Chapter 1097:

Darkness clouded Johnny’s face. “Who are you? How do you know so much about my family?”

Jayden cracked a slight smile. “Because I was the architect of Charlie’s downfall.”

Johnny stood immobile, his eyes locked on Jayden. The news hit him like a thunderclap; he struggled to grasp its full impact. After a prolonged silence, uncertainty flickered across his face. “Could you be Jayden Owen? The traitor who backstabbed Charlie?”

With a slight lift of his eyebrow, Jayden responded, a touch of irony in his tone, “It seems my reputation precedes me.”

Fury overtook Johnny. His voice rose to a shout. “Damn you! If it weren’t for your betrayal, my brother, my sister-in-law, and I wouldn’t be in this nightmare. You’ve wrecked everything, you damned bastard!”

As Johnny lunged, Jayden smoothly stepped aside and retorted with a smirk, “Why the anger? Imagine breaking free from Charlie’s clutches to run your own life.”

Johnny seethed. “Bad? You’re kidding! Killing was lucrative; it lined our pockets. Now look at us—all thanks to you. I swear, I’ll kill you.” With a furious howl, Johnny charged.

In one fluid motion, Jayden drew a gun and fired, striking Johnny squarely in the chest. Collapsing, Johnny clutched at his chest, gasping, “How… how did you get a gun?”

Jayden held the gun aloft, its metal glinting coldly. “I found it in the motel. Notice the crest? It belonged to your faction.”

Gritting his teeth in agony, Johnny rasped, “Damn! My vengeance won’t end here.”

With a cold snort, Jayden waved the gun dismissively. “Vengeance? As you descend into hell, give my regards to the souls you wronged. See if they’re as forgiving.”

Enraged and in pain, Johnny spat blood and succumbed to his injuries. Jayden, smirking, mused on the irony of encountering Charlie’s followers at a mere motel. His luck was indeed cursed.

Jayden stowed his gun and headed back to the car, only to find Elyse curled up under a small blanket, shivering uncontrollably. Seeing her like that, he couldn’t resist a mischievous plan.

Suddenly, he grabbed her ankle and declared, “Gotcha!” Elyse’s scream pierced the silence, quickly followed by muffled sobs.

In that moment, Jayden realized his joke had gone too far. He quickly yanked back the blanket and, seeing her crying and shielding her face, hastened to clarify, “It’s just me. I’ve taken care of all the threats. There’s no need to be scared.”