Chapter 0313
Ella POV
Sunlight flooded into the trunk, momentarily blinding me. blinked rapidly, forcing my eyes to adjust as quickly as possible. I needed to see what was happening.
Standing over me, silhouetted by the harsh light, was Alexander.
Relief crashed over me so intensely it nearly stole my breath. For a moment, all I could feel was overwhelming gratitude that he was here. That he had come for me.
But the expression on his face stole some of that joy.
Concern flickered in his sharp gaze as he looked me over, but it quickly darkened into something else–something closer to fury.
Without a word, Alexander bent down, his movements controlled but swift, and carefully helped me sit up. With a few deft tugs, he pulled the bloody shoelace from around my wrists, freeing my hands.
I flexed my fingers, the dull ache of restricted circulation setting in, but Alexander barely spared them a glance. Instead, his gaze flicked over his shoulder, locking onto my kidnapper.
The man immediately looked away, avoiding the heat of Alexander’s glare.
I didn’t understand the dynamic between them. The tension between them was palpable, but I was too drained to process it. My head swam from the lack of oxygen in the cramped trunk, the violent tumbles I’d taken during the chase, and the throbbing pain at my temple from where I had hit my head–more than once.
I worried, distantly, that I might have a concussion.
Maybe that was why nothing seemed to make sense right now.
Or maybe there was something more at play. Something I hadn’t yet unraveled.
Even as the thought crossed my mind, I knew I wouldn’t get any answers–not from Alexander. His refusal to open up to me was what had led to this mess in the first place. I couldn’t expect that to change now.
But right now, I didn’t care.
Because he was here.
As soon as he helped me stand and I stepped out of the trunk, emotion overwhelmed me, and before I could think better of it, I threw my arms around him, holding onto him tightly.
Alexander didn’t hesitate. His arms came around me instantly, steady and strong, supporting my weight as I sagged against him.
“It’s all right,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing. I’m here now.”
A lump formed in my throat. I wanted to cry from sheer relief, but I held it back, tightening my grip on him
instead.
“You’ve injured her,” Alexander said, his voice edged with barely restrained rage. “Give me one good reason I shouldn’t kill you right now.”
I looked up at him in shock.
His words were cold as ice, and the look on his face told me he wasn’t bluffing or exaggerating. He meant every word.
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Chapter 0313
My kidnapper knew it, too. Fear flickered across his face–aw and undeniable as he stared back at Alexander.
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“I’m sorry,” he said weakly. “I was only following orders. I only used the force that was necessary.”
“This level of force was necessary?” Alexander repeated skeptically, his gaze flicking down to take stock of my injuries again.
“He didn’t tie me up at first,” I said, my voice hoarse. “Only after I escaped the first time.”
Amusement flashed briefly across Alexander’s face, but it vanished just as quickly.
Even now, he was still using the disguised voice, and I wanted to ask him why. I wanted to ask him a million things. But this wasn’t the moment. I bit the inside of my check to keep the questions inside.
Alexander turned his attention back to the man, his expression unreadable.
“It seems my wife wants me to take pity on you,” he said, his voice deceptively calm. “Though it goes against my nature.”
The man turned to me, his head bobbing frantically. “Thank you, thank you,” he stammered.
Alexander let out a quiet, humorless chuckle. “Don’t thank her yet.” His voice was steel. “You’ll have to prove yourself useful before I agree to let you go.”
“How?” the man asked eagerly. “How can I be of use to you, sir?”
“Tell me who ordered this,” Alexander ordered coldly. “And don’t waste my time with excuses.”
The man hesitated, his gaze flicking toward me before settling back on Alexander. When he finally spoke, his voice was low but even.
“I was hired by Amanda Gray.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. “I knew it,” I whispered.
I wasn’t sure why I said it–I hadn’t expected any specific name. But deep down, I had suspected Amanda all along. After David’s arrest, she would have been furious, and she was behind my initial kidnapping. It made sense that she would strike again.
Alexander, however, remained skeptical.
“So you’re one of Archer’s men,” he said with distaste.
“Yes, sir.”
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“And what exactly did Amanda want you to do to my wife?” Alexander asked, his voice like a blade cutting through the air. That edge of rage crept back into his tone.
The man didn’t answer.
Instead, he glanced at me, then at the car, as if calculating whether he had a chance to run.
He didn’t.
We were only a few feet away, and Alexander’s reflexes were too sharp for him to get far.
“Answer me,” Alexander ordered, his voice deadly quiet.
The man swallowed hard.
I could see the terror in his eyes—more than just fear of Alexander’s wrath. There was something deeper.
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Chapter 0313
Something I didn’t understand.
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I looked up at Alexander curiously. He didn’t repeat the command, didn’t lash out or move to strike. He simply stood there, waiting.
The silence stretched between us.
And then, finally, the man spoke.
“I was ordered to take her over the northern border and abandon her deep in Rogue territory.”
A slow, calculated pause.
“I see,” Alexander murmured. “Get out of my sight.”
The man didn’t waste time thanking Alexander. He turned on his heel, jumped into the car, and sped off, the engine roaring as he disappeared into the distance.
Alexander didn’t watch him go.
Instead, he turned his full attention to me. Stooping slightly, he brushed my hair from my eyes, his fingers gentle as they traced over one of the bumps on my head.
“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice softer now.
“I’ll be fine,” I said, forcing a small smile. “Just a little banged up from rolling around in the trunk.”
His expression darkened. “I’m sorry about that,” he said sincerely. “If I’d known you were back there, I wouldn’t have driven so recklessly.”
“It’s okay,” I reassured him. “I’m just glad you came for me.‘
Alexander scoffed, as if the idea that he wouldn’t had been ridiculous. “Of course I came for you.”
His certainty warmed something deep inside me.
“Come on,” he said, slipping an arm around me. “Let’s get you home and have the doctor look you over, just to be safe.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
We walked to the car together, the silence stretching between us. There were a million things I wanted to say, a thousand questions lingering on my tongue. But for now, I stayed quiet, focusing only on the safety of Alexander’s car–and on putting this nightmare behind me.
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