Lots of trouble...

Chapter 16

Jade's phone buzzed with an incoming call. Few people had her personal number, so when she saw the blocked number flash across the screen, she answered without hesitation.

"Hello?" Her tone was firm, but her mind was already running through the possibilities of who it could be.

"Jade… It's Tori."

Jade's heart skipped a beat at the familiar voice, but the urgency in Tori's tone quickly grounded her. "Tori? What's going on?"

"I'm on the plane, the one heading back to Yerba. There's been an attempt on my life," Tori's voice was shaky, yet controlled. "I'm trapped, Jade. My night steward was murdered by mistake, poisoned."

Jade's pulse quickened, and she immediately shifted into action mode, rising from her desk aboard Air Force One. "Hang on, Tori." She pushed the door open to the corridor and headed towards the flying situation room. "You're telling me there's a threat on board with American citizens?"

"Yes," Tori confirmed, her voice tight with fear. "I don't know what else they've planned, but I don't feel safe. I'm worried about the others… and Trina, she's with me. She's trying to keep things under control, but…"

Jade burst into the situation room, her phone still pressed to her ear as she motioned for silence from her advisers. The tension in the room thickened as they realized the gravity of the situation.

"Give me a full briefing," she demanded, her eyes narrowing as she listened intently to Tori's recount of the events. Tori explained everything—the murder, the fear, the uncertainty of what the Yerbanian government might have planned once the plane landed.

Jade's advisers exchanged uneasy glances. The situation was delicate, and the consequences of interfering could be significant.

"What do we know about this?" Jade asked her team, though she kept her attention on the call.

The Joint Chiefs' Admiral spoke up, his voice cautious. "Madam President, if we interfere with a Yerbanian flight, it could be seen as an act of aggression. We need to weigh our options carefully."

Jade clenched her jaw, her mind racing. The thought of Tori in danger was unbearable, but she knew the risks involved. Still, she couldn't ignore the fact that American citizens were on board and in imminent danger.

Trina's voice came through the line, clear and commanding. "We've secured the body and sequestered the Yerbanian candidates," she informed Jade. "But we can't guarantee everyone's safety for much longer. We need help."

Jade's decision was made in an instant. She couldn't sit idly by while Tori, Trina, and the others were at risk. She locked eyes with the Admiral. "We're sending the Navy. Redirect the Yerbanian plane immediately."

There was a moment of hesitation, then a murmur of objections from some of the advisers, but Jade cut through the noise with a sharp command. "I don't care about the diplomatic fallout. I will not stand by and let American lives be threatened. Send the order."

The Admiral, seeing the resolve in Jade's eyes, nodded curtly and turned to relay the orders. The room buzzed with activity as the Navy was mobilized to redirect the plane.

"Chancellor, we're sending help," Jade said, her voice steady. "Just hang in there."

"Thank you, Madame President," Tori whispered, the relief evident in her tone. "I knew you'd come through."

Jade's heart clenched at the trust in Tori's words. "We'll get you out of this," she promised, her voice softer now. "Stay safe."

As the call ended, Jade stood in the situation room, the weight of her decision settling over her. She knew the risks, knew the potential consequences, but for Tori—for the woman she still loved—there was no other choice.

The air inside the plane felt thick with tension. Tori's eyes remained fixed on the fighter jet outside her window, its presence both reassuring and terrifying. The US Navy was redirecting the flight to Germany, an unspoken signal that everything had spiraled out of control. But even with the jet flying beside them, the safety it promised felt distant, out of reach.

A sudden commotion broke the silence in the cabin. Tori turned her head, heart pounding, as voices rose in heated argument.

Carlos Vicente, one of Tori's closest advisers, stood chest-to-chest with another of her staff. His face was red with anger, his voice a low growl as he tried to keep the situation from escalating.

"You don't understand," Carlos said, stepping in front of the other adviser, blocking his path. "You're not getting near her."

"Move," the man snarled, his hand dipping to his waist. A gun.

Carlos lunged to stop him, but the adviser was faster. There was a flash of movement, then the deafening crack of a gunshot echoed through the cabin.

Tori's heart dropped. *No.*

Carlos staggered back, clutching his stomach, his eyes wide with shock. Blood bloomed across his shirt, a deep crimson stain spreading rapidly as he crumpled to the floor.

"Carlos!" Trina's scream pierced the air as chaos erupted. Her security detail immediately tackled the shooter, slamming him to the ground. More guards quickly surrounded the other advisers, restraining anyone who posed a threat. In seconds, they had the situation under control, but the damage was done.

Tori froze in her seat, watching as Trina rushed to Carlos' side. The scene felt surreal, like she was watching it all unfold from a distance.

"No, no, no, no!" Trina cried, dropping to her knees beside Carlos, pressing her hands against his wound to stop the bleeding. Her hands were trembling, her face pale with fear. "Carlos, stay with me! Don't you dare leave me!"

Carlos coughed, his breaths shallow and ragged. His hand weakly reached for Trina's, his bloodstained fingers brushing against hers. "I... I found Aneka," he rasped, his voice barely audible. "She... she was poisoned. I couldn't... stop it..."

Tori's stomach twisted. *Aneka. Poisoned.* The realization hit her like a punch to the gut. Carlos had been the one standing between her and the countless threats, thwarting attempt after attempt on her life. And now he was bleeding out, all because he'd tried to protect her one last time.

"You've been saving me this whole time," Tori whispered, kneeling beside him, tears stinging her eyes. "Carlos... you've done more than enough. You don't have to fight anymore."

Trina's tears flowed freely, her voice shaking as she spoke. "The kids are safe, Carlos," she whispered, her hands still pressing against the wound, trying to keep him with her. "They're on their way to the US right now. They're safe. You just need to hold on, okay? You need to get better so they can meet their dad. They need you. I need you."

Carlos' eyes flickered, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "The kids..." he murmured, his voice fading. "You... kept them safe..."

Trina nodded frantically, her tears dripping onto his chest as she leaned over him. "Yes, yes, they're safe. And they're waiting for you. So you need to stay with me, okay?"

Carlos coughed again, wincing in pain as his body shuddered. His eyes were glassy, his breathing labored, each breath seeming to take more effort than the last.

"I wanted... us," Carlos whispered, his words barely audible. "Wanted... to be there..."

"You will be," Trina insisted, her voice thick with emotion. "You're going to be there for them. For me. We're going to get through this, Carlos. Just hold on."

But Carlos' body began to slacken, his breathing growing more and more shallow. His hand slipped from Trina's, falling limply to his side.

"No," Trina sobbed, shaking her head in disbelief. "No, no, no! Carlos, don't do this!"

Tori gently placed a hand on Trina's shoulder, her own heart breaking as she watched her sister fall apart.

"He's unconscious," Tori whispered, her voice thick with sorrow. "He... he might still make it. But we need to get him help. Now."

Trina looked down at Carlos, her face a mask of anguish, her hands still pressed against his wound. The blood had stopped flowing as quickly, but the damage was done.

Guided safely to the ground, the plane touched down at the military base in Germany with a heavy thud, the tension inside the cabin still palpable. As soon as the doors opened, Carlos Vicente was rushed out on a stretcher, his face pale and body weak from the blood loss. Trina was right behind him, her face set in a mask of worry, barking orders to her security detail as they surrounded her and cleared a path to the awaiting hospital transport.

"Keep pressure on the wound!" she shouted to one of the medics, her voice shaking despite her attempts to remain composed. Her eyes never left Carlos, who had fallen unconscious shortly after the scuffle on the plane. She could still hear the gunshot ringing in her ears, see the panic on his face as he stumbled, trying to protect her in those final moments.

Trina leaned down beside him, her hand brushing lightly over his. "You need to hold on, Carlos," she whispered. "The kids are safe. They're on their way to the States. But you need to get better so we can take them to meet their dad, okay? You promised them that."

His chest rose and fell weakly, but there was no response. The urgency in Trina's voice faltered for just a moment, her emotions creeping up, but she didn't let them overwhelm her. He had been her rock, a man who had infiltrated the opposition to protect her sister from the inside, thwarting attempt after attempt on Tori's life. He didn't deserve this.

As the medics wheeled him into the waiting vehicle, Trina followed, flanked by her detail. She kept her composure, knowing that showing any weakness now wouldn't help anyone—not Carlos, not her sister, and not the team that still had to deal with the fallout from the assassination attempt.

Meanwhile, Tori was escorted out of the plane under heavy German military guard. Her hands were clasped behind her back, though she remained calm and upright, her gaze sharp as she assessed the situation. Despite the circumstances, she exuded an air of authority, the weight of her position as the head of Yerba never leaving her shoulders, even now.

She was led to a separate holding area away from the assassins, who had been rounded up and secured by US and German forces. As she walked, she could hear the murmurs of the German troops around her, unsure whether to treat her as a dignitary or a criminal. It was a line she had grown used to walking. Tori was no stranger to the complications of power.

Inside the secured room, Tori was seated at a cold metal table, her back straight as she addressed the contingent of German officers standing in front of her. "I assume you're waiting for the Americans to arrive," she said calmly. "But I'll save us all some time and give you the intelligence I've gathered. Whoever tried to kill me today wasn't working for the people. They're a faction—well-funded, organized, but they're not a reflection of the general populace."

One of the officers frowned, his arms crossed over his chest. "What proof do you have?"

Tori sighed, leaning forward slightly. "I've implemented economic reforms, redistribution efforts, and social programs that have raised living standards across Yerba. The people support me. The opposition, on the other hand, has been trying to undermine me since day one. What you need to understand is that this isn't a civil uprising—this is a coup attempt orchestrated by those who fear losing power. And they're not stopping at me. They're coming for everything."

The officer exchanged glances with his colleagues. "If you didn't know about the assassination attempt, how do we know you're telling the truth now?"

Tori's eyes hardened. "I didn't know because the faction has gone underground. Carlos Vicente, my adviser, was the one who found the plot about poisoning me. He's been working tirelessly to protect me from the inside. But even he didn't know who the real players are behind this. They're ghosts—shadow figures using the chaos to push their agenda."

The German officer remained silent, considering her words. Tori leaned back, her gaze unwavering.

"I know I'm not perfect," she continued. "But I'm not a tyrant. The people aren't the ones trying to kill me. This opposition, whoever they are, is using fear, propaganda, and manipulation to destabilize the region. And now, they've escalated to assassination attempts. I'm telling you, this is bigger than just me or my country."

Another officer cleared his throat. "We will wait for the Americans to arrive and review your intelligence."

Tori nodded. "Do what you need to, but the longer we wait, the more dangerous this becomes. I hope your leaders understand that this isn't just about saving me. It's about stopping the collapse of Yerba—and possibly something much larger."

She leaned forward, her voice steady and cold. "I didn't choose this fight. But I'll finish it."