Chapter 97 - HEIRESS'S SECOND CHANCE BILLIONAIRE

Chapter Ninety-Seven “Damsel Not In Distress.”

Christian Kingston.

“Carter, I swear if something happens to my wife you will all pay for it,” I warned through gritted teeth, as I paced the living room of the penthouse.

Carter, a number of my guards and a couple of police officers littered the living room, all gathered for one sole reason—my missing woman. I have people out there looking for her while the ones here try to keep me updated, as well as to ensure my safety as I say which I could not give any flying fuck about.

Isabella. She is the only one in my mind.

It has been nearly three hours since she went off the grid. Her phone was not going through, and there are no leads on her anywhere. If it were up to me, I would be out there scouring the city for her but where do I even begin? Every possible place has been searched and there were no traces of her anywhere.

We could only wait, and it just so occurs to me that there is nothing I hate more than the prospect of waiting idly, not that I could do much in my weak state—another fact I hate more than anything.

Carter tried to calm me down, as he has been doing the past three hours. “Mr. Kingston, I assure you, Mrs. Kingston will be found--”

“You better make sure of that,” I cut him midway, eyes narrowed in a warning tone. Raising a hand, I pointed a finger at him, then added. “If so much as a hair is missing on her, I will hold you accountable.”

A part of me deep down, the reasonable part knows that he is not at fault for this but at the same time I could not help but feel as though it is. I left Isabella in his care, he was in charge of the guards following her. How could he let them lose her?

Carter visibly swallowed thickly, no doubt intimidated by my threat, which may not possibly be just a threat depending on the position I find my wife. The other guards and police likewise remained silent, not wanting to interfere, no doubt realizing just how tense the air in the room is.

At least, until one of the police tried to step in, “Mr. Kingston, I would advice you to remain calm because the forces are doing whatever they can to ensure your wife’s safety. We are trying to find her, but we cannot file a missing person’s report because it has not been up to twenty-four hours yet.”

“Listen up, Mr. Police man,” I stepped closer to him, my voice dropping. Pointing a finger in the direction of my chest, I continued. “I have three bullet wounds from a man who is my wife’s ex-husband, whom may I remind you is still on the loose. With that, she goes off the grid for three hours and you think it does not warrant a missing person’s report?” I arched a brow. “Is this situation not grave enough for you to consider, or do I not pay you enough to do your jobs?”

I directed the last questions to the guards I hired—whom are supposed to be top notch apparently and yet my wife goes missing under their nose. Top notch indeed.

Before the policeman could reply, not that it seemed he had anything reasonable to say, my phone rang, cutting the tense air. I shifted my gaze from the police, as I pulled my phone out and upon seeing the caller ID, immediately answered the call and brought the phone to my ears.

“I have found your wife,” Shadow’s voice came the very minute I had the phone pressed to my ear, no greetings needed whatsoever. “I will send you the address now.”

I released a sigh of relief, my eyes flicking close as the ache in my head began to subside. “Thank you, man. I owe you one.”

“You definitely do.” He ended the call, and almost immediately, the message with the address came through.

I wasted no second in picking up my car keys on the nearby coffee table, then made my way out—ignoring the calls and questions from the police, Carter and the guards. Call me paranoid, but I do not trust anyone at the moment especially with Isabella’s life on the line. So, I did not tell any of them what is going on or where I am headed.

But as I got into my car and revved it to life, the ache from my wounds hit hard, reminding me that I may not be able to handle this all alone even if I try, and it would be stupid to do so. So, I started the car and dialed the number of a close friend I have in the higher ups police, and briefed him on the situation along with her location.

He immediately mobilized security and assured me they will be there in ten minutes, which I estimate to be two or three minutes later than I had. I could only hope things do not go haywire in that moment.

And as I sped down the roads of England that late at night, no doubt will get a ticket later on for such reckless driving, I could not care about less but rather fervently pray that Isabella remains safe and unharmed.

From the location, it seems to be in downtown around the areas of old factories. I arrived there exactly seven minutes later, and without caring much to turn off the car, I stepped out and all but ran forth in the direction of the abandoned building.

I knew I could possibly be running off to my death, but none of that mattered more than ensuring Isabella’s safety. So, I ran into the empty, and cold building, looking around for any signs of life. There wasn’t any on the first floor, so I ran up the second and that was when I sighted burning fire in the distance.

I don’t know what exactly got into me, but it was like my mind was automatically wired there. I rushed over there, and just a couple of feet to the burning room, I spotted a familiar phone on the ground. Picking it up, I recognized it almost immediately as Isabella’s, and just beside it was a heel tipped aside, like it was thrown away roughly.

My mind automatically zoomed onto one thing, Isabella being in that burning room. All reasoning escaped my head as I dropped the phone aside and made my way towards the burning room.

“Isabella?” I called out in a dazed tone as I took the handle of the handle of the door, and pushed it. But, it was locked. I blinked, adrenalin rushing through my brain as worry sets in me. “Isabella!?” I called out again, this time more fervent.

Pushing the door, I tried to knock it open but it wasn’t working. Through the window, I could see the fire in the room slowly growing and I could spot what seems to be a body. There was too much smoke though I could not make a figure, but it seemed akin to Isabella, and that made me lose it entirely.

“ISABELLA!” I knocked on the door with my shoulders repeatedly, each time using more force than the last but it did not move. Taking a few steps back, I tried to kick the door open with my legs, in the process, I could feel the pain intensify from where my stiches are but I could not care less. “ISABELLA!!” I screamed out her name, fear for the worst grabbling me as I tried to knock down the door.

When it does not move, and I realized it would not budge as the fire grew, I realized perhaps knocking the window would be a much better choice. I looked around for something I could use to knock down the window, but there was nothing in sight other than her heels, and even that does not seem as though it was would do much.

So, I fisted my hand and punched the window with it, repeatedly. Blood began to spill from the cracked skin as pain registered in the area, but it does not hold a thing to the raging pain in my heart at the thought of losing Isabella.

And the thought only pushed me to break the window. It took a couple of punches, but it began to shatter at one point and I used the chance to move the broken shards out of place, cutting my palms more in the process.

When I finally made space, I jumped into the room through the cracked window, instantly welcomed by the heat of the room from the raging fire that seemed to almost be swallowing up the room as a whole.

I side stepped some of the broken woods that have already caught on fire, making my way towards what I thought was Isabella’s figure amidst the raging fire. However, as I neared it, I realized the body in fact did not belong to Isabella.

For when I turned it aside, I recognized James’ familiar face, seemingly knocked up from a bloody injury to his temple. Somehow caught up between shock, coughs and surprise, I did not register the voice that called out for me from outside.

At least, until it became loud, and clear.

“CHRISTIAN!” Isabella’s voice came, sounding worried.

I turned around, recovering from my shock. My gaze fell on her figure standing outside the room, and through the smoke and the fire, I could still see the worried expression masking her features as she stared at me from the other side.

Tears of relief instantly welled up in my eyes upon seeing her unharmed. “Isabella…” Her name rolled off my lips as a breathless whisper, “…You’re fine,” I whispered to myself, a couple of tears streaming down my face.

“Christian!” She called out again, “What are you doing there? COME OUT NOW!!”

I found myself nodding slowly, as I made a move to step out and make my way over to her. However, just as I took a couple of steps towards the window’s direction, a force suddenly hit the back of my head and black spots began to cover my vision almost immediately.

Through it, I could see a part of the ceiling, blazing with fire drop down as the small part of the room that was not engulfed in fire was too. Then, before everything blacked out, I heard the distant sound of sirens as well as Isabella’s scream as she called out my name.

Meanwhile, all I could think of was…she is safe. Isabella is safe. That is all that matters.