Chapter 166: Untie me

Chapter 166: Untie me
Third person

Eighteen hours had passed since Valerie's disappearance.

Lucas stood in the center of his living room, surrounded by computers and anxious faces. His team of experts, handpicked from the best in the business, worked tirelessly to track down any lead on his woman.

But so far, neither his team nor the police have been able to come up with anything tangible. There was also no signal from the tracker in Valerie's necklace. 

Either her kidnapper knew that the necklace was bugged and got rid of it, or they were under water, in a bunker, or somewhere that'll block the signal.

One thing for sure; he'd find Valerie and he'd find her soon. Even if it meant turning the planet upside down. She'd be found.

News about her and disappearance was all over the media and there was a huge cash prize for whoever brought relevant information on her whereabouts. 

Lucas ran a palm across his exhausted face. Deep lines creased his forehead, and his jaw was set in a rigid clench. 

"Broaden the search radius, check for any suspicious activity within a five-mile radius." 

His team nodded, their fingers flying across their keyboards as they worked to execute Lucas's orders.

Then he glanced at Calvin. “Let me know if you get anything,” he instructed.

With all hands on deck to find Valerie, Lucas slipped away into his study. He needed to think of the next step—or maybe wallow in self-pity. What would he do without her?

Inside the study, he collapsed into his chair. He placed his elbows on the desk, and his head in his hands. His eyes felt like heavy weights and dark circles sat beneath his eyes like bruises. Not for a minute in the eighteen hours that Valerie was missing had he slept.

“My baby,” he murmured, his hands trembling. What more could he do? What was he missing? What else hadn't he done already that he needed to do?

He slammed his fist onto the desk, making the pens and papers jump. "Where is she?" he growled at no one. “Where is she?” His voice was a whisper this time, accompanied by sobs as a crushing sense of helplessness washed over him. 

I've failed her again. Failed to protect her. Failed to keep her safe. Oh, fuck… Why can't he ever be happy? Why can't he keep her safe? She's his everything. He has to find her.

“Please be safe my woman,” he whispered. “Please be safe.”



Valerie opened her eyes slowly. She didn't know how, but she had somehow managed a few hours of sleep on this chair. Maybe it was because she was exhausted. 

She shifted on the chair, attracting a stare from Matthew. Her entire body hurt like hell. 

Matthew on the other hand, barely slept. His sunken eyes watched Valerie sleep the entire night. 

“I know your body hurts, princess,” he acknowledged softly. “We're leaving here today, don't worry.” He stood up and walked to stand behind her, his hands moved to her shoulder and he started massaging it. 

She didn't fight it. There was no use in doing that anyway. She was already doomed.

“You'll be free to move around there, you'd never be bound to a chair again,” he continued. “It'll be just us, and nobody will ever find us there. I swear, I'll do whatever it takes to make you happy. And you'll be happy. It might take some time but you'll eventually find happiness with me. “

"Please, Matthew," her hoarse voice begged. She'd cried herself to sleep. "Let me go. I won't tell anyone about this, I swear."

Matthew's expression didn't change, but the additional pressure he applied to her shoulder indicated that he was angry. 

“Please,” she cried again when he didn't respond.

A muscle in his jaw ticked and he removed his hands from her shoulder abruptly, as though her skin burned him. He walked over to the table and poured himself a cup of water. 

"Stop trying to make me look like the bad one!" He suddenly yelled, his fists slamming against the table with a loud thud. The plates clattered and Valerie shuddered. “Again, I'm not trying to hurt you.” He lowered his voice and gritted out, “I just want to be with you."

She shook her head, more tears streaming down her face. "If you're not trying to hurt me, then let me go," she paused and swallowed. "You're scaring me.”

He sucked his teeth. “You just had to ruin the mood,” he hissed. Matt reached for his jacket sprawled at the edge of the table and began heading for the door.

Just then, Valerie felt a wave of nausea wash over her. Instinctively, she leaned forward and vomited onto the floor. Then she rested back in her chair, exhausted.

Matt rushed over to her. He wiped her mouth with his palm, worry etched on his face. “Are you alright?” 

She shook her head. "I'm sick.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “I was supposed to get checked before all this happened. Please just take me to a hospital.”

“It's because you've refused to eat,” he stated.

At once, he found a rag to clean the messy floor. And after a few minutes, Matt returned with a tray of food and a cup of water. "You need to eat, Valerie.”

She didn't respond, didn't open her mouth when he lifted a piece of chicken from the tray to her lips.

Matthew's expression softened, and he knelt down beside her. "You need to eat,” he insisted.

“No, a doctor is what I need,” she countered. “Just take me to a hospital.”

His expression changed, and for a moment, Valerie thought she saw a glimmer of uncertainty in his eyes. “You think I'm a fool, don't you?”

He stood up, his face hardened. "Just hold on,” he said, his voice cold. “Once we're out of here, you'll get the best medical care. You'll be fine."

"I won't make it.” Valerie shook her head, her eyes pleading. “Please, you say you love me… Just allow me to get treated.”

For the next few minutes, he stared long and hard at her. Valerie could see the battle going on in his eyes and she bit the inside of her cheeks hopefully.

“I'll go and get you some drugs,” he finally announced.

“Please, a check up will be better.”

He shot her a brief glare. “Don't push it.”

She swallowed and nodded. “Okay, but can you at least untie me before you leave?”

“Please… I might need to use the bathroom. You don't need to worry about me trying to escape, I'm sick and I don't even have the slightest idea of where we are right now,” she added in a rush.