Chapter 129 Will You Come with Me?
The chill from her fingertips shot through her nerves like ice water in her veins. Bianca spun around.
Thin strips of light slipped through the cracks behind her, but the heavy iron door swallowed most of the sun.
Her gaze hardened as she locked onto the source of the voice.
Without hesitation, she lunged forward, kicking aside the debris in her path.
An old radio sat there, its static a cruel taunt.
Bianca's lashes trembled. Her hands, hanging at her sides, slowly curled into fists.
Rage and humiliation twisted together, choking her.
The empty warehouse was silent except for her ragged breathing.
Then a new sound shattered the quiet, pulling her attention toward it.
Instinctively, she reached into her pocket and stepped back, eyes fixed on the noise.
Leather shoes struck concrete in a steady rhythm. With each step closer, the figure emerged from the shadows. When Bianca saw his face, disgust surged through her, drowning out everything else.
"You!"
"Of course it's me."
Samuel's face was gaunt, skin stretched tight over bone. His long hair hung over eyes burning with hatred, shadowing a stubbled jaw.
"I hate you, Bianca. I hate myself for being foolish enough to believe you loved me. I thought you'd leave with me. Why didn't you keep loving me? Was it all an act, waiting for the right moment to run? Or maybe you wanted revenge, kill Terrence yourself!"
Those bloodshot eyes bored into her, sending ice crawling up her spine.
Bianca stepped back.
"Samuel, your delusions are pathetic. I never loved you. I would never hurt Terrence for you."
Samuel threw his head back in wild laughter, harsh and grating, before it broke into violent coughing that wracked his body.
His eyes blazed hotter, hatred like a blade ready to carve her apart.
Bianca's gaze swept the floor, finding a splintered plank among the debris. She shifted her weight, edging closer.
"That was you on the phone?" she asked, lowering her eyes to distract him.
Samuel's lips curled. "Spare me the lies. I'll finish this before anyone comes. After that, you'll just be another woman I've had. Let's see if Terrence can stomach you then.
"Don't resist. I know you still feel something for me. We're just finishing what we started. You'll learn to enjoy it."
His smile grew grotesque as he advanced.
"I'm warning you, don't try anything!" Bianca raised her voice, using the moment to edge closer to the plank.
"I remember how happy you looked when I held your hand. Your act was so perfect, I almost believed you.
"I don't need you to avenge me. Terrence crippled my hand, but I can still make money to support you. Come back to me."
He reached for her.
Bianca sidestepped, her eyes locking on his wrist. Something clicked in her mind.
Samuel noticed her stare and smiled, cold and bloodless.
"It's fine, Bianca. It doesn't hurt. Let's leave the hatred behind and go together."
Bianca let out a low, cold laugh.
She raised an eyebrow, and as he lunged, she ducked low, snatched the plank, and slammed it into his wrist.
A strangled roar tore from Samuel's throat.
Fresh injury piled atop old damage, and he crumpled, helpless.
Bianca didn't stop. The plank came down again and again on his limbs.
When she was certain he couldn't move, she crouched beside him, her gaze icy.
"Where's Jasmine?"
She knew the voice on the phone hadn't been Samuel. He had an accomplice.
For Jasmine's sake, she'd let him live.
"Bianca!" Samuel's face twisted in agony. "You... you dare!"
The plank struck concrete with a dull thud, punctuating her impatient words.
"My patience is running out. Tell me where Jasmine is, or the next blow lands on your skull."
Samuel laughed weakly. "Then kill me. Kill me, and you'll never find her."
Bianca raised the plank. It cut through the air, the wind stirring his hair.
He closed his eyes, jaw tight, refusing to speak.
The plank stopped inches from his face.
When the pain didn't come, he cracked one eye open. Seeing it hover so close made his breath hitch, then his face lit with deranged joy.
"Bianca, I knew you cared about me."
Even broken and beaten, he dared to say that.
Bianca used the plank to push herself upright. "What do you people actually want?"
"Sleep with me, and Jasmine stays safe." Samuel's smile made her stomach turn.
"Dream on." Bianca's face stayed blank.
She walked to the iron door and slammed the plank against it.
Despite the rust, it didn't budge.
She scanned the space. No other exits.
In the corner, a faint red light blinked.
So there was another accomplice.
She lifted the plank, waved it at the hidden camera, then smashed it. Fragments scattered across the floor.
On the other end, Blair watched the screen go dark and screamed in fury.
"Useless! Samuel can't even handle one woman!"
Melissa flinched at her rage. "What do we do now?"
Blair's eyes turned vicious. "If she cares about Jasmine, then we go after her instead."
In a dim room elsewhere, Jasmine huddled in the corner, hands and feet bound, a cloth gag in her mouth.
The wooden door swung open. Light spilled in from outside.