Chapter 222

**Brandon's POV**

I didn't answer, instead accelerating suddenly. When I glanced at my rearview mirror again. I could see the following car accelerating too.completely abandoning any pretense of casual driving.

"Brandon!" June's panicked voice came through the car speakers."Where are you? What's happening? Answer me!"

"I'm fine." I replied, keeping my voice deliberately calm. "June, listen to me.

Turn at the nextintersection. Head to River Road and call Ethan immediately."

"Brandon-"

"Now. June." I ended the call before she could protest further.

I floored the accelerator, pushing the car to its limits. The vehicle behind matched my speed. I made a sharp turn, switching lanes abruptly. The tail followed without hesitation, executing the maneuver with professional precision.

I grabbed my phone and speed-dialed Edward.

"Edward, track my location now," I said the moment he answered. "I've got a tail. Someone's following me. Have Landon hack into the traffic cameras along my route and identify who's in the car."

"On it," Edward replied immediately. "Where's Summer?"

"I sent her in another direction. She should be safe."

A few tense minutes passed as I continued leading the tail away from June's route, taking increasingly complex turns.

"Got them," Edward finally said. "Sending you the intel now."

My phone pinged with an incoming file. I glanced at it quickly between maneuvers.

"Mexican operatives," Edward continued. "Brandon, who did you piss off?Wasn't today the annual party?"

"Can you get someone to me in time?" I cut him off, swerving to avoid an oncoming truck.

"Not likely," Edward admitted. "I've got your position on satellite. Three people in the vehicle-two men, one woman. They're armed. Can you handle it?"

"I'm going to have to, just tell me the best place to end this," I said. "I need somewhere isolated."

"Five hundred meters ahead, make a right, then another right. It'll put you on a one-way road leading to the highway. There's an abandoned construction site-perfect place to make your stand."

I nodded to myself. "What about June? Is she safe?"

"I've told Sean to find her," Edward assured me. "Did you tell her to contact Ethan?"

"Yes. If you and Sean can get there in time, I'll wait for you."

Edward's voice came through my phone later again, his tone suddenly urgent. "Brandon, where's Summer right now?"

"River Road. She should be calling Ethan by now," I replied. "Why?"

"I've tapped into their communications," Edward said. "They have an ambush set up on your usual route home. They seem to know your routine intimately."

My blood ran cold. "Which means they know about-"

"Your marriage," Edward finished grimly. "They must know Summer's your wife."

"Fuck. June's in danger. Tell Sean and Ethan to find her!"

Summer's POV

I stared at my phone in dismay. Brandon had hung up on me, and when I tried to call back, all I got was a busy signal. Something was very wrong.

Movement in my rearview mirror caught my attention. A dark sedan was gaining on me rapidly, showing no signs of slowing down. My heart hammered as I stomped on the accelerator, taking the turn toward River Road at dangerous speed.

The car behind me matched my pace effortlessly.

With shaking hands, I fumbled for my phone until I found Ethan's number.

"Ethan, it's Summer," I said, my voice quivering. "I need help."

"What's happened? Where's Brandon?"

"We were driving home when Brandon suddenly told me to take a different route. He saidI someone was following us. He's gone now, but there's a car following me too. Brandon told me to call vou."

"Where are you now?" Ethan demanded.

"Heading toward River Road. What should I do?"

"Keep driving around that area," Ethan instructed. "I'm coming to you.Don't hang up-I need to track your location."

I heard a woman's voice in the background asking if she could help.

"Go back inside," Ethan snapped. "This isn't your concern."

"But I could help!" the woman insisted.

"I said no!" Ethan's voice had never sounded so harsh. "Track Summer's position and keep updating me. That's how you can help."

Meanwhile, I was speeding along River Road, the pursuing car still locked on my tail. I drove in circles, trying to buy time.

I gripped the wheel tighter, my entire body tense as I saw the car speeding up in my mirror, preparing to ram me. Just as I braced for impact, another vehicle came tearing across my field of vision, slamming directly into my pursuer.

The sound of metal crushing metal filled the air. I hit the gas hard.putting as much distance as possible between me and the wreckage before finally stopping.

Heart pounding, I looked back. The car that had been following me was completely mangled, crushed beneath the vehicle that had intercepted it.A tall figure in a long black coatstepped out and effortlessly took down both men who had crawled from the wreckage.

I remembered what Sean had once told me: *"Two Brandons combined

couldn't take Ethan in a fight."* Now I understood.

I got out of my car, running toward Ethan on shaky legs.

"Ethan," I gasped, "I... they... Brandon-is Brandon okay?"

Ethan's eyes flicked toward me briefly. "Brandon can handle himself," he assured me. "Few people can match his skills. He'll be fine."

Ethan crouched down, his narrow eyes cold as he addressed the downed men. "You can tell me what I want to know voluntarily, or I can persuade you."

One of the men spat blood. "Kill me if you want. You'll get nothing from me. We sent our best assassin after Stark. He won't survive."

"You sure?" Ethan's eyebrow arched, and without warning,his hand moved in a blur. There was a sickening crack as he twisted the man's neck.He turned to the second man. "I have no interest in things that have no value.What do you think?"

The remaining man's eyes bulged with terror. "I'll talk! We take orders from you American-they paid to have Brandon Stark killed. The woman-they just wanted her captured alive."

"Good," Ethan nodded, then twisted this man's neck too with the same frightening casualness.

I stumbled backward, my stomach lurching as I realized what I'd just witnessed. Ethan had killed both men without hesitation.

Ethan stood, pulling a handkerchief from his coat pocket and methodically wiping his hands. He looked at my pale face.

"Scared?" he asked mildly.

"Ethan.," I whispered, my voice shaking, "they were human beinge.How could you just-"

"They are Mexicans." Ethan cut me off, his voice devold of emotion."Probably illegals. No one will miss them." He tucked the handkerchief away. "Besides, they were trying to kill you and Brandon. I don't nee why they deserved to live."