Chapter 580
Caitlin had no idea how to pilot a ship, but at a time like this, she didn’t care. She could only fumble. through the controls and hope for the best.
After some trial and error, the bow finally began to swing around. When the ship had completed a wide turn toward the direction she had come from, she steadied the wheel and locked it in place.
Her heart pounded with both excitement and relief. She was finally heading home.
But she celebrated too soon. In the distance, speedboats were closing in fast. One of them had already fished Phantom out of the water. The others–more than a dozen in total–were bearing down on the Breaking Waves.
In moments, the ship was surrounded. Caitlin saw that each boat carried several men, all armed with submachine guns in addition to the pilots.
“Don’t move! You’re surrounded!”
“Turn the ship around now!”
They shouted orders, demanding she reverse course. Caitlin ignored them. She didn’t care what they said–she was going back.
Gunfire erupted.
Bullets punched through the bridge windows, leaving spiderweb cracks and holes.
She dropped low to avoid getting hit, cursing inwardly. She had no weapon, while their firepower was
overwhelming.
Within minutes, men were climbing up the sides of the cruise ship. Weapons trained on her, they forced Caitlin to raise her hands in surrender.
Her hard–won return course was immediately undone. The men took control of the helm and steered the ship back in its original direction.
Half a day later, the Breaking Waves reached a coastal dock. The armed men escorted Caitlin onto an
island.
The island was large, linked to other islets and reefs to form a crescent–shaped chain. It was undeveloped, save for the remnants of a native settlement–its original inhabitants wiped out after Black Wolf Fortress had seized the land.
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This was their new base, far to the south, well beyond the northern territories where the Obsidian
Order had been searching in vain.
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They marched Caitlin toward a row of thatched buildings. Inside the largest hut, the warlord Raze, leader of Black Wolf Fortress, was waiting in the council hall.
Phantom was brought in first. Wounded but still on his feet, he reported, “Fortress Master, Phantom reporting back.”
“Well done! You’ve earned yourself great merit.”
Raze ordered him taken away for treatment, then barked, “Bring the woman in!”
He wanted to see the woman Sebastian was willing to risk everything for.
Caitlin was dragged in, bound tightly. Her clothes were disheveled and her hair a mess, but her
were still fierce, her posture unbroken.
Raze stepped closer, sizing her up. “You’re Caitlin?”
She gave a short, derisive laugh and turned her head away.
Raze grabbed her chin, forcing her to face him. His eyes burned with hatred. “Do you know why I brought you here?”
“No idea,” Caitlin replied coolly.
eyes
“Then I’ll tell you! Do you know what Sebastian did? He killed my only brother and nearly wiped out my entire Black Wolf Fortress. I have a blood feud with him that can never be resolved!”
Caitlin met his rage with contempt. “Tell me, Mr. Raze, why would Sebastian kill your brother and attack your Fortress? Wasn’t it because you kidnapped his father and forced his uncle to work for you? You kept the Vanderbilt brothers under your control for eighteen years, robbing Sebastian of a chance to see his father. The real culprit behind your brother’s death is you–and you alone.”
Her words hit him like poisoned arrows, piercing straight into his chest. He staggered back a few steps, shock flashing across his face. The pain lasted only seconds before he hardened again.
“No! It was you… it was Sebastian who killed my brother! I’ll kill him to avenge him. And you–you deserve to die too!”
In his fury, Raze drew his weapon, ready to shoot her. Caitlin knew there was no mercy in his hands and had already steeled herself for death. Better to die than be used as leverage against Sebastian.
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Before he could pull the trigger, Sheldon–the Fortress’s strategist and second–in–command–grabbed his arm, pushing the barrel down.
“If you kill her now, our entire plan falls apart.”
Reluctantly, Raze eased off. Caitlin let out a quiet breath, her eyes shifting toward the man in his thirties who had just saved her life.
Sheldon continued, “With Caitlin in our hands, Sebastian will have no choice but to come to us. Until
the plan is complete, she stays alive. No harm comes to her.”
“Fine.”
Raze returned to his seat, leaving Caitlin to Sheldon’s care.
“Take her below. Treat her well, but she doesn’t take one step outside that door.”
“Yes, sir.”
They led Caitlin away, unbound her, and placed her in a small room. Armed guards stood outside.
A woman around her age entered, carrying clean clothes and a tray of food. Caitlin eyed her warily.
“You don’t have to be afraid,” the woman said with a faint smile. “I won’t hurt you. These clothes and
the food are for you. You can wash up and eat something.”
Caitlin glanced at the food, still suspicious.
“It’s not poisoned,” the woman assured her. “I made it myself.”
She left, locking the door behind her.
Caitlin was starving and exhausted, but she refused to touch the food. She washed, changed into the clean clothes, and rested briefly.
Two hours later, the door opened again. Caitlin tensed.
Raze entered with several men. Her hand closed around a shard of glass she’d hidden behind her
back.
Seeing her again, Raze’s eyes widened slightly. He took a deep breath, his gaze lingering before he muttered to Sheldon, “She really is a beauty. No wonder Sebastian is obsessed with her.”
Sheldon said nothing, his face unreadable.
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Raze’s expression turned smug. “Caitlin, for the sake of your looks and youth, if you agree to stay and serve me, I’ll let you live.”
“Keep dreaming.”
Her answer was cold and short.
“Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. There’s no woman I can’t break.”
He stepped toward her, clearly intending to take what he wanted by force.
Caitlin lifted the shard of mirror to her neck. “Touch me, and I’ll die right here.”
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