Chapter 337
Darkness.
Complete, suffocating darkness as fabric pressed against Irene’s eyes Her first thought wasn’t fear for herself–it was regret.
I wont get to tell Adam tonight. The realization hit harder than expected, followed by a wave of panic. The kids. Who’ll look after them if I don’t make it home?
She tried to scream, but the cloth between her teeth muffled everything. The car lurched forward, tires screeching as it sped away
from the medical center.
Her heart pounded wildly, each beat a desperate plea for escape. With her sight gone, everything else became painfully sharp-~ cigarette smell clinging to the seats, rough hands grabbing her arms men breathing quietly beside her.
A phone rang twice before someone picked up.
“Got her,” a man said flatly. “On our way now.”
Her hands, tied behind her back, fought against the bindings. Irene dug her nails into her palms, the sharp pain helping clear her head when panic threatened to take over.
Keep it together. Notice everything. Your chance will come.
From a second–floor window, Jennifer watched it all happen, breath fogging the glass. She almost dropped her phone when she saw Irene being shoved into the car.
The shock lasted only seconds before something colder took its place. Her eyes narrowed as the car disappeared from view.
“Well,” she whispered, lips curving into a smile. “Looks like karma finally showed up.”
She should call someone. Raise the alarm. Do anything.
Instead, she snapped the blinds shut.
“Too bad,” she muttered, grabbing her purse. “Matthew’s going to be heartbroken.” The thought gave her a little thrill. With Irene gone, she’d have a clear shot at him again. Funny how problems sometimes fixed themselves.
She flicked off the light and walked away, her heels clicking down the empty hallway.
In the car, Irene tracked everything. Right turn. Straight for a while. Left turn. Smooth road that felt like a highway. Her mind tried to map where they were taking her despite the darkness.
After what seemed forever, the car slowed and hit rough ground. Gravel crunched under the tires before they stopped.
Doors slammed open. Hands yanked her out. Her legs, numb and tingling, almost gave out as they pushed her forward.
Cold night air washed over her face, carrying the smell of rust and dirty water. When they tore off the blindfold, she blinked in the dim light of an abandoned factory. Peeling paint. Huge shadowy machines. Empty spaces where workers once stood.
“Job done,” one guy said, pushing her toward another group waiting nearby. Then her original kidnappers vanished like they’d never been there.
The new crew shoved her into a chair in what looked like an old office. A camera watched from the corner. In front of her, a screen came on, showing the fancy private area of Luxury Vista Hotel.
1/3
Chapter 337
The fear in her gut hardened to anger. This wasn’t some random attack. Someone had planned it all.
Across town, Victor lounged in his private booth, drink in one hand and the other around a stunning blonde. His money troubles seemed to fade with each sip.
“keep our guest comfortable,” he said into his phone with a cold smile. “She’s no good to us damaged.
He hung up and dialed again, looking pleased with himself.
Meanwhile, Adam checked his watch again. Eight–thirty. Irene was thirty minutes late–something that had never happened before. She was always on time, down to the minute.
He called again, Voicemail.
Irene, it’s me. Call back.”
A knot formed in his stomach–worry, he realized. Not a feeling he was used to. Thomas walked in, eyebrows raised in question.
“Nothing yet,” Adam said tightly.
His phone lit up with Victor’s name. He almost ignored it before something made him answer.
“Not now,” he started.
“Luxury Vista, private lounge,” Victor interrupted, sounding annoyingly cheerful. “Come have a drink. Bring a pen.”
“I don’t have time for-”
“Oh, I think you do.” A pause. “Aren’t you wondering where your doctor is tonight?”
The room suddenly felt ice–cold. Adam’s grip tightened around his phone..
“What have you done?” His voice dropped dangerously low.
A photo appeared on his screen–Irene tied to a chair, lab coat ripped, eyes fierce with rage instead of terror.
“Want to see her again?” Victor mocked. “Better be smart about this. One hour.”
The call ended with a click.
Adam was already heading for the door. “Thomas!”
12
His assistant hurried over. “What’s wrong?”
“Victor’s got Irene.” The words came out sharp and cold, masking the rage building inside him. “Get security to Emerald Garden. Check on the kids and Joseph. Nobody in or out unless I say so,”
Thomas’s jaw dropped. “Should we call her family? The cops?”
“Not yet.” Adam’s mind ran through every possibility. “Victor’s after something. Bring in outsiders and he might do something stupid. We play along for now.”
Thomas nodded, already on his phone as they headed out.
“And Thomas,” Adam added, voice dropping low, “find out who helped him. Every single person. I want all of them.”
2/3
Chapter 337
The fear in her gut hardened to anger. This wasn’t some random atack. Someone had planned it all.
Across town, Victor lounged in his private booth, drink in one hand and the other around a stunning blonde. His money troubles seemed to fade with each sip.
Keep our guest comfortable,” he said into his phone with a cold smile. “She’s no good to us damaged.”
He hung up and dialed again, looking pleased with himself.
Meanwhile, Adam checked his watch again. Eight–thirty, liene was thirty minutes late–something that had never happened before. She was always on time, down to the minute. ;
He called again. Voicemail.
“Irene, it’s me. Call back.”
A knot formed in his stomach–worry, he realized. Not a feeling he was used to. Thomas walked in, eyebrows raised in question.
“Nothing yet,” Adam said tightly..
His phone lit up with Victor’s name. He almost ignored it before something made him answer.
“Not now,” he started.
“Luxury Vista, private lounge, Victor interrupted, sounding annoyingly cheerful. “Come have a drink. Bring a pen.”
“I don’t have time for-”
“Oh, I think you do.” A pause. “Aren’t you wondering where your doctor is tonight?”
The room suddenly felt ice–cold. Adam’s grip tightened around his phone.
“What have you done?” His voice dropped dangerously low.
w
A photo appeared on his screen–Irene tied to a chair, lab coat ripped, eyes fierce with rage instead of terror.
“Want to see her again?” Victor mocked. “Better be smart about this. One hour.”
The call ended with a click.
Adam was already heading for the door. “Thomas!”
His assistant hurried over. “What’s wrong?”
“Victor’s got Irene.” The words came out sharp and cold, masking the rage building inside him. “Get security to Emerald Garden. Check on the kids and Joseph. Nobody in or out unless I say so,”
Thomas’s jaw dropped. “Should we call her family? The cops?”
“Not yet.” Adam’s mind ran through every possibility. “Victor’s after something. Bring in outsiders and he might do something stupid. We play along for now.”
Thomas nodded, already on his phone as they headed out.
“And Thomas,” Adam added, voice dropping low, “find out who helped him. Every single person. I want all of them.”
2/3
Chapter 337
The hotel’s private lounge was all sleek lines and soft lighting, making the rich feel special just for being there. Adam rolled straight through the room, his security team clearing a path without a word,
Victor sat alone now, his blond companion nowhere to be seen. He smiled as Adam approached, pointing to the empty chair.
“There you are!” he said with fake warmth.
Adam’s face might have been carved from ice. “Where is she?”
Victor tapped a tablet, and the screen lit up. There was Irene, still tied up in what looked like some old building. Her eyes widened seeing Adam on her screen.
“Let’s make this simple,” Victor slid a thick document across the table. “Give me back my overseas operations. Drop all investigations. Sign here, and your doctor walks away.”
Adam didn’t touch the papers. “Show me she’s okay first.**
Victor nodded to someone offscreen. The camera moved, showing Irene from head to toe.
“Happy now?” Victor smirked. “Quite a catch. No wonder you’ve been so distracted.”
Adam said nothing, but his eyes stayed fixed on the screen where Irene watched everything, looking both angry and worried–for him, he suddenly realized.
“Clock’s ticking,” Victor said, tapping the contract. “Sign, and we all go home.”
Adam hesitated, looking at the papers.
“Need some encouragement?” Victor’s voice hardened. He spoke sharply into his phone: “Show him what happens if he doesn’t cooperate.”
On screen, someone grabbed Irene’s lab coat from behind and yanked hard. The fabric tore loudly.
“You assholes!” Irene fought against the ropes, pure fury in her eyes!
“Enough!” Adam snapped, real emotion finally breaking through.
Victor leaned back, looking pleased. “Thought that might work. You care about her more than you’re letting on.” He pushed the contract closer. “Sign it. You brought a pen like I asked, right?”
Adam looked slowly from the screen to Irene’s angry, defiant face. Their eyes met briefly through the connection. Something unspoken passed between them.
Then he looked down at the contract, his hand moving slightly toward his pocket.
Victor’s smile grew, already tasting victory.
Chapter Comments
