Chapter 22 Jonathan Comes To Her Rescue
Annabel’s defiance only made them angrier. They were a gang, and their leader had just been disrespected–no way they were letting that slide. They charged at her, ready to beat this pretty bitch to a pulp. But they had seriously underestimated Annabel.
Even though she was outnumbered and clearly at a disadvantage, Annabel fought back with everything she had. For every hit she took, she made sure to dish out two in
return.
One by one, they dropped to the ground, until only Annabel and the leader were left standing. “You damn bitch, I’ll kill you!” The leader rushed at Annabel, fist raised.
Annabel’s legs gave out from exhaustion, and she stumbled. Before she could react, the leader’s punch landed squarely in her stomach. Her stomach churned violently. Everything she’d eaten earlier came back up–splattering all over the leader.
“Ugh, what the hell?” the leader shouted.
*****
Jonathan overheard news of last night’s murder case, particularly the shocking detail that Annabel had been taken to the police station as a suspect.
A wave of icy fury surged through him. Without a second thought, he abandoned his work and stormed toward the door.
“Mr. Turner.” Leonard, still wearing his apron, stepped out of the kitchen just in time to catch Jonathan heading out. “Where are you rushing off to? Lunch is ready,” he called
out.
Jonathan didn’t even spare him a glance. Leonard stared at the dishes he had spent the entire morning preparing and sighed, thinking, ‘Well, there goes my taste tester.‘
*****
Jonathan pushed the limits, shaving a three–hour drive down to just over an hour–all without breaking a single traffic law. He pulled up to the station, his car screeching to a halt. Alfred Huston, the chief, just stepping out of his car, froze in surprise at the sight of him.
“Mr. Turner, what brings you here?” Alfred quickly stepped forward, his tone full of respect.
To outsiders, Jonathan might just be a business tycoon in Frostville, and few even knew he was the heir to the prestigious Turner family in Arlington.
But to those in the know, none of these titles could compare to his reputation as the God of War–a name that once struccessfully unlockedes on the battlefield.
Jonathan’s voice was calm and direct, his face devoid of emotion. “I’m here to bail
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Chapter 22 Jonathan Comes To Her Rescue
someone out. Annabel, the eldest daughter of the White family.”
Something felt off to Alfred, so he immediately sent someone to look into it. The guy came back and told him, “Annabel is a suspect in a murder case. She’s currently being held in Cell 1018.”
Alfred frowned, knowing exactly what kind of place Cell 1018 was. After a brief pause, he said, “Bring the officer in charge of the case to me.”
Jonathan, however, had no patience for delays. The moment he heard where Annabel was being held, he demanded, “Where is Cell 1018?”
Left with no choice, Alfred led the way himself.
*****
The scene inside the cell was shocking. Almost everyone was sprawled on the ground, their exposed skin covered in bruises and streaks of blood.
The only one still upright was a young woman. She sat on the bed, leaning against the wall like a victor surveying her battlefield, her head bowed, her face obscured by her cascading hair.
“Annabel White?” Alfred called out.
At the sound of her name, Annabel lifted her head. Her eyes gleamed with a sharp, unyielding light, defiant.even through the scratches, bruises, and the blood on her split lip. Her entire being radiated a chilling, murderous aura.
Alfred was taken aback. He thought to himself, ‘What’s with this girl? Why does she carry herself like that? Wait… did she actually knock all these people out?‘ The others were equally shocked by Annabel’s formidable combat skills.
Jonathan was the only one whose face turned cold the second he saw Annabel hurt. Something stormy started brewing in his eyes, and it wasn’t going away anytime soon.
His voice was sharp and unforgiving as he turned to Alfred. “Is this how you run your precinct? Letting fights break out in the cells?”
Alfred wiped the sweat from his brow, fumbling for words, but Jonathan cut him off,‘ Release her. Now.”
“I
Though it was against protocol, the sheer weight of Jonathan’s presence left Alfred no room to argue. He quickly ordered someone to bring Annabel out. Jonathan shoved past them before they could move, already heading for the holding cell.
“Mr. Turner,” Alfred called out. “Why don’t I just have them bring her out instead?” A man of Jonathan’s status had no business being in a place like this. The stench was unbearable, and one of the inmates even had vomit on them.
Jonathan didn’t respond. His lips pressed into a thin line, he quickened his pace and walked in without hesitation. Stopping in front of Annabel, his tall frame cast a
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Chapter 22 Jonathan Comes To Her Rescue
shadow over her. “Annabel, how are you feeling?”
Annabel looked up at him, a faint smirk tugging at her lips despite the sharp pain that made her suck in a breath. Her voice came out slow, almost amused. “Running a business like yours and getting to where you are… I’ve got to say, that’s no small feat.”
Jonathan’s lips twitched slightly, a hint of amusement in his expression. “If you can still joke around, you must be fine.”
Annabel didn’t reply. Jonathan noticed her hands gripping the edge of the bed, her knuckles turning white as she tried to push herself up. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t manage it. He didn’t say a word. He just stood there, watching her
quietly.
After several failed attempts, Annabel finally gave up. Seeing Jonathan’s calm and unbothered demeanor, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of frustration. She thought, ‘ Is he seriously just standing there, waiting for me to screw up?‘
“Jonathan…” Annabel called out, her tone tinged with irritation.
Jonathan smiled faintly, his voice teasing as he asked, “What is it?” feigning ignorance.
Annabel hesitated for a moment, her pride warring with her need for help. Finally, she sighed and muttered, “Give me a hand. I… I can’t get up.”
“Why should I?”
Jonathan’s rhetorical question caught her off guard. Right as she was about to say, Because you’re under my agency,” he leaned in and, out of nowhere, scooped her up- arms under her legs and back.
Startled by the sudden movement, Annabel instinctively wrapped her arms around his
neck. “You…”
Jonathan chuckled. “Isn’t it easier if I just carry you?”
Alfred was floored. He thought, ‘Wait… did Mr. Turner just smile? Am I losing my damn eyesight?‘
Annabel squirmed in Jonathan’s arms. “I don’t need you to carry me. I can walk.”
The clean scent of mint mixed with a subtle woodsy fragrance lingered on him, a familiar aroma that tugged at her memory. It made her cheeks flush and her heart race uncontrollably.
Annabel quickly blamed her reaction on the adrenaline from the earlier fight, her struggles growing more frantic. “Let go of me.” No matter how much she resisted, Jonathan’s grip remained steady. He carried her effortlessly out of the cell.
Just then, Gideon appeared, stepping forward to block their path. “Wait, where are you taking the suspect?”
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Chapter 22 Jonathan Comes To Her Rescue
Jonathan’s gaze turned cold and sharp. “So it was you?”
Alfred, visibly shaken, quickly intervened. “Gideon, step aside.”
But Gideon stiffened his neck, refusing to back down. “Alfred, Annabel is a suspect in a murder case. How can you just let her be taken away like this?”
Jonathan’s voice was icy and cutting. “Do I need your permission to take her?”
Though Gideon didn’t know who Jonathan was, the sheer force of his presence was suffocating. He bit his tongue, preparing to argue further.
Annabel spoke up, “From the moment the argument started in the holding cell and escalated into a fight, not a single officer showed up to intervene. Not even after it ended.
“I’m not leaving until I get answers. Why is your department so chaotic? Do my basic rights as a citizen mean nothing to you?”
Alfred broke into a cold sweat, his shirt nearly soaked through. Terrified at the thought of both Jonathan and Annabel staying, he quickly apologized and respectfully ushered them out. He silenced Gideon with a stern warning – “You want to lose your job?”
As they passed Gideon, Annabel, her face pale, let out a cold, mocking laugh. “I’ll remember you.”
Jonathan didn’t say a word, but the look he gave Gideon conveyed the same message.
The moment they stepped out of the police station, Annabel’s strength gave out. Her vision blurred, and the world tilted before she collapsed into Jonathan’s arms.
Jonathan frowned, calling her name. Seeing that she had lost consciousness, he quickly carried her to the car and gently placed her in the back seat. As he drove away, he made a call. “You have thirty minutes. Meet me at Magnolia Heights.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.