The Last Sovereign

Chapter 4

“I will go to the Tezcatlipoca’s Crest of the Serengeti Sierras.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he processed Joshua’s words.

"Tezcatlipoca’s Crest?" he repeated, his voice carrying a hint of disbelief.

The Serengeti Sierras were nothing short of hostile territory, a land of rugged cliffs and untamed terrain on the southern border, infamous for its smuggling and drug cartels.

For anyone to willingly head there seemed reckless—borderline suicidal.

“Why would you want to go somewhere that dangerous?” Ethan couldn’t hide his unease.

Joshua looked at him, eyes cold and unyielding.

“I don’t have to explain myself to you, Ethan.” Joshua’s voice was level, calm.

“I’m only telling you because, technically, I’m still under investigation.” There was an unmistakable edge in the words, a reminder that this was a courtesy, not a request.

Ethan’s throat tightened. “Fine. Then I’m coming with you.” His tone was resolute. “You can’t head into the Sierras alone—it’s too dangerous.”

Joshua didn’t respond. With a dismissive glance at Ethan and the officers around them, Joshua rose and walked out of the precinct, leaving Ethan staring at the empty doorway.

The tension in Ethan’s chest slowly unwound as he watched Joshua leave, a tiny reprieve from the dread that had settled in since the start of the investigation.

But the relief didn’t last. A new thought took root, more unsettling than anything he’d imagined before. 

Who would have the power to orchestrate this, to turn the tables on someone as untouchable as Joshua?

Only someone with significant authority. Ethan’s mind flickered to the governor—recently re-elected, freshly endowed with political capital.

The state’s most powerful man might see Joshua as a liability now, a pawn to be discarded after years of service.

Ethan felt a wave of nausea; if the governor was truly behind this, then everything had just become far more dangerous.

He grabbed his phone, dialing quickly as he left the station.

“Sir,” he said the moment the Lieutenant Governor picked up. “They really took action against Joshua, making various accusations against him.”

“But Joshua’s moving out. I think he’s going south, towards the Sierras. If he’s got to be there, we need to mobilize backup or something, because if he’s out there alone, we’re all in trouble. Texpanse will be in chaos if Joshua’s taken out.”

The Lieutenant Governor’s silence on the line spoke volumes. “Understood,” he replied. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Ethan ended the call and broke into a brisk walk, adrenaline already coursing through his veins.

He had no idea what awaited Joshua in the Sierras, but he couldn’t let him go unprotected. By the time he reached his car, he had already formed a plan.

The late evening found Molly Anderson at the airport, a sleek black sedan waiting under the dim lights of the arrivals terminal.

She had spent hours preparing, donning an outfit as sharp as her intentions.

When Charlie Northridge appeared through the glass doors, a smile stretched across her face. He spotted her, giving a casual wave before striding over to the car.

“Charlie,” she greeted, “Hope you’re ready for a warm welcome. Thought I’d give you a taste of the good life here.”

He laughed, sliding into the passenger seat as she took the wheel.

“It’s good to see the Anderson family still knows how to treat their guests.” His eyes sparkled with excitement, thoughts already running ahead to the future.

Their destination was the best hotel in the city, a luxurious beacon in Texpanse’s heart.

Molly navigated the roads with ease, glancing at Charlie as they drove.

He was practically glowing; she didn’t need to ask why. The Anderson family’s ventures had flourished across the South, and now that influence had finally reached into Texpanse.

This was more than a business move for him. If he managed this right, he’d have his foot in the door of both commerce and state politics, laying the groundwork for an eventual run at Congress.

It was the start of an empire, the kind of career most men could only dream of.

He leaned back in the seat, a self-satisfied grin on his face.

“Anderson Enterprises really has made a name here. Once we finalize this, I’ll be able to take things to the next level.”

He glanced at her, a glint of ambition in his gaze. “After all, the South isn’t just a market—it’s an empire waiting to happen.”