Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 328: Diva Lied

Mari’s smile fell at once. Her face went pale and her eyes went wide like a child who had seen a monster in the dark.

"W-what?" she asked in a shaky voice.

Jax’s jaw locked. His whole face changed. He wished Chad had called him aside to tell him that it was about Mari. "Chad. Come with me," Jax said at once, already turning.

"No." Mari stepped forward quickly. "I want to hear it. Whatever you want to talk about—I want to hear it."

Her phone began to vibrate in her hand. When she glanced at it and saw Jamal’s name on the screen, she ignored the call, deciding to call him back later. This was more important.

"Mari, you don’t need to hear this. We will take care of it," Jax said. His voice was firm. He tried to guide her back with his hand.

"But if it’s about me," she said. "I need to be involved."

"Both of you stop!" Chad snapped before Jax could speak again. His voice echoed through the kitchen. "Venita is in danger. I don’t care about your argument right now. Jax, let’s go."

Mari flinched. Her heart thumped hard when she met Chad’s cold eyes.

Chad ignored the hurt expression on her face and walked out of the kitchen.

"Stay still," Jax said softly. "Let us handle it."

He gave her one last look full of worry before following Chad out of the kitchen.

Mari stood there, frozen and terrified. Her fingers curled into fists at her side. Her stomach twisted with fear. She didn’t want Venita or anyone else to get hurt because of her.

Breakfast forgotten, she returned to the living room to wait for the brothers who had gone upstairs.

Minutes passed slowly until the brothers returned to the living room, both fully dressed to go out.

Jax walked straight to her. His face looked hard, but his eyes were soft when they landed on her.

"We’re going to find Venita," he said. His voice was calm but tight around the edges. "You’re safe here, don’t worry. Don’t step out. I mean it."

He cupped her face and kissed her softly, far softer than she had expected for a moment like this. The kiss felt like an assurance.

She nodded but didn’t say anything. She didn’t know what to say.

She looked up at Chad, and when their eyes met, he gave her a small smile. "Sorry for snapping," he said. "Stay safe, okay?"

She smiled and gave him a nod.

As they turned to leave, Mari’s eyes dropped, and she froze when she saw the thick bulge at Jax’s hip under his shirt.

It was unmistakably a gun.

Her heart slammed hard against her chest. Her throat tightened as the gravity of the situation hit her again.

He was going out there with a gun. He could get into a gunfight and get hurt.

She couldn’t breathe. Before she could think, she ran after him before they got to the door.

"Jax!" she called.

He stopped and turned. She threw her arms around him, holding him tight. Her fingers clutched his shirt like she was scared he would never return.

"Please..." her voice shook. "Please be safe. And if it’s too dangerous, you can just hand me to them."

She’d rather be hurt than let any of them get hurt for her sake. She wouldn’t be able to live with that.

Seeing how frightened she seemed, his arms wrapped around her at once in a strong, warm hug, protecting her even when he was the one stepping into danger.

"I’ll be fine," he promised softly into her hair. "I promise."

He pulled back slowly and brushed a thumb across her cheek. Then he turned and left with Chad, who was already waiting outside in the car.

Chad drove very fast. Trees rushed past the car windows like streaks of colour. The sound of the engine roared in the air.

Jax sat stiff in the seat beside him, jaw tight, eyes dark as he thought about the situation.

"This doesn’t make any sense. How did they know Mari was with us?" Jax muttered after a while. "We’ve been very careful, and she’s never even stepped out of the house."

"They are the cartel. They can find out whatever they want, however. That’s exactly why you should’ve never agreed to hide Mari," Chad said angrily. "Now Venita is in danger because of you."

"That makes no sense," Jax snapped. "I’ve been more than careful. If only she hadn’t been stupid enough to leave the house because I fell out with Diva. I even got her guards to keep their eyes on her..." he trailed off when he realised he hadn’t heard from the guards watching her.

Immediately, he pulled out his phone and dialed fast while Chad glanced at him briefly.

"You have people keeping an eye on her?" Chad asked, but Jax didn’t respond. His focus was on his phone.

"Where is Venita?" Jax demanded the moment the call connected.

The reply was calm. "She’s inside her house, sir. She hasn’t gone out all day."

Jax stiffened. "I was told she was kidnapped."

"That’s not possible," the man said at once. "I saw her a moment ago when she opened the door for a pizza delivery guy."

"Are you sure about this? Confirm it," Jax said, and the line ended.

Five long minutes passed before Jax’s phone beeped with a text message.

He opened the message and relief flooded him when he saw it was a picture of Venita.

She wore a crop top and mini skirt and was talking to one of the porters at the entrance of the condo. She looked calm and completely safe.

Jax dialed fast. "When was that picture taken?"

"Just now. I made the porter call her out. As you can see, she’s absolutely fine."

"What about her friend, Diva? Are they together?"

"Yes."

Jax’s face darkened as he hung up. "Chad, turn the car. Diva lied."

Chad didn’t stop. He didn’t even slow down.

Jax turned to him sharply. "Did you hear me? Stop the car. This is either a prank or they’re up to something."

Still, Chad didn’t react.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Jax barked. "Turn the damned car around! I need to get down! Mari could be in danger!"

Chad’s eyes stayed on the road. "I told you yesterday," Chad said quietly, "that I’d do anything for our family. Anything to keep everyone safe."

"What are you talking about?" Jax growled.

"This is not about Venita," Chad said. "It’s all of us. We’re all in danger as long as you keep Mari hidden. You saw what they did to Dad. We lost Mum and Dad, I’m not going to lose either you or Venita or my own life for that matter. I only stayed quiet this long because I wanted you to enjoy some time with her knowing how you feel about her."

Jax’s eyes burned. "You know how I feel about her yet you pull this stunt? Are you fucking kidding me?"

"No, I’m not. I’ve let you play with her long enough only because I know how you feel. I hope you’ve had your fill," Chad said. "Because it’s time to hand her over to the cartel so they know we are in no way connected to her father and leave us alone."

Jax stared at him like he didn’t recognise his own brother anymore.

"Are you out of your mind?" Jax snarled.

"I’m not," Chad said without looking at him.

"You must be, because only a crazy fool would do what you’re doing right now." Jax pulled out his gun and pointed it at Chad.

"Do you have any idea how scared Venita has been? Do you know how traumatized she was following Dad’s murder? She has been seeing a fucking therapist. She lives in constant fear that we are going to get hurt too. The other day I was harassed by some of the cartel members."

"Stop the car," Jax said in a low, deadly tone. "Or I swear I’ll forget you’re my twin."

"Shoot me then," Chad said, voice flat as he glanced at Jax. "Go on, shoot your twin brother over a woman."

"I’m warning you, Chad, dont test me," Jax began.

When Chad still didn’t stop, Jax lunged, straight at the steering wheel.