<b>Chapter </b><b>583 </b>


    The torchlight cast flickering shadows, lighting up the dark courtyard.


    When Sheldon saw the armed men storm in, heard them talk about searching for a woman, he knew immediately–they were after Caitlin.


    But she had just saved his wife’s life and delivered his child. There was no way he’d let them take her without a word. He stepped forward to block them. “Stop right there! What do you think you’re doing?”


    “Sheldon, that woman Caitlin attacked , disguised herself as her to escape, and killed the cook! The boss ordered us to bring her back immediately!” the patrol leader reported.


    Inside, Caitlin heard


    every word. She knew they had discovered her escape and wereing for her.


    She scanned the room for another way out. The only option was the window.


    Outside, Sheldon kept arguing. “If she’s escaped, then go after her! Why are you in my yard? Do you even realize my wife is in there giving birth right now? Idiots!”


    A newborn’s cry echoed from inside, but the patrol leader stood firm. “We know about the birth, but


    someone swears they saw that womane in here. Orders are orders, Sheldon. No offense.”


    They tried to push past him, but he blocked them again. “So the boss’s orders are orders, but mine


    aren’t?”


    Just then, a shout came from the side. “There! She’s climbing out the window!”


    “After her!”


    The men broke off and chased her. Caitlin ran until a massive boulder cut off her path.


    The patrol closed in, surrounding her.


    The torches lit every face clearly now. She was wearing ’s clothes, but her beauty was far beyond


    ’s.


    “Where do you think you can run? <b>This </b>ind is far beyond any national waters. Even if you could swim, you wouldn’t make it. We have men everywhere. You’ll never get away.”


    Noticing the curved de in her hand, the leader gave a mockingugh. “I’d advise you toe quietly<i>. </i>Our bullets don’t discriminate.”


    Outnumbered and outgunned, Caitlin lowered her weapon and allowed herself to be taken.


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    “Bring her back!”


    Bound, she was dragged before Raze.


    Sheldon, watching her marched away, hesitated–then decided he needed to follow. He didn’t have to make the choice; the patrol leader came for him. “Sheldon, since the fugitive came from your yard, the boss wants you to exin yourself in person.”


    “I’ll make it clear,” Sheldon replied grimly.


    The council hall was aze withmplight, Raze seated at the head.


    The patrol reported, “Boss, we’ve recaptured the woman.”


    “Bring her forward.”


    His expression was hard, simmering with anger.


    When Caitlin was shoved in, still dressed as , he sneered. “I knew you were clever. Didn’t think you were this clever. Do you even realize what you’ve done?”


    “I don’t,” she shot back.


    Raze gestured, and the real  was dragged in, forced to her knees, weeping. “Boss, please! I didn’t do anything, I swear! I knew nothing about this!”


    “You knew nothing? Then how did you swap clothes with her? How did she get out unless you were helping her? You know what happens to those who betray me!”


    “I didn’t! I just brought her food as usual. I didn’t betray you…”  sobbed.


    “Take her out and cut her down.”


    His cruelty was in in moments like this. Hearing her death sentence,  wailed in terror.


    Caitlin couldn’t stand it. “Let her go! She had nothing to do with this, I attacked her when she brought my food, stole her clothes, and escaped. She’s innocent.”


    Raze studied her, then waved for his men to release . The woman stumbled away, her emotions a


    storm.


    “Good,” he said coldly. He motioned, and the cook’s corpse was brought in. “And him? Did you kill him


    too?”


    “That’s right. He mistook me for  and tried to put his hands on me. I dealt with him. He got what he


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    deserved.”


    “Good. Very good. You’ve got guts.”


    He turned to his men. “Where’s Sheldon? Bring him here.”


    “Sheldon’s here!”


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    +23


    When Sheldon entered, Raze red. “This woman was found in your yard. Exin yourself. Were you trying to help her escape Crescent Ind?”


    “I had no idea she was there,” Sheldon answered. “My wife was inbor. I rushed home and didn’t even look twice. I thought the one helping with the birth was . She had on ’s clothes–I didn’t suspect a thing.”


    Raze trusted no one. This interrogation was to see if  and Sheldon were in on it. Satisfied they weren’t, his anger cooled–slightly.


    “Fine. Then today’s events are Caitlin’s alone. But for the sake of my n, I won’t risk her slipping away again. Lock her in the water cage.”


    It was a brutal punishment. The cage was submerged, damp, crawling with snakes, rats, and


    venomous insects.


    As they moved to take her, Sheldon spoke–up. “Let me say something. The water cage is filthy and swarming with vermin. If something happens to her, your n could be ruined.”


    Raze’s eyes narrowed. “You’re pleading for her? What is she to you?”


    “She’s nothing to me,” Sheldon replied, stepping forward. “But just now, when my wife was dying from a difficult birth, Caitlin saved her–and my child.


    “She owed me nothing, yet she gave up her chance to escape to save them. I can’t stand by and watch


    her be thrown to her death.


    “I’m not challenging your authority. I’m saying that when we men pursue great ambitions, we shouldn’t drag family and children into it. The innocent should never pay the price.”


    Silence fell.


    Everyone in the hall was stunned–Sheldon was openly defending a fugitive. Did he not care if he provoked the boss?


    Around them, the men could see the storm gathering in Raze’s expression. His anger was a living


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    thing, building toward an inevitable explosion.


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