Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen
Captured Again

I woke up to darkness. My head pounded, and my wrists burned where the rough ropes had cut into my skin. I sucked in a sharp breath, trying to steady myself. The air was thick, heavy with the scent of damp concrete and something metallic blood, maybe.

Sebastian.

I was back in his grip.

I forced my eyes to adjust, but the pounding in my skull made it hard to focus. The last thing I remembered was stepping out of Nicholas’s penthouse. Then… nothing. They must have drugged me.

I shifted, testing the restraints on my wrists. The rope was tight, biting into my skin with every little movement. My legs were free, but that wouldn’t help much if my hands were useless. I gritted my teeth, frustration bubbling inside me. I had to get out of here.

Then, footsteps.

I stilled, my breath hitching.

A door creaked open. Light flooded in, momentarily blinding me. I squinted, my heart hammering as shadows shifted in the doorway.

Then, I saw her.

Claire.

Relief crashed into me like a wave.

She slipped inside, her sharp eyes scanning the room. The moment she spotted me, she rushed forward, pulling a knife from her boot.

“Hold still,” she whispered.

I did, barely breathing as she cut through the ropes. My arms dropped limply to my sides, and I groaned as sharp pins and needles shot through my hands. Blood rushed back into my fingers, but they still tingled, half-numb.

“Can you walk?” Claire asked, urgency lacing her voice.

I nodded, even though my body felt like lead. “Yeah.”

She grabbed my arm, helping me up. My legs trembled, but I bit down hard  and forced them to work.

“We need to get out of here.” Claire’s voice was low, but firm. “Now.”

I didn’t argue.

We slipped into the hallway, the dim lights flickering above us. The air was cold, and the concrete floor chilled my bare feet. My pulse pounded as we moved quickly but carefully, our footsteps barely making a sound.

Then gunshots.

The sharp cracks echoed through the building. 

She let out a soft murmur and yanked me forward. “They know you’re gone. We have to run!”

Adrenaline rushed through me. My body screamed in protest, but I forced my legs to move faster. Our footsteps pounded against the floor as we sprinted down the hall.

The exit was just ahead.

So close.

A few more steps, and we would be free.

Then, a figure stepped into the doorway, blocking our path.

Sebastian.

He stood there, calm as ever, like he had been expecting us. His lips curled into a smirk as he tilted his head slightly.

“Did you really think it would be that easy?” His voice was smooth, mocking.

Claire shoved me behind her and raised her gun. “Move, Sebastian.”

He let out a soft chuckle. “Not happening.”

My breathing turned shallow as I watched the standoff unfold. Claire’s grip on the gun was firm, her finger resting on the trigger. But Sebastian didn’t look concerned.

“Shoot him,” I whispered.

Claire didn’t hesitate.

She pulled the trigger.

Click.

My stomach dropped.

Sebastian sighed, shaking his head. “You should really check your weapons before you make threats.”

Before I could react, he leapt.

Claire threw the empty gun at his face and grabbed her knife, slashing toward him. He dodged, twisting her arm and slamming her hard against the wall. She grunted but didn’t let go of the blade.

I moved without thinking.

I grabbed a metal pipe from the floor and swung.

Sebastian ducked at the last second, but I managed to clip his shoulder. He stumbled back, cursing.

Claire took the opportunity and kicked him in the stomach. He crashed into the opposite wall.

“Run!” she shouted.

I didn’t need to be told twice.

We bolted past him, sprinting toward the exit. My lungs burned, my legs felt like they could give out at any moment, but I pushed forward.

We burst through the door—into the night air.

Freedom.

For a split second, I thought we had made it.

Then—headlights.

Black SUVs skidded to a stop in front of us, blocking our path. My heart skipped abit. Doors flew open, and men in dark suits jumped out, guns raised.

Claire grabbed my wrist and pulled me back toward the building.

“We’re trapped,” she hissed.

A low chuckle came from behind us.

Sebastian.

I turned slowly, my pulse pounding in my ears. He wiped blood from his mouth, his smirk never fading.

“You really thought you could escape me?” His voice was full of amusement.

My fingers curled into fists.

I wasn’t going down without a fight.

Sebastian stepped forward, his gaze locking onto mine. “You belong to me, Adrianna.”

I lifted my chin. “I belong to no one.”

He smirked. “We’ll see about that.”

Before I could react, something sharp pricked my neck.

I gasped, my hand flying up to my skin.

Claire’s eyes widened. “Adrianna—”

But I was already falling.

My knees buckled. My vision blurred.

Claire screamed my name.

Sebastian’s smirk was the last thing I saw before the world turned black.

\---

I woke up again.

This time, I wasn’t in the same room.

My body ached, and my head felt foggy, like I was swimming through molasses. My arms were restrained again, but this time with metal cuffs instead of rope.

Panic surged through me.

I tried to move, but my limbs felt sluggish.

The tranquilizer.

It was still in my system.

The door creaked open.

Sebastian stepped in, hands in his pockets, looking far too pleased with himself.

I glared at him. “You drugged me.”

He smirked. “I did.”

I struggled against my restraints. “What do you want from me?”

Sebastian crouched in front of me, tilting his head. “You already know the answer to that.”

I clenched my jaw. “You’re wasting your time.”

His smirk didn’t fade. “We’ll see.”

I refused to show fear, but my heart pounded wildly.

I needed to get out of here.

And this time, I wouldn’t fail.