Chapter 304


    "The kidnappers knew that Bran loved a good thrill, but getting him to impulsively leave the safety of


    their suburban enve was no easy feat. That''s why they set their sights on Bentley. They were


    betting on Bentley''s reckless love over his sense of self-preservation.


    “It might seem like they were always at each other''s throats, but the bond between these cousins


    was solid as oak. That''s why Bran, worried about Bentley''s safety, let his sense of loyalty get the


    better of him and agreed to a midnight joyride outside the gates."


    What could Ste say? When the the silly rich kid hell-bent on digging his own grave, not even


    angels could stop him. "Evan''s on the case; he''ll figure out there''s a rat in the Porras family soon


    enough."


    Jasper nodded in agreement. "It''s not a tough puzzle for Evan, but unless the kidnappers make


    their next move, rooting out the mole won''t be easy."


    The fact that the kidnapping happened a year into the eternal night made it clear that the


    perpetrators were neither impulsive nor unprepared.


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    Anyone bold enough to cross the Porras family was no ordinary thug. Just the fact that Bentley had


    been beaten to a pulp, his arm broken, was a testament to their ruthlessness.


    This was not just an act of violence; it was a warning to the Porras family:ply, or Bran would


    die.


    Ste wondered aloud, "Shane''s called the cops, but will he pay the ransom?"


    Jasper couldn''t be sure. After all, Shane was a cunning fox in the business world. Besides, these


    were the end times. A demand for 10,000 pounds of grain and 5,000 pounds of meat was one thing,


    but 50 guns and the entire stock of medicine? Even if they paid up, what were the chances of


    getting his son back?


    They couldn''t gamble the lives of dozens in the Porras household for one reckless son. A tiger


    without its teeth was just a big cat, after all.


    Ste mused, "I feel like Shane won''t act rashly, but he might struggle with it, trying to ease his


    conscience."


    Setting aside his natural business instincts, Shane had other family members to consider. It seemed


    Bran''s chances were slim.


    That was just how it was in these perilous times—if you didn''t have the strength, death was your


    only ending.


    "Jasper, if I ever get kidnapped, just take care of Rosie and Cooper. Don''te after me."


    "Don''t talk nonsense," Jasper said, cutting her off.


    Their spection was correct; for a seasoned cop like Evan, sniffing out a mole in the Porras


    household wasn''t tough.


    The Porras family, being wealthy, treated their servants and bodyguards well. They were respectful,


    never stinting on pay or resorting to verbal or emotional abuse. There was no discontent or


    grudges. And ording to the Porras family''s ounts, there had been nothing unusual about the


    behavior of the staff or bodyguardstely.


    After interviewing everyone separately, Evan and his officers found no suspicious characters. They


    could only wait for the kidnapper''s next move.


    After the police left, Shane sat on the sofa, his face ashen, silent for a long time.


    The mood was grim among the other family members. The older and younger sons said nothing,


    but their wives'' faces betrayed their worry.


    Tina waved everyone out, her voice choked with tears. "What do we do now, honey?"


    Shane''s heart ached with anger. "What to do? Let the boy die!"


    "But he''s your flesh and blood. You can''t just abandon him."


    "What can I do about it? Should we all just starve to death to get him back?"


    Desperate, Tina suggested, "If ites to it, you must pressure the police to intensify the search."


    "Does the Porras family run the police station?" Shane growled, popping blood pressure pills.


    "Evan''s visit today was respect enough. You expect him to turn Griffith upside down?"


    The military and police were short-handed, barely managing to maintain order in the city. Pulling


    troops away could leave the city open to marauders, and who would bear that responsibility? Not to


    mention, the foolish boy had brought this on himself. Even if Evan agreed, the officials never would.


    Tina''s heart was in knots, "Are we to stand by and let our son be torn to pieces?"


    Shane spent a sleepless night in his study, finallying to a decision—a bounty. For whoever


    could save his wayward son, he was willing to offer 10,000 pounds of grain.


    The news caused an uproar. 10,000 pounds of grain could sustain many people.


    Evan remained nomittal upon hearing the news, but bounty hunters caught wind and began to


    mobilize, forming teams to register for the challenge.


    Shane was worn thin, leaving the assessment of the hunters'' wits and skills to his eldest son and


    the bodyguards.


    Ste had just gotten off her shift when Kitty''s voice came through the walkie-talkie, "Ste, you


    there?"


    Kitty reaching out? That was a first.


    "Yeah, what''s up?"


    Kitty''s voice was cool, "Got a job that might interest you, want in?"


    Ste paused, "What kind of job?"


    "A couple of days ago on patrol, I tracked some thugs who''d looted a bunch of supplies. Followed


    them to their hideout in the mountains..."


    They were armed and their numbers were significant, but there were plenty of supplies stashed in


    that cave, all plundered in the aftermath of disaster.


    The loot was enough to keep a small group fed and living high on the hog for a while. But with just


    the four of them, both in capability and firepower, they were outmatched. That was why Kitty was


    reaching out to Ste.


    With her on board, Jasper would likely join too. Six heads were better than four.


    Ste weighed her words for a long moment, pondering how to respond to Kitty. Fortune favors the


    bold, and Kitty and her group,cking a safety, were right to take a chance. Ste and Jasper


    were different; they weren''t short on supplies and had Cooper and Rosie at home. She couldn''t


    afford to gamble, nor did she need to. There was no need to take the risk.


    "Did youe to me on your own, or did Cody send you?"


    Kitty confessed, "I came to you behind his back."


    Ste breathed a sigh of relief, "Can I talk to Cody?"


    Kitty wasn''t a bad person, but she wasn''t close enough to Ste to bare her soul.


    Ste asked calmly, "Is this operation Kitty''s idea, or did all four of you decide?"


    Cody was silent for a moment before replying, "We all agreed."


    "For the food?"


    Cody sniffed, "For a better life."


    "Have you guys even thought about the odds of pulling this off?"


    "Fifty-fifty."


    Ste took a deep breath, "Jasper has a sister to look after, and I also have to take care of Cooper;


    we can''t be part of this. I''m begging you to think this through. If it''s just about putting food on the


    table, we can figure something else out. But if it''s about chasing the high life, just think it over, okay?


    Don''t rush into anything. And whatever you decide, you better clue me in, or you can kiss our


    friendship goodbye."


    Jasper came back from his shift to find Ste spaced out on the couch, a worried look on her face.


    "What''s up?"


    Ste was feeling a bit agitated and spilled the beans.


    He asked calmly, "Are you angry?"


    "I think it''s either Kitty''s bad influence or maybe the tough breaks Lukas and Cody have had over


    the years, but their appetite for risk has gotten out of hand."


    Taking a gamble on a fifty-fifty chance? They must be out of their minds.