Chapter 66

Haiden's POV

The goddamn Skulls. They always managed to slither out of the woodwork at the most inconvenient times. Tonight was no exception. I felt the sickening thud as the bullet ripped through my shoulder, sending a wave of pain through my body. I gritted my teeth, refusing to let it slow me down.

Christian, Xan, Zack and Akira were a force to be reckoned with. We worked together like a well-oiled machine, each of us knowing our roles and executing them with deadly precision. But even with our combined strength, the Skulls were relentless.

I focused on firing, each shot aimed with deadly accuracy. I saw Jess, the leader of the Skulls, exchange blows with Christian. They were evenly matched, both fueled by rage and hatred. I knew Christian wanted to gut the guy.

Suddenly, the pain in my shoulder became unbearable. My vision blurred, and my knees buckled. I vaguely remember Christian shouting my name before everything went black.

I woke up in a sterile room, the smell of antiseptic filling my nostrils. My shoulder throbbed with a dull ache. I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my body, forcing me back down.

Christian was sitting beside my bed, his face etched with worry. "Hey," he said softly. "Take it easy. You took a bad hit."

"Hailey?" I croaked, my voice raspy. "Did you find anything?"

His face darkened. "Nothing. Leo's covered his tracks."

My heart sank. Three months. Three months of searching, and we were still no closer to finding her. The guilt gnawed at me. I was supposed to protect her. I was supposed to keep her safe. I failed.

"I'll find her, Haiden," Christian said, his voice firm. "I promise you, I'll bring her home."

I knew he meant it. Christian was a force of nature when he was determined. But I also knew the risks. Every day we spent searching for Hailey was another day we were exposed. Leo was playing a dangerous game, and we were playing right along with him.

"We need to be careful," I said. "Leo's planning something. I can feel it."

Christian nodded. "I know. That's why I'm meeting with Xan, Zack, and Akira tomorrow. We need to come up with a new strategy."

We sat in silence for a while, the weight of our worries pressing down on us. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the pain and the fear. But it was no use. Hailey was always on my mind. Her smile, her laugh, the way she looked at me... I missed her more than words could say.

I would tear the world apart to get her back. Leo had made a grave mistake when he stole what was mine. He would pay for what he had done. I would make sure of it. No matter the cost.

The next morning, I was still weak, but I insisted on attending the meeting. I couldn't sit idly by while Christian and the others risked their lives. I needed to be there, to offer my support and my expertise.

We gathered in the war room, a high-tech space filled with maps, surveillance footage, and communication equipment. Xan, Zack, and Akira were already there, their faces grim.

"Alright, let's get down to business," Christian said, pacing in front of the whiteboard. "Leo's been quiet for too long. He's planning something, and we need to figure out what it is."

We spent hours dissecting every piece of information we had, poring over intel reports and analyzing surveillance footage. We discussed potential targets, weaknesses in Leo's organization, and possible escape routes.

The deeper we dug, the more uneasy I became. Leo wasn't just trying to hurt us. He was trying to destroy us. He was attacking our businesses, our allies, and our families. He was waging a full-scale war, and we were right in the middle of it.

The worst part was the thought of Hailey suffering at his hands. I knew Leo was capable of anything. The thought of her being subjected to his cruelty sent a shiver down my spine.

Just as we were about to wrap up the meeting, the door burst open, and Noah, our manager, rushed in, his face pale.

"We have a problem," he said breathlessly. "Terrence, a debt collector… he's got Hailey's mother."

My blood ran cold. This was it. Leo had finally made his move. And he was using Hailey's mother as bait.

"Find out where he's holding her," I said, my voice dangerously low. "And tell everyone to get ready. We're going to war."

This was it. No more playing games. It was time to end this, once and for all. For Hailey. For my family. For everything we held dear. Leo had crossed the line. And he was about to pay the ultimate price.