Chapter 109 Kidnapped

Chapter 109 Kidnapped

Chloe's POV

I gripped his sleeve tightly and looked up at him. The harsh white fluorescent lights in the hospital corridor cast his features in sharp relief.

"I know everything," I said, my voice steadier than I'd expected. "Delta just told me at the door."

His jaw was clenched tight. Emotions I couldn't decipher churned in his eyes.

"Lucas, you don't need to explain your work to me." I rose on my toes, leaning closer. "I know your team is waiting for you. Go do what you need to do."

He stood frozen, his heavy breathing falling against my face.

I leaned in another half inch and kissed him lightly on the lips, pulling back quickly.

"I'll wait for you to come back. When everything's handled, come home."

He stared at me for a long moment before finally lifting his hand. His thumb brushed roughly across my lips. His voice was hoarse. "Okay."

Then he turned and strode away. His retreating figure was resolute. He didn't look back.

After that, I moved back in with my parents. But within two days, they left on another business trip.

I kept telling myself I was fine. I'd been used to living alone for years.

But without Lucas, the loneliness crashed over me in waves. Once you've experienced someone's complete, wholehearted companionship, going back to being alone makes the emptiness a hundred times harder to bear.

I never used to believe that saying. Now I understood it all too well.

Layla would come over when she could. The days dragged by. Lucas texted me every day without fail to let me know he was safe.

I sat at the piano in a daze, counting the days, and realized the State Piano Competition was only seven days away.

So much had happened in such a short time.

Layla noticed I kept spacing out. Worried about my state of mind, she insisted on taking me out to clear my head—an early send-off before the competition.

"Stop worrying, Chloe. There hasn't been any bad news on social media lately. Everything's fine," Layla kept reassuring me.

I nodded, silently praying nothing terrible would break.

We met at a new lounge bar downtown. The music was mellow, not too loud, and the lighting was just right.

The moment I sat down, a uniformed staff member approached with a polite smile. "Ms. Jones? Someone's already reserved a private room for you upstairs."

I froze, turning to look at Layla.

She looked just as confused. "I didn't book anything." Then her eyes lit up mischievously. "Could it be a surprise from Lucas?"

My cheeks warmed. A flutter of sweetness bloomed in my chest.

I followed the staff member upstairs, Layla right behind me.

But the further we walked, the more wrong it felt. The corridor grew narrower. The music from downstairs faded. We stopped in front of an unmarked employee door.

I stopped in my tracks, alarm bells ringing. "Where does this lead?"

The staff member turned back. That smile now eerie. He didn't answer. He simply pushed the door open.

Before I could react, sharp pain exploded at the back of my neck. My vision went black. I lost consciousness completely.

---

When I came to, I was tied to a rickety wooden chair.

Coarse rope dug into my wrists and ankles, biting painfully into my skin. A cloth gag filled my mouth, reeking of motor oil.

This was an abandoned rooftop. The space was desolate and empty. Wind howled across it, cutting through me with cold.

Dark red stains spread across the ground nearby—impossible to tell if they were old paint or dried blood.

A man with a scarred face crouched in front of me, reeking of cigarette smoke.

He grabbed my chin, squeezing so hard I could hear my jawbone creak.

"Awake?" He grinned, revealing yellowed teeth. "Cooperate, and this'll be easier for everyone."

Behind him, a tall, lanky underling handed him a lit phone screen. It was already on a call.

Scarface held the phone to my ear and yanked the gag from my mouth.

"Say something," he ordered harshly.

Dead silence on the other end. All I could hear was my own panicked heartbeat.

Then I heard Lucas's deep, hoarse voice. "Chloe?"

All the fear I'd been holding in collapsed at once. Tears spilled over.

"Lucas…" My voice shook uncontrollably. "I'm… I'm so scared."

Scarface immediately snatched the phone back and ended the call, shoving the gag roughly back into my mouth.

"Good girl." He patted my cheek mockingly. The gesture dripped with humiliation.

He stood and walked to the edge of the rooftop, lighting a cigarette. "Name's Black Hound. Remember it—we'll meet again in another life."

He exhaled a smoke ring, then said coldly, "Blame yourself for getting mixed up with Lucas."

Delta's words exploded in my mind—Soren critically injured, armed assailants, dangerous mission…

Ice flooded my veins. I stared at the man in horror.

The underlings around me leered openly, their gazes crawling over me with disgusting intent.

"Boss, she's gorgeous. Why don't we have a little fun with her first? Test her out for Lucas."

Black Hound turned, his eyes suddenly glacial. "Want to die? Go ahead and touch her."

The underling immediately shrank back.

"Did you all forget how ruthless Lucas is?" Black Hound's tone was menacing. "Once we get the money, we're leaving the country. Anyone who screws this up now, I'll take care of them myself."

My heart sank completely.

Endless guilt and despair swallowed me whole. I hated myself for being useless. For letting my guard down. Once again, I'd become a burden to Lucas. Once again, I'd caused him trouble.

---

I didn't know how long I'd been held captive. Maybe three days. Maybe longer.

They only gave me occasional sips of cold water and a small piece of stale bread. The ropes binding me never loosened once.

My body grew weaker and weaker. Utterly drained.

Black Hound and his crew were running out of patience too. They huddled together, cursing under their breath, complaining that Lucas still hadn't made a move.

The tall, lanky one sidled up to Black Hound. "Boss, you think that guy just abandoned her? There's been no word at all."

Black Hound stared at me for a long time. Calculation and violence simmered in his eyes. It made my blood run cold.

Finally, he sneered and crushed his cigarette underfoot. "Looks like I bet wrong. This woman means nothing to him."

He jerked his chin toward the lanky one, whose face twisted into a greedy, vicious grin.

"Make it quick. We're moving locations right after." Black Hound turned away without another glance at me.

The lanky man approached step by step, grinning as he untied the ropes around my ankles.

I'd been without water or food for so long, my body was completely limp. I slumped in the chair, unable to move.

He ripped the gag from my mouth and tore at my jacket violently, his full weight pressing down on me.

The sharp snap of buttons popping echoed across the silent rooftop. His foul, heavy breath washed over my face, making my stomach turn.

Bone-deep despair swallowed me whole.

In my heart, I screamed Lucas's name silently.