The Billionaire's Mistake

MISTAKE 165

Chapter 165: The police set a trap

Anya didn't put up even a token protest, merely inclining her head in acquiescence. Truth be told, the thought of reclining on one of the plush sofas in their mahogany-paneled sitting room held immense appeal right about now. Perhaps she could sneak in yet another restorative nap with Daniel's soothing presence beside her... She was just rising from her chair, intent on following her husband back inside, when her phone buzzed with an incoming text notification from Emma's number. A frown etched her brow as she quickly scanned the message:

"Did you hear from the police? Martin woke up. Just got a call from the cops about him claiming Gina trying to off him. Would it be wrong if I laugh?"

Sucking in a sharp breath, Anya felt her lingering weariness dissipate as her mind was forced to confront the familial drama she'd tried to put from her mind. Of course Emma would be irate that she hadn't been immediately looped in on the update regarding their stepmother's apparent attempt on Martin's life.

"Everything okay?" Daniel's concerned voice broke through her distracted reverie.

"It's...nothing, really," Anya hedged, forcing a tight smile. "Just my sister overreacting to some nonsense with our stepmother, as usual. I'll fill her in later once I have all the details straight."

-

It wasn't a total lie any situation involving Martin and Gina was usually rife with overblown hyst Daniels from someone. With a shake of her head, Anya tucked her phone away and reached to slip her arm through the crook of Daniel's elbow. "Come, my love," she said, purposefully affecting a tone of nonchalance. "You're right - a bit

f rest and relaxation is just what I need to recharge this afternoon."

If Daniel suspected her abrupt subject change was avoidance, he gave no outward indication. Squeezing her hand in silent support, he turned and guided her back inside their sanctuary,

that still insisted on haunting

away

the makeshift command center the police had established. Detectives Carr and Ruiz pored over the case files one final time, ensuring every contingency had been meticulously planned for the operation ahead. "All right, people, listen up," Carr addressed the assembled team of officers. "We have strong reason to believe an assassin has been contracted to finish the job on Martin Jones while he's still recovering here. The wife, Gina Jones, is

nodded towards his partner, who took over the briefing. "Our best intel suggests the attempt will be made sometime after shift change at

wait; we'll have an officer portraying Jones in his original room, with the rest of our unit strategically positioned as harmless

with an assessing glance. "Our target is likely a professional, so we have to be on high alert. Chances

H

over comms, is that clear? We

himself a grim smile of satisfaction. He'd overseen enough of these high-stakes stings in his years on the

this circus on the road. I want everyone in position by

that followed seemed to drag by interminably. The staged hospital room had been carefully prepared, with one of the burlier plainclothes officers assuming the role of the unconscious Martin Jones tucked beneath the starchy linens. Several others had adopted roles as night staff - nurses, janitors, even a phlebotomist prepping to draw blood samples

had settled in a private waiting room just down the corridor from Jones's room. Posing as a worried family member, he would be perfectly placed to make the bust once their mark inevitably took the bait. His

people," he muttered under his breath, keying his comms unit. "We're in

a concerned relative whiling away the long hours of the night. He could only imagine the tension gripping the officer laying

if their intel had been compromised somehow, the faintest sound of footsteps reached his ears...footsteps that seemed

to tense up even as his hand strayed towards the concealed holster beneath his jacket. The footfalls continued advancing until they reached the door of Jones's room...paused for

allow a whisper of sound to reach Carr's ears - the unmistakable crinkle of

M

into his comms, already

the wards Jones's