Chapter 39 I LOVE YOU, ADELINE!
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ADELINE
I was sitting on the cold wooden floor, my knees pulled tightly to my chest. My chest heaved up and down and I was exhausted, my attempts to escape having failed miserably.
My arms trembled as I hugged myself, the frustration and fear weighing heavily on me. I wanted to run away. To get out of here quickly. The silence in the room was maddening, the ticking of an old clock the only sound accompanying my racing thoughts.
I did not know if my family or Luciano would be able to find me because even I did not know where I was. It was too dark outside for me to even see anything.
Two hours had passed since Asher had left me alone. I had screamed, banged on the walls, tried every possible way to unlock the door, but nothing worked. Now, I sat slumped in defeat. My body drained but my mind still whirring with desperation.
I closed my eyes and hugged myself tighter.
Suddenly, the door creaked open. My head snapped up, my eyes narrowing as I saw Asher walk in, a tray of food in his hands. His face was calm, but there was a flicker of tension in his eyes as he approached me.
I refused to look at him. I was in no mood to bear him.
“I brought you food,”
he said quietly, kneeling in front of me and setting the tray down.
“You need to eat.”
I glared at him, my jaw tightening.
“I don’t want anything from you,”
I spat, my voice cold and unwavering. I had never been this angry and like this but what Asher had done, the consequences were not simple to bear.
Asher sighed, his patience already wearing thin and I knew just by looking at his face. He picked up a piece of bread from the tray and held it out to me.
“Adeline, stop being stubborn. Just eat something.”
I slapped his hand away, the bread falling to the floor.
“I said no,”
I snapped, my voice rising.
Asher’s jaw clenched, his frustration bubbling to the surface. He set the tray aside and leaned closer, his tone darkening.
“I’m trying to help you, Adeline. Don’t make this harder than it already is.”
I shook my head, my eyes filled with defiance.
“Helping me? By locking me up? By dragging me away like some prisoner? You’re delusional, Asher.”
Before he could respond, a deafening gunshot echoed through the cabin. I flinched, my heart leaping into my throat. My wide eyes darted toward the door, and a shiver ran down my spine.
Was someone here to save me- or was it another problem-
Asher jumped to his feet, his expression hardening as he pulled a gun from the waistband of his jeans. My breath hitched as I stared at the gun in his hand, my shock evident.
“You have a gun?”
I whispered, my voice barely audible.
He didn’t answer, his attention focused on the door. His grip on the gun was steady, his jaw set in determination. Another sound broke through the silence—a voice, calling my name.
“Adeline!”
My eyes widened in recognition, tears spilling down my cheeks as I realized who it was. “Luciano,” I breathed, my voice trembling with relief.
I scrambled to my feet, stumbling but without care, ready to run toward the door, but Asher grabbed my arm, holding me back.
“No,” he said firmly, shaking his head.
“Let me go!” I shouted, trying to pull free from his grasp.
“I can’t,”
Asher said, his voice rising with a mix of desperation and determination.
“I won’t let you go.”
My panic only grew as I struggled against him.
“Asher, stop this! He’s here to save me. You don’t have to do this.”
Asher’s grip tightened, his eyes blazing.
“He’ll kill me, Adeline. And I’ll kill him first if I have to.”
My breath caught in my throat, and my struggles ceased momentarily as his words sank in.
“What are you talking about?”
I whispered. My heart pounding badly as bad thoughts invaded my mind. I looked at Asher in disbelief and he smirked evilly.
“This house,”
Asher said, his voice low and tense,
“it’s rigged. There are hidden guns everywhere. If Luciano or his men make one wrong move, they’ll be ripped apart by gunfire.”
My heart shook at his words, fear coursing through my veins.
“Asher,”
I said, my voice shaking,
“please don’t do this. Don’t hurt him. Don’t make this worse.”
But Asher’s resolve didn’t waver.
“I love you, Adeline,” he said, his voice softer but no less intense.
“I’m not letting you go. Not now. Not ever.”
My tears streamed down my face as I looked at him, my heart breaking for the boy I once knew and feared I no longer recognized.
The sounds of Luciano’s voice calling for me grew louder, closer, and with each passing second, the tension in the room grew unbearable.
I had to find a way to stop this before it was too late. Luciano was here to save me and I could not let this chance go.
I looked at Asher and my eyes fell on the table next to us and I bit my lower lip before kicking Asher’s legs with all the force as he fell down and I quickly rushed out of the room and looked behind to see …… Asher’s head bleeding. My eyes widened in horror.
“ Luciano. Be careful. There are guns everywhere ! “
“ Adeline. I love you “
Asher whispered before his eyes closed making my heartbeat to fasten. Was he dead? Did I kill him-