Anthony and Axel arrived at a closed door while Victoria stood guard outside, eyes scanning the deserted corridor with a steely resolve.
Axel approached the door first, his fingers near skillfully open the lock until it gave way with a hesitant click. He pushed the door open, and they were greeted by the sight of rows of metallic lockers lining the walls, their dull surfaces reflecting the dim light from the single overhead bulb. The room smelled of cold metal and dust, as if it had been untouched for years.
"Axel, you have a key, why don't you just use it?" Anthony's voice was edged with confusion
Axel's lips curled into a mischievous grin. "Well, where's the fun in that? Skills, my friend." He chuckled softly, but enough to draw a slow, disapproving shake of the head from Anthony.
Anthony shook his head slowly
With a sigh, Anthony turned his attention back to the room. Their search continued orderly, every part of it, they searched with detailed care. It wasn't long before they saw a collections of photographs and papers, items that at first glance appeared mundane but quickly revealed their true significance upon closer inspection.
Anthony's eyes widened as he sifted through the documents. These were no ordinary momento. Each photograph, each piece of paper, was a thread in a secrets. He found himself staring at a picture of Mr. Jaxon standing beside a man who could only be Victoria's deceased father. A chill ran down his spine as he realized the depth of the revelations contained within these pages.
Among the documents were property deeds that had once belonged to Victoria's father, along with his last will and testament. Even more heart-wrenching were the letters, each one write by her father but never delivered. They spoke of love, of regret, of things left unsaid between a father and his daughter.
"What are you doing?" Anthony's voice broke the silence, his gaze shifting to Axel
Axel glanced up, a stack of papers clutched in his hand. "Illegal transactions, records, and other incriminating evidence," he replied nonchalantly.
"Why are you taking those, Axel?" Anthony's brow furrowed with suspicion.
Axel's expression grew serious, his eyes darkening. "These are records of their dealings with Fiona. I'm going to handle them personally."
Anthony hesitated, sensing there was more to Axel's actions than met the eye. "Why? What are you planning to do? Are you trying to protect her?"
"Just like you protect Mae, Blaze. You're willing to go to any lengths for her."
Anthony's jaw tightened, his voice rising in defense. "Because she's innocent! Fiona's situation is different, and you know it!"
Axel's expression softened, a trace of vulnerability flickering in his eyes. "Maybe so, but everyone has their reasons, Blaze. Even Fiona. And sometimes, those reasons aren't as black and white as we want them to be."
The tension in the room was palpable, a silent understanding passing between them. In that moment, Anthony realized that Axel's motives, however impossible to understand, were driven by a deep-seated sense of loyalty and a desire to protect, much like his own.
"You're ruining our plan. Think it through," Anthony's voice cut through the tense silence like a knife. His eyes burned with intensity as he glared at Axel. "It's your responsibility to hand those over to me. I'm ordering you to give them to me now, Axel."
Axel's jaw tightened, his mind racing. He knew Anthony well enough to understand the gravity of the situation. With a nod, he handed over the documents. But as Anthony turned his back, Axel moved swiftly, injecting him with a sedative before he could react.
Anthony's body slumped to the ground, unconscious. Axel wasted no time, grabbing the documents and sprinting towards the exit where Victoria stood guard.
"Wait, where's Blaze?" Victoria's voice was laced with confusion as she spotted Axel.
"Inside," Axel replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "He said he'd follow and told me to go ahead." Without waiting for further questions, Axel slipped past her and out of the library.
Victoria didn't stop him because she knew he was an ally of Anthony.
Axel hurried through the mansion, clutching the records of Fiona's illegal transactions. He was determined to protect her, no matter the cost. As he exited the mansion, he changed direction towards the gate where fewer people roamed and the thick plant leaves offered cover.
As he exited the mansion, he jumped behind the gate where there were fewer people and many trees to hide in.
Just as he thought he was safe, a sharp sting pierced his neck. His hand shot up instinctively, finding a small dart shot firmly in his skin. Panic flared in his eyes as he realized he'd been sedated. Darkness swiftly closed in, and Axel collapsed, the precious documents scattering around him.
From the shadows of the trees, Christoff and Eric emerged, watching as Axel fell.
"How did you know this would happen?" Christoff asked, picking up the fallen records.
Eric's lips curled into a sly grin. "You'll learn a lot if you pay attention to the patterns. Rules are meant to be broken, after all." He gave Christoff a knowing wink.
Christoff raised an eyebrow. "Have you broken the rules before?"
"It's better not to know for now. Just grab him and tie him up." He began retreating into the cover of the trees once more.
"Tie him up?"
"You know what will happen if he wakes up, right?" Eric tossed a roll of tape to Christoff.
Christoff caught it, looking puzzled. "Tape?"
"Put it on his mouth," Eric instructed. "He might make noise when he wakes up, and we can't afford to be found out here."
With a shrug, Christoff complied, following Eric's orders. As he worked, Darius, perched high in a tree, looking carefully through a spotting scope, meticulously surveying the surroundings. His sharp eyes missed nothing, ensuring their operation went undetected.
The mansion's garden, usually a serene place, now harbored an air of tension and covert operations. Every shadow seemed to hide a secret, and every rustle of leaves was a potential threat. The stakes had never been higher, and each member of the group knew they were playing a dangerous game, one where the lines between friend and foe blurred with every passing moment.