Chapter 260: Chapter 263

Chapter 263 Audrey My heart pounded against the inside of my chest as Edwin expertly maneuvered the car through the winding road. But try as we might to keep pace, the white van ahead wove through the trees with even more practiced precision, the driver clearl knowing every twist and turn like the back of his hand. Unlike us.

We had been on the van’s tail for miles now, Edwin’s eyes never once leaving the road. His knuckles were around the steering wheel, his focus entirely zeroed in on not letting that van out of our sight. It wasn’t easy.

white as sheets I braced myself against the dashboard as we hit another rough patch of road, the car jolting violently. “I need to try to get into the driver’s mind,” I said, shutting my eyes and narrowing my focus. It was the only way; I had to compel him to stop, somehow.

“Can you even reach him from here?” Peter asked, gripping the back of my seat.

“I don’t know,” I muttered, “but I have to try.”

Edwin grunted as he hit the gas even harder. “I’ll get you closer.

Closing my eyes, I focused all of my silver energy on the man behind the steering wheel. Just as Sophia had said, the driver‘

mind was like a fortress, clearly trained specifically to keep me out.

But he was also afraid, and I knew one thing for certain: fear creates cracks. And I could feel them–small fractures in his mental defenses. I pressed harder, searching for an opening, for the weakness that would let me slip through, even if only for a moment.

“Come on,” I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut tighter. “Just stop the A cold sweat broke out across my skin as I pushed further. needed to push a little harder, and then-

an.”

his mind. His barriers started to crumble, little by little. I just Suddenly, the van’s brake lights flared red, and it screeched to a stop in a cloud of dust and debris. The tires skidded over the loose dirt, kicking up a storm of gravel behind it, but it came to a safe stop at the edge of the road.

je got him!” I gasped, relief flooding through me as Edwin hit the brakes. He brought our car to a grinding halt just behind the van, feet away from slamming into it.

Before we had even come to a full stop, Peter was out of the car. He sprinted toward the van, hands clenched, ready to fight.

Edwin was quick to follow, and I wasn’t far behind. I kept my hold on the driver’s mind as best I could, although he was scrabbling to regain control.

Peter yanked the back doors open, where Betty was held, while Edwin circled around to the driver’s side door.

But then Peter froze.

“It’s empty!” he cried out, kicking the tail light so hard it shattered. “The van is fucking empty!”

I skidded to a stop beside him, staring into the cargo area that should have contained my friend. My mind slipped away from the driver’s the moment I realized that Peter was right. There was nothing. No Betty. Not even a sign that she had ever been here.

“That’s impossible,” I breathed, my pulse quickening as I raced around to where Edwin was currently hauling the driver out by his shirt collar. “We saw thern load Betty into the van. We saw her get in.”

“They pulled a switch on us,” Edwin growled, shoving the driver against the side of the van, the man’s head bouncing off the metal with a sickening thud. “When did you do it?” he snarled. “Where’s the other van?”

1/3 889 08:01 Sat, Nov 9 o Chapter 263 The driver didn’t answer. Just clenched his mouth shut and glared daggers at Edwin.

I dove into the driver’s mind again, but this time, it was like slamming into a brick wall. His resistance was even stronger than before. I shouldn’t have let go the first time, but it was too late now.

“I can’t,” I said, pulling back with a gasp. If I went too hard, I’d drain the last of my abilities–and I couldn’t waste them on pawns like this guy.

Edwin let out a low growl and pulled back his fist, aiming directly for the man’s eye. “I know how to make people talk,” he said quietly through clenched teeth.

But before he could hit him, I grabbed his arm and pulled him back. “No, Edwin. You don’t want to do that.”

My mate hesitated, then sighed and lowered his fist. He knew I was right; it was too close to his days as a boxer. Too much like the boy who had shattered his opponent’s eye socket. He’d regret it if he did that today. Even if the bastard deserved it.

Peter, however, had other ideas. “Maybe you’re not that person,” he muttered, his eyes blazing as he rolled up his sleeves, “but I’ll gladly be that person today.”

Before either of us could stop him, Peter’s fist flew and connected with the driver’s face.

Hard.

The sickening crunch of bone and cartilage filled the air, and blood sprayed across Peter’s hand as the driver’s nose broke under the force of the punch.

“Peter!” I exclaimed, my voice caught somewhere between outrage and exasperation, but I couldn’t help the wry smile that was tugging at the corner of my mouth. For all his reckless fury, Peter’s protective instincts when it came to Betty were oddly endearing, in a brutal, slightly terrifying way.

“O–Ow!” the driver whined, slumping to the ground up against the side of the van. “You broke my fucking nose!”

at me like that. He’s still conscious, isn’t he? That “And I’ll break the rest of your skull next if you don’t tell us where that other van went,” Peter hissed. He wiped his bloody hand on the driver’s shirt, glancing up at us with a shrug. “Don’t means he can still talk.”

Edwin didn’t even try to hide his smirk as he returned his focus to the driver. “Tell us,” he said, his voice low and dangerous “Unless you want me to let my brother have his way with you, And he’s fucking crazy.”

The driver coughed, blood sputtering from his broken nose, but he reached into his pocket with trembling hands. A moment later, he pulled out a folded map, his fingers shaking as he held it out to Peter.

“Here,” he mumbled, wincing in pain. “They’re... they’re taking this route.”

Edwin snatched the map from Peter’s hand, unfolding it quickly His eyes scanned the page, his jaw tightening. “This leads deep into Coldclaw territory,” he muttered, showing me the route traced in red pen. “Some kind of industrial complex out there.”

Peter’s face hardened as he stared down at the bloodied driver. Then, with that cold, unyielding determination I’d come to expect from him, he began stripping off the driver’s uniform, “H–Hey!” the driver squeaked, but it was no use. Peter yanked off the driver’s jacket and boots, ignoring his protests.

“What are you doing?” I asked, although I already knew the answer.

“Taking his place,” Peter said simply as he pulled on the black jacket. He tossed his own leather jacket at the driver’s feet, who just stared up at him, chest heaving in shock. “We’ll use the van and follow the route.

“And what about him?” Edwin asked, nodding toward the driver who was still clutching his bloodied face.

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Peter flashed us both a grim smile as he finished buttoning up the uniform. “Leave him here for Charles and the others to find. Or don’t. I don’t give a shit.”

Without another word, Peter strode toward the driver’s side door and threw it open.

“Get in,” he ordered with a jerk of his chin toward the back where the kids were usually transported, not waiting for a response.

We didn’t need to be told twice. I exchanged a quick glance with Edwin, feeling his resolve harden through our bond, and we climbed into the van.

The world went dark as we shut the doors behind us.