Chapter 20
Hannah slumped on the living room couch, tea going cold in her hands as she pinched the bridge of
her nose. This situation was becoming unbearable.
Two grown men competing for her attention like toddlers fighting over a toy. Every. Single. Day.
At breakfast, Ryder would cook her perfect eggs while Kaden prepared fresh smoothies.
During walks, Ryder would casually take her hand while Kaden would “coincidentally” run into
them.
Even movie nights had become battlegrounds–şilent warfare over who got to sit beside her on the
couch.
She’d had enough. A day out with Tamia was exactly what she needed–some female company and a break from the testosterone tournament.
“I’m going out,” she announced, grabbing her purse. “And no, neither of you is coming with me.”
Ryder was immediately on his feet. “You shouldn’t go alone. Let me drive you.”
“I can take you,” Kaden countered instantly. “My car’s right outside.”
Hannah gave them both a withering look. “If either of you follows me, don’t bother coming back. I
mean it.”
The men exchanged glances, reluctantly backing down.
Hannah escaped the house with a sigh of relief. The fresh air felt glorious after days of suffocating
tension.
She’d barely made it to the end of the block when a black sedan screeched to a stop beside her. Before she could react, the doors flew open and several men jumped out. One clamped a hand over her mouth while others grabbed her arms, dragging her into the vehicle.
Hannah fought hard, kicking and twisting, but something pressed against her face–a cloth with a sickly–sweet smell–and darkness swallowed her.
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Chapter 20
When consciousness returned, Hannah found herself bound to a chair with coarse rope digging into her wrists. A rag had been stuffed into her mouth. Her head pounded and her vision swam as she tried to make sense of her surroundings–some kind of abandoned warehouse with concrete floors
and rusted metal beams.
“Finally awake?” A familiar voice echoed through the space, tinged with unhinged excitement.
Hannah lifted her head to see Phoebe standing before her, eyes burning with hatred. Her normally perfect appearance had deteriorated dramatically–unwashed hair, pale skin, smudged makeup. She looked completely unraveled.
Hannah tried to speak, but the gag reduced her words to muffled grunts.
Phoebe smirked and yanked the cloth from Hannah’s mouth. “Here we are at last,” she said, her voice unnaturally high. “Just you and me.”
Hannah took a moment to catch her breath. “Phoebe, think about what you’re doing. This is kidnapping–you’re looking at serious jail time. It’s not worth it.”
“Jail time?” Phoebe laughed, the sound hollow and desperate. “You think I care about that? My brother used to love me–ME! Then you came along and ruined everything. This is your fault!”
Hannah studied the woman before her, realizing just how far gone she truly was.
“Your brother still cares about you,” Hannah said carefully. “He’s just confused right now. Let me go, and we can talk this through like adults.”
Phoebe continued as if she hadn’t heard a word. “Talk? There’s nothing to discuss. Kaden is so obsessed with you he’s willing to get plastic surgery to look like your dead boyfriend! He’s throwing away his dignity, his self–respect–all for you! How could you do this to him?”
Her laughter cut off abruptly, her expression hardening. “But I won’t let that happen. I’m going to make sure he remembers who he really loves. Who he’s always loved.”
She clapped her hands twice, and the warehouse door creaked open. Three men shuffled in–dirty, disheveled, with predatory grins that made Hannah’s blood run cold.
“What are you doing?” Hannah’s voice caught in her throat as understanding dawned. “Phoebe, stop this right now. You don’t know what you’re doing.”
Phoebe’s smile was chilling. “Oh, I know exactly what I’m doing. I’m going to destroy what he wants most. After this, you’ll be so damaged he won’t even look at you.”
nassot Comes Too Late
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Chapter 20
She turned to the men. “She’s all yours. Do whatever you want with her.”
The men approached slowly, their intentions clear in their leering expressions.
Hannah struggled against her restraints, the ropes cutting into her skin. “This won’t make him love you!” she shouted desperately. “This will only make him hate you forever!”
Phoebe’s eyes flashed with something between pain and madness. “Let him hate me then! At least he’ll feel something for me. At least he’ll remember me!”
The men were upon her now, dirty fingers reaching for her clothes. Hannah thrashed violently in the chair, her voice raw with rage and fear. “Get away from me! DON’T TOUCH ME!”
Just as one of them grabbed her blouse, the warehouse door exploded inward with a deafening
crash.
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Chapter 21
Chapter 21
