Chapter 108: A Costly Prank

Words : 1045 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Chapter 108: A Costly Prank Athena softly heaved in deep breaths as they drew closer to the site indicated on the tracking tablet resting on her lap. Mr. Thorne kept patting her hand at intervals to calm her down, but how could she find peace when her children might be facing unspeakable horrors right then? The gang knew who she was; there was no telling how callous they could be toward her children now. The thought of her babies enduring even a fraction of the torment she had experienced during her last kidnapping sent shivers down her spine, making it impossible to calm her racing heart. What would she have done without those tracking watches? It was a stroke of luck that the twins had taken to wearing trackable toy watches, just like the one they had gifted her, since her escape from that harrowing incident. "Thank the heavens for technology," She muttered to herself, grateful for her technical know-how, which allowed her to operate their laptops and retrieve every crucial detail. "We are here," Jake announced, his eyes focused on a nondescript, one-story building that stood before them. The simplicity of it took Athena by surprise; it seemed too ordinary for such a sinister purpose. As the car came to a stop, the ten vehicles behind them followed suit. Everyone spilled out, and the head agent spoke up, his tone commanding. "You remember how this will go down, don’t you?" Everyone nodded in affirmation. "Then let’s go." No one bothered to tell Athena to stay back; they all knew she wouldn’t agree. Plus, they understood she was capable—she was a force to be reckoned with, especially when it came to her children. But Mr. Thorne’s insistence to accompany them raised some eyebrows. Though he had been a military general at one time, his age brought with it concerns. "Okay, I’ll be with Athena. Surely she can take care of me." Athena wanted to protest and insist that her entire focus would be on her children, but she held her tongue. If Mr. Thorne wanted to follow her into the fray, so be it. "Let’s go," She said firmly, already heading to the position they had discussed. Minutes ticked by as they surrounded the building. With a swift efficiency, they infiltrated the property. However, much to their dismay and confusion, the inside was eerily empty, though footprints led deeper into the structure. Where did everyone go? Athena pondered, her heart racing as she stood at the door to a room that appeared untouched. She could already feel despair creeping in, tightening its grip. She whispered a prayer, hoping her children were in this room as the tracker indicated. And with trembling hands, she pushed the door open. A second later, she held back a scream, tears suddenly streaming down her face at the sight that met her: her children bound to chairs, ropes that dug cruelly into their skin. But worse still, a bomb was ominously underneath the seats. Legs and hands shaking, she stumbled into the room, her security detail quick to follow. The air grew thick with tension as everyone froze momentarily, before bursting into action. "Mommy!" Kate cried out. Athena rushed toward them, yet careful to maintain a safe distance from them. "Don’t worry, my sweetheart. We’ll get you out of here. Just hold on." Because if they didn’t, they might all be dead. She glanced at the bomb, its design strange and unfamiliar. "Don’t worry, Nathaniel, we’ll get you out too." She could see Nathaniel straining to turn and face her. Her heart broke further on the restrictions the ropes placed on his movements. All she wanted now was to comfort them, to embrace them, yet fear of the consequence held her back. Did the bomb react to proximity? "What’s going on?" She asked the bomb squad members, who were maintaining their distance, their faces a mask of concern. "The bomb is unlike anything we’ve encountered before. We’re still trying to decipher it." As if she didn’t already know that. Then Nathaniel spoke up, shocking everyone. "That’s because it’s a fake. The only reason Kate and I are still tied up is because the ropes are too tight. We can’t get free. But the bomb? That’s probably just water." The agents exchanged wary glances, skepticism written all over their faces. Yet Athena felt a wave of calm wash over her. If there was anyone she trusted, it was her children. "Everyone, leave," She commanded. The agents hesitated, exchanging cautious looks. "What do you mean by that?" Mr. Thorne asked, a frown creasing his brow. "I’m taking Nathaniel at his word. But if it is a real bomb, I wouldn’t want anyone caught in our mess." Old Mr. Thorne looked startled for the first time in ages. "Then I will stay with you." Athena’s jaw dropped. "You have an empire to run..." "Cedric can handle that." Athena inhaled softly, touched by his loyalty. He looked so resolute that she decided not to push the issue. "Well, you can all go then." But the security detail remained resolute. "We are sworn to protect you. If you die, then we all die." Athena didn’t know how to respond. "Well...thanks, team." She offered a weak smile. She glanced at Mr. Thorne’s bodyguards. They remained standing too, but she understood that they were bound by duty. Turning back to her twins, she requested, "Give me a knife." A blade was swiftly dropped into her hand. Heart racing, Athena stepped closer to the twins, intent on cutting their ropes, all the while praying the bomb was indeed harmless. "Get up," She urged softly when she finished cutting the last rope. Nathaniel and Kate obeyed immediately, stepping towards her and wrapping their arms around her in a tight embrace. Athena’s heart swelled, and her eyes shut in relief as gasps filled the room. No explosion followed. Nathaniel had been right. She bent to their height and showered their cheeks with kisses, tears of relief spilling from her eyes. "It was just a prank, Mom. A costly prank." Kate said, her voice bubbling with a mixture of joy and anger. "The man who tied us up said you would come for us and then get the message."

Chapter 108: A Costly Prank

Comments (0)