CHAPTER 227: CHAPTER 227 FAILED PLANS, NEW SCHEMES

Howard’s POV

I sat in my hideout, plotting how I’d handle Draven’s pup once I got my hands on him.The anticipation had my blood pumping. Then the door flew open and slammed shut as that idiot Kai burst in, looking like he’d seen a ghost.

"Evil One, we’re totally fucked!" Kai’s eyes were wide with panic.

I jumped from my chair. "What the hell happened now? Where’s your friend with the baby?"

"Well, Evil One..." Kai fidgeted nervously. "The whole operation went south!"

"What?" I stared at him blankly.

"It flopped! Failed! Crashed and burned! Went sideways!" Kai threw his hands up dramatically. My wolf growled in my mind, annoyed by this fucking idiot and his stupidity.

I stepped toward him, fists clenched. "What exactly went wrong, you worthless piece of shit?"

"So Elisa grabbed the crying pup. Then this security guard came after her, and I whacked him with a piece of wood." Kai demonstrated the motion proudly.

"We split up ’cause Elisa thought it’d be less suspicious. But then all the hospital exits locked down and they announced some code pink over the speakers. I didn’t know what that meant, but suddenly everyone was searching every corner of the place. I managed to slip into a supply closet and change clothes. When the doors finally unlocked, I bolted, but I saw Elisa being dragged away in cuffs."

My rage was building with each word. "How could this happen? You cased the place, we planned everything meticulously, you even stole an ID badge. What went wrong?"

"We didn’t count on that jacked investigator being there!" Kai said defensively, hands on his hips.

"Explain."

"Heard a nurse say it was lucky some buff investigator showed up to visit right after Elisa disappeared with the pup. They locked down the whole place before she could escape with the baby boy."

"Son of a bitch!" I slammed my fist against the wall. "Nothing ever goes right! And why the hell did you come HERE? Aren’t the investigators hunting you?"

Kai puffed out his chest. "No way, Evil One! I’m slick as hell. Got out clean as a whistle."

"This fool will get us both caught," my wolf snarled.

"Shut up," I told him. "I need to think."

"Won’t your little friend rat us out?" I asked anxiously.

"Nah! Elisa’s solid. Besides, she doesn’t even know my real name. To her, I’m the Joker! Like Batman’s nemesis. Pretty sick nickname, right, Evil One?"

I rubbed my temples. How did someone this spectacularly stupid end up in organized crime?

"She knows where I’m hiding, genius. She’s been here," I reminded him.

"Chill, Evil One. I’ve handled everything. Called my contact, lawyer ’Dr. Dope,’ and sent him to tell Elisa to keep quiet and she’ll get something nice later." Kai dropped into a chair, looking smug. "You know how it is, Evil One. I’m a gangster, damn!"

I seriously doubted that.

"And this ’Dr. Dope’—did he actually understand his instructions, or was he high?" I struggled to keep my voice calm.

"Ha! That dude’s always high. Like, even when he’s not high, he’s high. You feel me?"

Even Kai looked confused by his own statement.

I collapsed into my chair, head in hands. "Just go home. Let me think. I need to completely revamp our plan."

"Hey, Evil One, I could get some guys to snatch the pup at their house. Heard the whole family’s leaving the hospital today. Might be easier there," Kai suggested.

That caught my attention. "They got discharged?"

"Yeah, overheard a nurse say the doctor’s letting them take the little pups home."

Perhaps this idiot had finally said something useful. It might actually be easier at the house, security notwithstanding.

"I’ll consider it. Now go home," I sighed. Barely thirty minutes with him and I was exhausted.

"Alright then, Evil One. Call if you need anything. I’ll stop by tomorrow." Kai stood to leave.

"Bring me some supplies tomorrow," I called after him.

"Sure thing, boss. Send me a list." He paused at the door with a sleazy grin. "Need a hottie to help release some tension? I can arrange that too."

As Kai disappeared, I wondered if he was a gangster, con man, or pimp. Maybe all three and good at none.

I’d barely had a minute to myself when his head popped back through the doorway.

"Hey, Evil One?"

"What now?" I couldn’t even summon the energy to yell.

"You’re a cool partner, damn. We’re vibing like the Dynamic Duo! Real villains causing havoc together!" His eyes gleamed with childish excitement.

I wanted to cry. "The Dynamic Duo is Batman and Robin, you moron. They’re heroes, not villains."

"We’re more like Dumb and Dumber," my wolf commented dryly.

"Oh right, my bad!" Kai laughed, giving me some ridiculous chest-bump-and-point gesture. "Don’t want me to send Stephany over? She’s young but experienced,gives amazing head. Keep you relaxed."

"No, I want to be alone to think. Now GO!"

"I’m in hell, and the devil’s assistant is brainless," I thought as the door finally closed.

The next day, Kai brought me everything I’d asked for, bugging me about what I was planning to do. I avoided his questions, saying I was still working it out, and got rid of him as fast as I could. Then I went out to watch the Storm Valley Pack house. I had been in and out of that house many times before, so I knew about some of the secret passages.

For days, I watched the house and worked out my plan. I noticed they had three nannies. One lived there full-time. Another stayed during weekdays. The third one drove herself to work every day in her own car.

She would be my way in. I’d follow her home and force her to help me. Then I’d use her to get inside the house. I knew I’d have to work alone because their head of security was good at his job.

After a week of surveillance, something unexpected happened. Draven left the house with Caroline. That was strange. She hadn’t gone anywhere since I scared her at the mall, except to the hospital and for the birth. When I saw them driving to the Alpha Council building, I knew something was wrong.

"We need to accelerate the timeline,"my wolf urged. For once, I agreed with him.

Back at my hideout, I reviewed the plan repeatedly. I would infiltrate the mansion, subdue and restrain everyone, force Draven to transfer funds to my four untraceable offshore accounts, then make him arrange a private jet for my escape. I’d take him and one pup as insurance, then eliminate them both at the hangar before flying off to live like royalty abroad.

Maybe I’d even have some fun with Caroline first. I’d glimpsed her from afar,she’d kept her figure surprisingly well after delivering four pups at once.

I leaned back in my chair, grinning as I pictured Draven’s face when he finally figured out who had been destroying his life. The man he had ignored, pushed aside, and refused to give what he deserved. Soon, very soon, I would have my revenge. His money, his woman, and the pure joy of watching him lose everything before I killed him.

Everything was falling into place perfectly. Storm Valley Pack would collapse without its precious Alpha. And I, Howard, would crawl out of this mess richer than I ever dreamed. Finally free from the pack that never saw how valuable I really was.

Draven Thorne’s perfect little life was about to end. And I was going to love every second of watching it burn.