intense, demanding edge.
"I’m at the safehouse setting up the secondary perimeter" said Marcus, his voice coming through the encrypted line with his usual calm, professional cadence. "What’s the status on your end?"
Alexander leaned back against the leather seat, a cold, mocking smirk playing on his lips as he listened to the professional jargon coming through the speaker.
"Which safehouse?" asked Alexander, his deep voice cutting through the cabin with a dry, sarcastic edge. "Why the hell do you sound like a cheap TV agent right now?"
There was a brief, sharp pause on the other end of the line before Marcus let out a low, irritated sigh.
"I’m just trying to make sure our tracks are covered, Alexander" said Marcus, his tone dropping the formal act. "Where are you?"
"I’m on my way back to the hotel" said Alexander, his eyes scanning the dark road ahead as he shifted the Shelby back into drive. "I’ll see you at your apartment. Be there."
Without waiting for a reply, Alexander hung up the phone, threw it onto the passenger seat next to the hidden rifle, and slammed his foot onto the accelerator. The supercharger let out a feral whine as the high-performance car tore into the midnight darkness, leaving the estate far behind.
