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Chapter 0292
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“I appreciate that you want to protect me,” I said, the tension in my voice evident, “but we’re past that.”
Alexander stared at me, then reached out and took my hand The contact sent a jolt of electricity through me, and I allowed him to lead me forward. He approached the door of the warehouse, tapping a code into the security panel before opening it and stepping aside to let me inside.
The building was dark, musty, and cold. I could hear our footsteps echoing as Alexander led me through the abandoned workshop and down a side hallway.
“So, you’re just going to ignore my questions?” I asked, irritation lacing my voice, but also a deep concern. It was so unlike Alexander to act this way.
He was supposed to be confident, sure of himself. And yet, he seemed to be second–guessing everything, especially when it came to me,
I felt the unease settle deeper in my stomach. Why was he acting this way? And why was he involving me in something that clearly made him uncomfortable? He had always been the one to keep things under control.
“I’m not ignoring you,” he said softly, his voice almost apologetic. “It’s just safer for us to talk about this inside.”
“Talk about what?” I asked, feeling a sick twist in my stomach. There was something incredibly important happening here, something that Alexander wasn’t telling me. Whatever it was, it was weighing on him, making him uncertain. And that scared me.
But it didn’t scare me enough to stop asking. I needed to know what was going on.
How was it possible that Alexander had captured a well–known wanted criminal, yet she wasn’t in jail? She wasn’t in the king’s hold, either. Instead, she was being kept in some strange warehouse on the outskirts of town.
The whole thing felt off, like something illegal was happening right under my nose.
It made my
y stomach churn with unease, but I didn’t want to accuse Alexander of anything underhanded. That wasn’t the man I knew, and I didn’t want to accept that there might be another explanation.
But he just wasn’t opening up to me, and it was frustrating beyond measure.
“So talk then,” I said, placing my hands on my hips and fixing him with a steady look.
“I’ll talk to you,” Alexander said, his voice steady but firm. But now really isn’t the time, Ella. I understand that you have questions, and you’re right–I do owe you an explanation. But right now, we need to focus on the task at hand. Dr. McIntyre is in this building. There’s something she wants to tell you.”
19
He stepped forward and tapped a pattern into the door in front of us. After a moment, I heard it unlock. Alexander put
his hand on the knob, then looked back at me.
“It’s important that we get that information so we can decide what our next move is going to be. We don’t have time to waste. We don’t know where David went after he ran away from you, and we don’t know what he’s planning or what he might do in the meantime. Dr. McIntyre is safest here, where no one besides us can find her. If she were in jail, David and his people could reach her. Even if she were in the King’s hold, there’s a chance David could have contacts that could get to her. The only people I can trust right now are my people. You understand that, don’t you?”
I stared at Alexander, the unease twisting deeper in my gut. But there was so much logic in what he said th couldn’t argue with it. I nodded reluctantly.
“Okay,” I said, my voice quiet but resolute. “But you’re going to explain it to me later. I’ll hold you to that
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promise.”
“I know you will,” Alexander said, squeezing my hand. Then he opened the door.
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Chapter 0293
