Chapter 574 - 170 Race Against Time

Chapter 574: Chapter 170 Race Against Time

Daniel’s POV

I tensed as the corrupt district attorney strutted into the town square. The call from Claire hadn’t surprised me—I’d anticipated her desperation. He’d come rushing to protect his benefactor from public humiliation, another puppet in the Martinez family’s extensive network of bought officials.

What he didn’t expect was my preparation. Inspector Adler from Internal Affairs had just forwarded me files confirming what I suspected about the district attorney. The Federal Bureau was disturbed by how this prosecutor ran the jurisdiction like his personal kingdom. A thorough investigation into his activities revealed numerous cases of evidence tampering, witness intimidation, and taking bribes from rival families.

"Great, another corrupt official who thinks he owns this city," Zoe remarked with venom, causing the district attorney’s face to contort with rage.

"You’re all under arrest for disturbing the peace and conspiracy," he declared, gesturing to his security detail as he advanced toward the wives of the most powerful families in North America.

I stepped forward immediately. "Touch one hair on their heads and the Federal Bureau will personally drag you away for years of corruption, evidence tampering, and taking blood money from Connor’s family!" My voice carried across the murmuring crowd of civilians and made men alike.

"Inspector Martinez." His eyes narrowed with contempt. "Do you have any evidence against me?"

"Not just evidence—warehouses full of documentation. But I don’t even need it. That mansion you live in on the Upper East Side and those Italian sports cars your family drives around? Completely inconsistent with your government salary. Where’s that money coming from?" I challenged.

Suspicion crossed his weathered face. "You’ve been conducting surveillance on me?"

"I do my homework. Always."

"I’m simply maintaining order by controlling this public disturbance. These women are inciting chaos in a district I’m sworn to protect," he justified, struggling to maintain his authority.

"I told you—don’t you dare lay a finger on them." My voice carried the lethal edge that had earned respect in both law enforcement and the underworld.

"You’re defending these women when you don’t even know what families they represent?" he provoked, clearly unaware of exactly how deep he was digging his own grave.

"Who said I don’t know?" I countered coolly. "You’re the one who’s uninformed. Allow me to introduce Ivy Thorne, Gemma West, and Zoe Miller. Notice anything about those names? Thorne, West, Miller—some of the most powerful crime families on the East Coast. And naturally, you already recognize Katarina Sullivan, whose family controls the most lucrative money laundering operation through high-end art galleries. So, even without my federal evidence against you, do you really want to wage war against these bloodlines? Their husbands are standing right over there, and they didn’t build their empires by being forgiving."

He visibly paled. "Thorne, West, and Miller families? What kind of war are you dragging me into, Martinez?"

"They’re under my protection." I held his gaze with deadly certainty.

"Look, I understand you’re desperate to find Lila, but she’s making fools of all of you. She’s probably at some college party, getting drunk with sorority friends. You don’t need this public circus." His condescending tone suggested he possessed superior knowledge of the situation.

"You worthless piece of—" I lunged forward, but Caleb and Jude caught me before I could crush his windpipe.

"Easy, Daniel," Caleb cautioned before turning his cold Thorne family stare on the prosecutor. "Listen very carefully. Return to your office and stay there. Let Inspector Martinez find Lila. Don’t interfere, and don’t touch any of these women, or I’ll personally ensure a federal investigation into every dirty deal you’ve made over the years."

The district attorney backed down immediately. "Just end this public spectacle in the square."

"Fine, we’ll release your precious Claire," Zoe agreed with royal disdain, "but we’re far from finished with her. Perhaps the newspaper’s crime desk would be interested in her story." She turned to address the other wives. "Let’s move out, ladies! And citizens, beware of these corrupt officials who sell justice to the highest bidder!"

Like queens addressing their subjects, Zoe led the procession through the crowd, stopping occasionally to confirm everything they’d revealed about Claire’s schemes. As Claire attempted to slip past unnoticed, boos and curses erupted from onlookers who now understood exactly what kind of monster had been living among them.

Back at Beckett’s heavily fortified townhouse, he stared at the women in amazement as they gleefully recounted Claire’s complete humiliation.

"We should create dossiers listing all that witch’s lies and schemes and distribute them to every family in the five boroughs," Katarina suggested with bloodthirsty enthusiasm.

"Katarina, let’s not escalate this into a full-scale vendetta," Beckett said, though he was clearly amused by their new warrior allies’ excitement.

"Absolutely not!" Zoe tossed her perfectly styled hair. "The only reason I haven’t beaten her into the ground is because we haven’t found Lila yet. But just wait, Beckett. When we do, that woman will pay for every moment of suffering she’s caused."

"Everyone, I’m losing my mind here," I interjected, desperation creeping into my voice. "Time is running out and we still haven’t found Lila." We’d searched every corner of this city, called in favors from every contact I had in both law enforcement and the underworld.

"Have you checked Scott’s safe house? He’s Connor’s most trusted lieutenant," Nathaniel suggested, looking as exhausted as I felt.

"Yes, personally. His mother answered the door, claimed he hadn’t been home for days. She seemed genuinely ignorant," I said, rubbing my bloodshot eyes. Multiple sleepless nights of searching were destroying me.

"But Scott doesn’t live with his mother anymore," Katarina revealed, immediately capturing everyone’s complete attention.

"What do you mean?" Beckett asked, leaning forward intently.

"Beckett, you’re so disconnected from street intelligence. Scott’s been living with Estelle for quite a while now. He bought a compound on the outskirts—renovated it with high walls, electronic gates, surveillance cameras, the works. You remember Estelle, right Nathaniel? Her mother used to manage security at your estate."

"Yes, I remember her. She got sick and left, then my wife became pregnant." Nathaniel seemed to be connecting dots from the past. "How do you know all this intelligence, Katarina?"

"Nathaniel, clearly you don’t understand our city’s information networks. Here, the wives discuss everything about everyone’s business," Katarina smiled with the confidence of someone who’d spent years cultivating sources.

"Let’s go! I need someone behind the wheel—fast!" Jude volunteered immediately, already reaching for his keys.

It was already past midday when we left for the compound Katarina had described. Jude drove at maximum speed through traffic that parted like the Red Sea when they recognized the Thorne family vehicles. The compound was easy to identify—the only fortress matching Katarina’s precise description. I rang the security intercom, and a woman’s voice answered nervously.

"Police! Open the gate immediately!" I flashed my inspector’s badge at the camera, feeling a surge of desperate hope that Lila might be inside these walls.

A middle-aged woman appeared at the gate, eyeing us with obvious terror. She recognized Beckett instantly. "Beckett Sullivan?"

"That’s right. You must be Estelle?" Beckett replied with deadly calm.

"Yes, sir. I know exactly why you’re here," she said, glancing at me with the fear of someone who understood the consequences of crossing these families.

"Good, that saves us time," I said with barely controlled violence. "Where is she?"

"Can you promise you won’t reveal that I talked? Please?" Raw fear showed in her eyes.

"Start talking, or I’ll arrest you as an accessory to kidnapping," I threatened, my patience completely gone.

"Inspector, I’ll cooperate completely, but I don’t want to die. If Connor discovers I told you..." Genuine terror filled her voice as she looked around nervously.

"Connor?" Beckett asked, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. She nodded frantically.

"Please, just tell me where my woman is," I pleaded, my desperation overriding my training.

"She was here until this morning. Connor had Scott transport her to the notary’s office downtown. He’s forcing her to marry him today. She told me she’d rather die than become his wife, and from what I witnessed, that Claire woman might actually kill her if she refuses to sign." Her words confirmed every nightmare I’d been having.

"We need to get to that notary’s office—now!" I turned and sprinted back to the car, my heart pounding with terror and rage.

Jude drove like a man possessed toward downtown. I prayed to whatever gods might be listening that we’d arrive in time. At that moment, I would have destroyed anyone and anything that stood between me and saving Lila’s life.