The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover (Evelyn and Axel) novel Chapter 397

Chapter 397: Suspect!

Axel didn’t hesitate. "If I could build the Wright Group once and trust you to run it, I can do it again and assign someone..." His gaze was unwavering. "You focus on healing. I’ll handle the rest. No need to worry about it."

Ethan exhaled slowly, guilt flickering across his face. "You’re carrying too much because of me."

Axel stepped closer, his voice steady and unyielding. "That’s what family does."

Ethan fell silent, the weight of those words sinking deep into his chest—heavier than any wound, but somehow comforting.

"Thanks, Axel..." Ethan’s faint voice broke the heavy silence that had settled over the medical room. The words sounded sincere, and for a moment, even the steady hum of the machines seemed to pause.

Axel shook his head slowly, his expression unreadable. "Don’t thank me yet. This matter isn’t over." His eyes sharpened. "We still haven’t found the real mastermind who tried to kill you."

Ethan shrugs his shoulders, frustration flashing across his face. "Damn it... You’re right."

Before Axel could respond, his phone vibrated in his hand. He glanced down at the screen, his gaze tightening when he saw the name.

Collins.

Without hesitation, Axel answered and put the call on speaker. "You’re on."

"Boss, sorry," Collins’s voice came through immediately, slightly breathless. "It took me a few hours to find a solid clue."

"You’d better give me something worth those hours, Collins!" Axel said firmly.

Ethan smirked faintly, shifting slightly on the bed. "No pressure, man."

Collins cleared his throat. "Alright. That night, Ethan was attacked by two teams. The first was a local gangster group. Sloppy and not very organized. The second team was professional... foreign assassins, highly trained."

Axel frowned. "That’s it?" His tone carried unmistakable disappointment. "That’s what took you hours?"

Ethan couldn’t help it. He chuckled. "Yeah, Collins. We already figured that part out."

There was a pause on the line. Then Collins sighed heavily. "Can you both please let me finish before crushing my professional pride?"

"Sorry, man," Ethan replied, sobering instantly. "Go on."

"Thank you." Collins continued, his tone sharpening. "Here’s the important part. Both teams were hired by the same person."

Axel straightened. "One person?"

"Yes," Collins said firmly. "Blake Martinez."

The room seemed to freeze.

Ethan’s smile vanished instantly. His eyes darkened, anger flaring so fast it was almost visible. "What the fuck?" he snapped. "Why would Blake Martinez want me dead?"

There was a beat of silence before Collins spoke again, sounding genuinely puzzled. "Did you offend him somehow?"

Ethan let out a harsh laugh. "If I offended every powerful man who hated me, I’d need a longer list than your database."

Then Collins muttered, half to himself, "Oh, fuck..."

Axel’s gaze sharpened as he stared at his cell phone. "What?"

Collins inhaled slowly. "Did he know about the secret task? The one involving his daughter?"

The air in the room dropped several degrees.

Axel and Ethan locked eyes.

Neither of them spoke.

For a moment, the only sound was the rhythmic beeping of the monitor beside Ethan’s bed.

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