Chapter 7
Then let out a muffled, panicked whimper.
“Wait–didn’t you just say you weren’t gonna touch me?”
“What the hell happened to that plan?!”
The bastard actually laughed.
“I don’t like an audience.”
Then he swung the bat.
Everything went black.
I drifted in and out of consciousness for what felt like hours.
The sound of the kidnapper’s voice yanked me fully awake.
The first thing I registered was the bone–deep chill and gnawing hunger.
My body trembled uncontrollably.
Fever. I was burning up.
Then, the memories came rushing back.
I turned my head.
Olivia lay beside me, barely clothed, her skin covered in bruises and red marks.
She stared blankly into space, unmoving.
The kidnapper was on the phone with Ryan.
“Got the five hundred grand?”
“Yeah. I got it.”
The second Ryan’s voice came through the speaker, Olivia snapped out of her trance.
She lurched forward, suddenly alive again, and screamed out an address.
Chapter ?
She didn’t get far.
The kidnapper clamped a hand over her mouth, cutting her off mid–sentence.
Then he cursed under his breath, hung up, and kicked her hard in the stomach.
She crumpled to the floor, gasping.
He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her upright.
“You backstabbing bitch.”
“Should’ve killed you last night.”
Olivia gave a weak, bloody smile.
“Who cares? We’ll all die anyway.”
The kidnapper’s patience snapped.
He knocked her out cold with a single blow.
Then he redialed.
His voice was sharp, furious.
“Wire the money to the account I gave you.”
“Five minutes. No payment, they both die.”
Ryan’s voice came through, low and urgent.
“Don’t do anything rash. You’ll get your money.”
“Listen–I’m saving Olivia. The girl with the curls.”
His words cut through me like ice.
Not because I was shocked.
But because I was pissed.
Who gave Ryan the right to decide my fate?
The kidnapper let out a satisfied grunt.
TheI
Th
Chapter
“Got it.”
He ended the call, grabbed a knife, and turned to me.
He knelt down, pressing the blade to my throat.
“You heard him. He’s not coming for you.”
I gave a slow nod.
Then let out a muffled whimper, tilting my head slightly in a plea.
The kidnapper took the bait.
He ripped the gag from my mouth and leaned in closer.
“Any last words?”
Our eyes locked.
I struck.
Hypnosis kicked in instantly.
Spending all night unconscious turned out to be a blessing–I had just enough strength left.
His pupils dilated.
His grip slackened.
I didn’t know how long I had.
I didn’t waste a second.
“Untie me.”
Like a puppet on strings, he obeyed.
The moment my wrists were free, I bolted.
Didn’t think. Didn’t look back. Just ran.
The building was abandoned, unfamiliar.
I had no idea where I was going.
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The Love That Arrived Too L
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Chapter 7
I just knew I had to get out.
I ran until I hit pavement.
Until headlights flooded my vision.
Until I was finally safe.
The police station was a blur.
But I saw him.
Daniel.
