18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 304

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

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: comply, or Bran would die.

Stella 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.

Stella 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't come after me."

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

Their speculation 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 according to the Porras family's accounts, there had been nothing unusual about the behavior of the staff or bodyguards lately.

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 it comes 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, finally coming 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 noncommittal 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.

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

Stella 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 Stella.

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

Stella weighed her words for a long moment, pondering how to respond to Kitty. Fortune favors the bold, and Kitty and her group, lacking a safety net, were right to take a chance. Stella 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 you come to me on your own, or did Cody send you?"

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

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

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

Stella 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."

Stella 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 replace Stella spaced out on the couch, a worried look on her face. "What's up?"

Stella 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.