Chapter 18 No More Running

​Alex stared at the photograph displayed on his laptop screen. It was Javier, standing on Nina's balcony. The timestamp showed it had been taken less than ten minutes earlier; someone had photographed her while she was inside the apartment, completely unaware she was being watched.

​Alex's jaw tightened, and he slammed the laptop shut. "They're getting too close."

​Kendall nodded grimly. "They're not threatening us anymore. They're hunting her."

​Without another word, Alex snatched up his car keys. "I'm bringing Javier home."

​Camille stepped forward, stopping him. "That's exactly what they're expecting you to do."

​Alex frowned. "What do you mean?"

​Camille folded her arms. "Think about it. They've been leading us from one clue to the next—the warehouse, the hidden room, the safe, the flash drive, and now... this photograph." She held his gaze. "They're controlling your every move."

​Alex fell silent. She was right. Every decision he had made, every place he had gone... it was as if someone had anticipated it all.

​Kendall turned to the head of security. "Double the guards around this mansion, and quietly assign another team to protect Javier."

​"Yes, sir."

​Alex shook his head. "If she sees armed guards outside Nina's apartment, she'll know something is wrong."

​"They'll stay out of sight," Kendall nodded. "There won't be any mistakes."

​The guards immediately left to carry out the order.

​Meanwhile, at Nina's apartment, Javier stood by the window, unable to shake the uneasy feeling weighing on her chest. The black SUV was gone, but somehow, its disappearance frightened her even more.

​Nina noticed the worry on her face. "Are you still thinking about those phone calls?"

​Javier nodded slowly. "They know where I go. They know I'm pregnant. They even know when I visit the hospital." 

Her hand instinctively rested on her stomach. "I'm scared," she whispered.

​Nina reached over and gently squeezed her hand. "You won't have to face this alone."

​Before Javier could respond, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen, her fingers freezing as the caller ID displayed Alex's name. Nina remained silent, giving her the space to decide.

​The phone continued to ring. Finally, Javier answered. "Hello."

​On the other end, Alex let out a relieved breath. "Thank God. Javier... I know you don't want to see me. But please... listen to me." His voice was different—not desperate, but urgent. "You're in danger."

​Javier frowned. "What?"

​"Someone is watching you."

​"I already know that."

​"No," Alex replied firmly. "You don't understand. This is bigger than us. Bigger than Camille. Bigger than our marriage."

​Javier's heart began to race. "What happened?"

​Alex glanced at Kendall before speaking again. "I'll explain everything, but not over the phone. I need you to trust me... one last time."

​Silence filled the line as Javier slowly closed her eyes. Trust. There was a time when that word had come so easily. Now, it felt impossible.

​"I'm sorry, Alex. I can't." She ended the call.

​Alex stared at the dark screen before slowly lowering his phone. He couldn't blame her, not after everything he had done.

​Kendall walked over. "She refused?"

​Alex nodded bitterly. "I destroyed her trust with my own hands."

​Just then, the head of security burst into the study. "Mr. Swan!"

​Alex looked up immediately. "What is it?"

​"We've lost contact with the surveillance team—the officers stationed near Nina's apartment. Their radios went silent five minutes ago."

​Alex's expression changed instantly. "Try calling them."

​The guard immediately reached for his radio, but there was nothing. He tried another officer, and still nothing. Then a third. No response.

​A heavy silence settled over the room. Kendall's voice turned cold. "It's started."

​Outside Nina's apartment, a white delivery van slowly pulled up across the street. Two men stepped out, dressed in utility company uniforms. One of them looked up at the apartment building. "Third floor."

​The other gave a curt nod. "No mistakes."

​They picked up a large toolbox and headed toward the entrance. Hidden beneath the tools was a compact pistol fitted with a suppressor.

​Inside the apartment, Nina was in the kitchen preparing tea, while Javier sat on the couch quietly flipping through the ultrasound pictures of her baby. A faint smile touched her lips, and she gently rested a hand on her stomach. "I'm going to protect you," she whispered.

​Suddenly, a loud knock echoed through the apartment.

​Knock. Knock. Knock.

​Nina frowned. "Who is it?"

​A man's voice came from the other side of the door. "Building maintenance. We received a report of a gas leak."

​Nina looked puzzled; she hadn't smelled anything unusual. Javier slowly rose to her feet as an uneasy feeling settled deep in her chest. Something wasn't right.

​Nina walked toward the door. Just as she reached for the handle, a memory flashed through Javier's mind. Earlier that week, the building manager had clearly told the residents that all scheduled maintenance work had already been completed.

​Her eyes widened. "Nina... don't open the door."

​The knocking stopped immediately. For several long seconds, the apartment fell into complete silence.

​Then, the doorknob slowly began to turn. Javier's breath caught in her throat. Someone was trying to unlock the door from the outside.