Chapter 26
Emily’s POV
When I woke up, the world around me was a blur of confusion and pain. My head throbbed with a dull, persistent ache, and as I blinked to clear my vision, I realized I was in an unfamiliar room. The stark light overhead made everything seem even more surreal.
coarse
My wrists ached, and as I tried to move, I felt the ropes biting into my skin, binding me tightly to a chair. Panic flared in my chest as I struggled against the restraints, but they only dug deeper, cutting off any hope of escape.
A low chuckle drew my attention, and I froze, my eyes locking onto the figure seated a few feet away. The man wore a mask that obscured his face, only his cold, dark eyes visible through the slits.
He held a bottle of liquor in one hand, sipping casually as if he were enjoying a quiet evening at home. The sight of him sent a shiver down my spine.
“Who are you?” My voice trembled as I tried to sound braver than I felt. “What do you want?”
He looked at me, his eyes devoid of any warmth or mercy. “What do I want? I just want you dead, sweetheart.” The nonchalance in his tone made my blood run cold. There was no anger, no personal vendetta–just
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a chilling detachment that terrified me more than anything else.
“Why?” I forced the word out, my mind racing. “I have nothing. Killing me won’t accomplish anything. My family… they don’t care about me.”
He took another swig from the bottle, as if considering my words. Then he laughed a cruel, mocking sound. “Your family might not care, but someone does. Someone paid a hefty price to see you dead.”
I stared at him, stunned. “Paid? Who would pay to have me killed?”
He shrugged as if it didn’t matter. “Not my business to ask questions. I just do the job.”
I swallowed hard, fear gripping my heart. “Please, you don’t have to do this. If it’s money you want, I can-”
He cut me off with a sharp wave of his hand. “Money? You? Don’t make me laugh. I know you’re broke.”
The reality of my situation hit me like a ton of bricks. This wasn’t some random act of violence–someone had deliberately targeted me, someone with enough resources to hire a professional killer. But why? And who?
As he set the bottle down and pulled out a gleaming knife from his pocket, my pulse quickened. “How do you want to die?” he asked, his voice devoid of emotion.
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My mind raced, trying to find a way out. I couldn’t let this be the end- not like this. The ropes were tight, but not unbreakable. Summoning every ounce of strength I had, I leaned back hard, rocking the chair onto. its back legs.
With a loud crack, the wood splintered, and I fell backward onto the floor, the impact jarring but freeing me from the chair’s hold.
I scrambled to my feet, my head spinning from the sudden movement, but I couldn’t stop. I had to get out. The man cursed behind me, and I heard
him rush forward.
Just as he reached for me, I kicked out blindly, my foot connecting with his groin. He grunted in pain, doubling over, giving me a precious few seconds to make a break for it.
I dashed toward the door, my heart pounding in my chest. But before I could reach it, I felt a hand clamp around my ankle, yanking me off balance. I crashed to the floor, my chin hitting the ground hard enough to make my vision blur. Before I could recover, he was on top of me, pinning me down with a vice–like grip.
“You little bitch,” he snarled, slapping me hard across the face. The force of it sent stars exploding behind my eyes, but I couldn’t give up. I thrashed beneath him, desperate to get free, but he was too strong.
“Please, don’t do this,” I begged, my voice breaking. “I can get you money. Just let me go.”
He laughed darkly, the sound sending a chill down my spine. “You think
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Chapter 26
I’d believe that? You’re nothing,” he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. “I’ll make you scream before I end you.”
I felt the crushing weight of his body pressing down on me, his hands fumbling with my clothes, and a wave of terror unlike anything I’d ever known surged through me. Panic gripped me, my mind racing as I realized the horror of what was about to happen.
My fingers scrabbled against the floor, searching for anything I could use as a weapon.
And then I felt it–cold metal. The knife. It had slipped from his hand during the struggle. With a burst of adrenaline, I grabbed it and drove it into his leg as hard as I could.
He screamed in pain, recoiling enough for me to push him off. I scrambled to my feet, clutching the knife with trembling hands, ready to defend myself if he came at me again. But before he could, the front door burst open, and a strong man, with blood streaming down his forehead, charged in, followed by two other men.
The sight of them was both a relief and a shock. I knew they were going to save me. My attacker took one look at the reinforcements and bolted, limping as he fled. The two men pursued him, their footsteps echoing through the night as sirens blared in the distance.
I stood there, panting, the knife still clutched in my hand, unsure if I should feel relieved or terrified. The man called Matt approached me cautiously, his eyes filled with concern. “Are you okay?”
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Chaters
Before I could answer, more footsteps pounded up the stairs, and Keith and Frank burst into the room, both looking frantic. Keith’s eyes
immediately found mine, and I saw the fury in them as he rounded on Matt.
“What the hell happened? You were supposed to be watching her!” Keith yelled, his voice filled with a mix of anger and fear.
“I’m sorry boss,” Matt replied, his tone firm but respectful.
As they argued, I felt the adrenaline drain out of me, leaving me shaky and weak. The realization of how close I had come to death–again–hit me full force. I backed away from the commotion, my legs giving out as I sank onto the sofa, closing my eyes in a vain attempt to block out the chaos around me.
I heard Keith and Frank’s voices, but they seemed distant, drowned out by the pounding in my head. Their concern was evident, etched deeply on their faces, but I couldn’t move toward either of them.
As I sat there, my body aching and my mind a whirl of fear and confusion, one thought consumed me: Someone truly wants me dead. I had just narrowly escaped an attempt to rape and murder–how could this be happening to me?
