Capítulo 37: Chapter 37: Ivy's Dilemma
Francis sighed as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. He had been in the prison for so long that it seemed Damon and Adrian had forgotten about him. The damp, cold cell walls felt like they were closing in on him, a constant reminder of his isolation.
His thoughts drifted to his brother, Jax. He missed him terribly. Jax had always been his rock, his unwavering support through thick and thin. The memory of their last conversation played over in his mind, a bittersweet reminder of better times.
"I wonder if he even knows I'm still alive," Francis muttered to himself, a flicker of hope struggling to survive amidst the despair.
The sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor, pulling Francis from his thoughts. He quickly wiped his face and tried to compose himself. The prison door creaked open, and a guard entered, carrying a small tray of food.
"Here," the guard grunted, shoving the tray through the bars.
Francis took the tray with a nod of thanks, though the guard barely acknowledged it. As he ate the meager meal, his mind returned to Jax. He imagined his brother's face, full of determination and strength.
"Jax, wherever you are, I hope you're safe," Francis whispered. "And I hope you haven't forgotten about me."
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Khalid's Empire
Jax's and Theo's Room
"Theo, I have finally decided. I will have to evade Damon's empire. I need to know what happened to Francis," Jax started after a brief silence, his voice filled with determination.
Theo looked at Jax, concern etched on his face. "Don't you think that's a suicide mission? The security over there is tight, and Damon wouldn't take it lightly if he found out you trespassed."
Jax's eyes blazed with resolve. "I can't just sit here and do nothing. Francis is my brother, and I have to find out if he's still alive. I owe him that much."
Theo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I understand, Jax. But we need to be smart about this. Rushing in without a plan will only get you captured or killed."
Jax nodded, appreciating Theo's caution. "You're right. We'll need to gather information first, find a way to slip past the guards, and make sure we have an escape route."
Theo leaned in, his voice low and serious. "We'll need allies, too. People we can trust to help us from the inside. And we'll need to move quickly before Damon gets wind of our plans."
Jax's determination didn't waver. "I'll start reaching out to some contacts tonight. We'll find a way, Theo. We have to."
Theo placed a reassuring hand on Jax's shoulder. "We'll do this together, Jax. We'll find Francis and bring him back. Just promise me you'll be careful."
Jax nodded, a rare smile breaking through his serious demeanor. "I promise, Theo. We'll get through this, one way or another."
*
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Ivy's Private Quarters
Ivy paced the length of her private quarters, her mind racing with thoughts of Anthony and the turmoil their clan was now facing. Her phone buzzed, breaking her from her reverie. She glanced at the screen and saw it was a call from her private investigator.
She quickly answered, her voice tense. "What do you have for me?"
The PI's voice was calm and professional. "I have located Anthony. He's currently hiding out in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. He's been moving around frequently, but this is his current location."
Ivy's heart pounded in her chest. "Are you sure?"
"Positive. I've had eyes on him for the past 24 hours. He's alone and seems to be laying low."
Ivy's mind raced with possibilities. "Good work. Keep an eye on him, but don't let him know you're there. I'll handle the rest."
She ended the call and took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. Anthony's location was valuable information, but she needed to decide her next move carefully. If she went after him now, it could lead to more chaos. She had to think strategically.
Ivy dialed another number, this time to her father, Khalid. When he answered, she wasted no time. "Father, I've got a lead on Anthony. He's hiding in an abandoned warehouse outside the city."
Khalid's voice was sharp. "Good. We'll send a team to bring him back. This time, he won't escape."
Ivy hesitated, a part of her still conflicted. "Father, maybe we should consider talking to him first. He might have reasons for what he's doing."
Khalid's response was immediate and stern. "There's no room for sympathy, Ivy. Anthony made his choice. He must face the consequences. Prepare the team and make sure they bring him back."
Ivy nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Understood. I'll get everything ready."
As she ended the call, Ivy couldn't shake the feeling of unease. She had to follow her father's orders, but a part of her still hoped there was a way to resolve this without more bloodshed. She would need to tread carefully, balancing her loyalty to her father and her lingering care for Anthony.
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After ending the call with her father, Ivy made a quick decision. She couldn't wait for Khalid's team to handle this; she needed to see Anthony herself and understand his reasons. But she had to do it without her father's knowledge.
She dialed another number, this time to Stephen, one of the few people she trusted. He answered on the second ring.
"Stephen, I need you to prepare my car," she said quickly, her voice hushed. "Do it quietly, without anyone noticing. I have to leave immediately."
Stephen's voice was cautious. "Ivy, what's going on? Where are you going?"
"I can't explain right now. Just trust me. It's important," Ivy replied, her tone urgent. "Make sure no one sees you. This has to stay between us.
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Ivy drove through the night, her mind racing with thoughts and uncertainties. The journey to Anthony's location was long, but she was determined. As the sun began to rise, she reached the outskirts of a small town where her private investigator had tracked Anthony.
She parked the car a safe distance away and continued on foot, using the early morning shadows to conceal her approach. She arrived at a rundown motel, the kind of place where people went to disappear. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door of the room she had been told was Anthony's.
---
The door opened slowly, and Anthony stood there, surprise and wariness etched on his face.
"Ivy? What are you doing here?" he asked, stepping back to let her in.
"I had to see you, Anthony," Ivy said, her voice steady despite the tumult of emotions she felt. "I need to understand why you left, why you turned against Khalid."
Anthony's eyes hardened as he closed the door behind her. "I didn't turn against him, Ivy. I discovered the truth. Khalid was responsible for my father's blindness and you know that. Everything I believed in was a lie."
Ivy's heart ached at the pain in his voice. "Anthony, I didn't know. If I had—"
"Would it have changed anything?" Anthony interrupted, his tone bitter. "You were always loyal to him, just like I was.
Ivy took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "I don't want to be used anymore, Anthony. I came here because I want to help you. Maybe we can find a way to set things right together, I need to find my mom, I don't believe the stories Dad told me."
Anthony looked at her, skepticism mixed with a glimmer of hope. "And what about Khalid? He'll never let you go."
"I don't care about him right now," Ivy replied fiercely. "I care about the truth and making things right. We can expose him, show everyone what he really is."
Anthony studied her for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright, Ivy. But this won't be easy. Damon is already moving against us, and we have to be prepared for anything."
Ivy felt a surge of determination. "I'm ready, Anthony. Whatever it takes, I'm with you."
They spent the next few hours planning their next steps. Anthony explained what he had discovered and how they could use it to dismantle Khalid's power. Ivy shared her own insights and resources, realizing that together, they had a fighting chance.
As they finalized their plans, Ivy's phone buzzed with a message from Stephen. It was a simple warning: **Khalid is looking for you. Be careful.**
She showed the message to Anthony, who frowned. "We need to move fast. If Khalid is onto us, we don't have much time."
Ivy nodded. "Let's do this. For your father, and my mom, for everyone Khalid has hurt."
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