Ted's eyes went cold. He gave a wink, and the man near Madeline injected her with anesthetic drugs. Before she could finish the sentence, she felt a pain in the back of her neck and fainted directly.
Ted surrounded him. They asked in a low voice, "Head, what to do now?"
Joshua had the upper hand, but whichever side they joined, it would tip the balance.
Ted looked darkly in the direction of the gunshot before his face became subtle.
Both Simon and Joshua wanted him to die. It seemed that over the years, he had been such a failed father that his own sons hated him like this.
Maybe... The explosion was also a good opportunity. If they didn't want him to exist globally, he would do what they wanted.
"Let's go." Ted's eyes fell on the bodyguard and Madeline. His face suddenly turned cold. "Take them with you."
If they were left, his plan to feign death would not be able to succeed.
A group of people quietly left with the injured bodyguard and unconscious Madeline.
***
On the airport apron, the special squad Joshua dispatched had completed the mission smoothly.
The planes had been destroyed, and Joshua's men had caught up with the kidnappers; the situation had been settled.
Joshua raised his hand slightly, and the shots died away. Now, these people were sitting ducks, but Joshua thought he needed to watch out if the other party would still struggle.
Then Joshua's men began to shout, persuading the other side to give up the resistance.
Suddenly, a man who seemed to be the leader stepped forward and shouted, "Joshua, look, who is she?!"
With that, a woman was pushed forward.
Joshua's pupils shrank instantly at the sight of the woman! It was none other than Stacy Sloane!
Gunshots rang out beside her, but she still looked dazed as a fine porcelain doll.
Joshua felt stifled in his heart. He raised his hand quickly, and the shooting stopped instantly.
Stacy had suffered so much that he didn't want to put her in danger anymore.
"Let her go, and I'll let you go!" Joshua said in a deep tone. His eyes fell on the leading man wearing a mask on his face, who looked no longer young.
Joshua furrowed his eyebrows tightly. He did not like people who were so sneaky because it could easily remind him of Simon. He felt that this person should have something to do with Simon for some reason.
"Hum! Do you think I believe you?!" The leading man sounded heartless, "Joshua Denmark, I want to kill you!"
Joshua's eyes darkened. "Fine, I'll be your hostage instead of her."
There was a silence as if the marked man could not believe that Joshua would actually make such a request. It was a perfect proposal for them.
"Master Denmark," said a man beside Joshua as he became worried instantly, "you can't go! They said they wanted to kill you..."
"Don't worry," Joshua explained in a low voice. "They want to kill me, but they're not going to do that now. If anything happens to me, never let them go so that they can never leave. But if they let me stay and they hold me hostage, they can leave. As long as they are not stupid, they will not do anything to me at this moment."
Joshua' guess was pretty much what the masked man thought. He knew that if Joshua was willing to act as a hostage, he could get out safely. If Joshua was in his hands, he could torture Joshua slowly even if he kept alive.
Whatever he thought about it, it was a great deal. But the masked man hesitated. He knew better than anyone that Joshua, his opponent, was not a pushover.
"Good!" The masked man finally made up his mind. He wanted Joshua's life, but he didn't want to die here.
***
A few speedboats galloped at full speed and berthed quickly at the harbor.
Hazel rushed down from the speedboat. Simon hurried to chase her and grabbed her arm. "Pumpkin, don't worry..."
"Let me go!" Hazel shook off his hand and looked at him with a cold face. "I agreed to take your boat, but I didn't promise that I'll obey you!"
Simon's eyes grew darker.
James had secretly instructed the pilot to slow down the helicopter, so Simon caught up with Hazel when he took the speedboat.
He spent a lot of time explaining to her that he didn't betray Joshua, but she still didn't trust him.
In the end, James said that the island was very dangerous and that if they went there by helicopter, the target would be too obvious, and they might become an easy target and hold Joshua back, so Hazel agreed to go aboard Simon's speedboat.
"The island is very dangerous now. Haven't you heard gunshots before?" Simon said helplessly, "Can't you believe me for once?"
"Aren't the gunshots caused by your uncle?" She looked at him coldly. "Simon King, how can I trust you? Would you choose Joshua between your uncle and Joshua?!"
To gain Hazel's trust, Simon did not hide his speculation. So Hazel had already figured out that the man who took Stacy away to threaten Joshua was probably Ian Flores's subordinates!
The current situation was very disadvantageous for Joshua. She knew Joshua too well. Even though he pretended that he didn't care about his family, he cared about his relationship with them more than anyone else. As long as Stacy was around, he would be on the defensive.
Simon and Joshua were merely partners, but Ian Flores, who attacked Joshua, was Simon's uncle! Plus, what Ian was doing was obviously for Simon's good as he tried to kill Joshua for Simon. Under such circ.u.mstances, how could she trust Simon?
Even if Simon really did not know his uncle's plan, who could guarantee that Simon wouldn't turn against Joshua after meeting with his uncle?
Simon's eyes dimmed. Although he could understand Hazel's feelings, he was still sad that she didn't trust him at all.
"I'll help Joshua. Trust me." Simon promised with a solemn face. "I swear by my dead mother."
Hazel froze, looking at him in disbelief.
Simon's dead mother should be the past he did not want to mention, but now, he actually said such a severe oath that she could really not leave like this.
"We don't know anything about this island, Hazel," James said in time. "It's too dangerous to act alone. I suggest continuing following Simon."