President's Daughter's Bodyguard-Chapter 84: A Dangerous Ally

Chapter 84: A Dangerous Ally

"Hello, little soldier."

Theo’s heart chilled when the voice came through the radio. This one was deep, familiar, with a dangerous calm that Theo had not heard in years.

He gripped the steering wheel tighter. "Who the hell is this?"

A laugh answered him.

"You forgot me already...That hurts."

Theo’s eyes widened.

"That cannot be you." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The SUV behind accelerated and pulled up alongside his speeding car. The tinted window rolled down. A man leaned halfway out, hair longer than before, his signature scar was running deeper along his jaw.

"Miss me, Hale."

Theo nearly crashed from the shock. "Aiden!"

Aiden Black was his former squad partner and Theo’s favourite rival. His rival who was declared dead two years ago on a mission that went horribly wrong.

Theo’s voice dropped like a rock. "How are you alive?"

Aiden grinned wildly, gripping the roof of the SUV as though riding the wind. "Long story. Boring. I will tell you later. Right now we focus on the girl."

Theo blinked. Hard. His brain refused to believe it. "How are you here?"

"I saw the broadcast. Saw your lover strapped with a bomb and Ethan smiling like he wants to marry chaos itself. Figured you might need a little old fashioned backup."

Theo felt cracks in his heart after too many emotions attacked him at once.

But he couldn’t afford to lose focus.

"You should not be here," Theo said. "Ethan has eyes everywhere. He will come for you too."

Aiden laughed again, and the wind dragged the sound behind them like a flag.

"That is the point, little soldier. Let him come."

The other SUV swerved ahead and blocked the main road intentionally. Aiden’s driver slammed the brakes.

Theo pressed the radio speaker harder against his ear. "What are you doing?"

"You and I both know we cannot lead Ethan right to the president," Aiden stated. "So we take a detour."

Theo cursed. "We do not have time."

"We will make time," Aiden insisted. "We still don’t know where he is keeping her. Charging blind will only get her killed."

Theo’s knuckles turned white. He hated that Aiden was right.

"Theo." Aiden’s voice softened and was more serious now. "We are going to get her out of that bunker. Together."

The car came to a halt in the middle of the forest road. Theo stepped out of the car just as Aiden jumped down from the SUV. They faced each other.

Theo didn’t realise how much his chest hurt until he saw Aiden alive in front of him.

The world had ripped that man from him once.

"I buried you."

Aiden shrugged. "You did a terrible job."

Theo would have laughed on any other day. Instead he punched Aiden’s shoulder once really hard....

Aiden hissed. "Still angry. Good. We need your rage."

Theo ran a hand through his hair. "Danielle has a bomb on her chest, Aiden. She probably thinks I am coming. I promised."

"You will keep that promise." Aiden grabbed his shoulder firmly. "We are going to be smarter than Ethan."

Theo swallowed a wave of emotion as it burnt his throat. "Where are we going?"

Aiden’s eyes darkened. "To someone who knows Ethan better than anyone."

Theo shook his head. "No one knows Ethan."

"Oh but someone does," Aiden murmured. "Someone who raised him to be exactly what he is."

Theo’s stomach knotted.

"Who."

Aiden pointed through the trees. And that is when Theo noticed the second figure leaning calmly against the SUV. A silhouette. Tall. Straight posture. Hands behind his back.

The stranger stepped forward into the light.

Theo’s breath died in his lungs.

It was Zack??????

But Zack was still back at the mansion bleeding on the floor.

Then realisation struck like lightning.

This man looked like Zack. But Younger and more dangerous-looking. His one expression held more authority than Zack could ever make others feel...this man made the air feel colder.

Aiden smirked. "Theo, meet the real mastermind of this hell."

The stranger’s voice was smooth as a blade slicing into silk.

"You may call me Adam."

Theo took a step back, gun raised before he even consciously decided to lift it. "Another Hale."

Adam smiled calmly and terrifyingly.

"I am what Zack wished he could be."

Theo pointed the gun harder. "If you are with Ethan, I swear I will end you right now."

Aiden moved between them. "Relax. He is not on Ethan’s side."

Adam nodded once. "Ethan... is a failed prototype."

Theo’s blood chilled. "What are you talking about?"

Adam walked closer with unhurried confidence. "Your father wanted a successor. A weapon with a pulse. Ethan was the beginning. But never the final product."

Theo felt his throat closing. "And me."

Adam’s eyes sharpened.

"You are perfect. Merciless. Loyal. Powerful. And now driven by love."

Theo’s skin crawled.

"Why do you sound like him? I’ll never be like any of you? And who the hell are you?"

Adam smiled again, but it was a gentle and cold smile.

"You already are."

Theo stepped closer and his eyes started blazing. "Why are you helping us? Who are you...?"

"Because Ethan has outgrown his leash," Adam answered. "He believes he is the wolf, but he is only a stray dog biting into my plans."

Aiden crossed his arms. "He wants Ethan dead just as much as we do."

Theo didn’t lower the gun. "How do I know this is not another trap?"

"You do not. But Danielle will die if you do nothing."

That single truth pierced every doubt.

Theo lowered the weapon slowly.

"Fine... Then talk."

Adam turned and signaled to one of Aiden’s men. A holographic map flickered on the side window of the SUV showing a protected underground bunker in the mountain range north of the city.

"Ethan’s lair," Adam said. "Hidden beneath a decommissioned military base. Entry will be heavily trapped. But there is a ventilation shaft that is really narrow. Just enough for one trained soldier."

Theo stared at the blinking mark.

His heart pounded like war drums.

Danielle was there.

"We go now," he breathed.

Adam and Aiden exchanged a brief look.

Aiden cleared his throat. "We go now... but there is something else you should know."

Theo turned at him. "What."

Aiden hesitated.

Adam stepped forward instead. His eyes burned into Theo’s.

"Ethan was not lying on that broadcast."

Theo frowned. "About what."

Adam’s voice turned quiet.

"Danielle has not eaten in four days."

Theo raised his eyebrow, "what is your point?"

Adam continued with his words like a knife.

"And he plans to starve her until the moment he decides to detonate."

Theo’s knees nearly buckled.

A firestorm lit inside him. He whispered Dani’s name like a prayer.

Aiden nodded once.

"We are getting her out."

But just as they prepared to move...

A shrill alarm beeped from the holographic map.

Adam looked at the screen.

"Impossible."

Theo rushed to see.

The red blinking dot began moving.

Danielle was being relocated.

A new live feed opened automatically.

Theo felt his soul paralyse.

The screen showed Ethan grabbing Danielle by the chin.

He smiled into the surveillance camera.

And whispered directly to Theo:

"Come find me, brother...I know you are out there now."

The screen cut to black.