Chapter 198
I swallowed hard, trying to wrap my mind around what he was telling me. “Who gave her those papers? Could it have been the same person that took her? “I asked slowly. “Was it her lawyer? Or… Or was it someone else?” My voice dropped lower. “Was it Eliza? Nathan?”
A shiver ran down my spine at the thought of him. Nathan. His name alone was enough to make my stomach turn. If this was him–if he was the one who took Faith–then why? Why her?
It didn’t make sense.
Faith wasn’t a threat to him. She wasn’t a part of this. If he wanted revenge, if he wanted to make a statement, why not go after someone directly involved?
Unless…
My breath caught.
Unless this wasn’t about Faith at all.
Unless she’d been kidnapped to make a point.
I crossed my arms over my chest as a cold trepidation seeped into my bones. If it wasn’t Nathan, it had to be Eliza. There was no other explanation.
I whipped around on Alex. “Where’s Eliza?” I growled, my tone tighter than I intended.
He strode across the room, flexing his fingers, and then I saw his hand. His knuckles were raw, split open and already bruising. He had punched really
hard.
“She’s still in prison,” he said, his voice clipped, his movements tense.
I swallowed, my throat dry. Then it wasn’t her. At least, not directly.
I glanced back up at Alex, and only then did I realize just how angry he was. His eyes were on mine, expressionless but weighted, and I knew he wasn’t simply mad at Faith missing.
He was mad at me.
I kept my eyes on his, forcing myself not to look away, but my head was spinning with questions. Should I tell him? About the airport? About the men that were watching me?
I had talked myself into believing it wasn’t the right time, that I needed to organize my thoughts before introducing more tumult into the mix.
But maybe I’d waited too long.
Before I could speak, a voice cut through my musings.
“Well, this is a pretty scene to walk in on.”
I spun around, my gut plummeting as I saw Vanessa standing in the doorway, arms crossed, looking between me and Alex with a raised brow. I had totally forgotten she was even here.
Alex let out a sharp hiss, his patience snapping. “What the hell is she doing here?”
Vanessa snorted. “Well, nice to see you too, Alex.” Then her gaze fell upon Dominic, still slumped in his chair, pale–faced, grasping his temples as if trying to shut everything out. Her countenance changed. Confusion played across her face. “What’s wrong with him?”
Alex’s jaw tightened. “That’s none of your damn business.”
Vanessa rolled her eyes. “Oh, so I don’t get to ask questions, but you get to interrogate me?” She crossed her arms over her chest, then turned to me. Raina, you haven’t told him yet?”
A fine tremor of dread vibrated through me. I knew exactly what she was talking about.
I reacted without thinking, reaching out and clamping down on her arm with fingers that pinched the skin in an unspoken warning. “Vanessa, don’t—”
Alex’s
gaze sharpened. “Told me what?”
Vanessa yanked her arm out of my grip and gave me a pointed look. “Oh, come on, Raina. He should know.”
“Vanessa-“I started, my voice firm, but it was too late.
Her gaze snapped to Alex, and her lips parted. “The airport,” she said, as if the words meant nothing. “She was being followed.”
My breath caught.
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Chouze 198
+25 Bonus
Alex went deadly still.
“What?” His voice was low, dangerous.
I swallowed hard, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. “It wasn’t–it wasn’t anything serious,” I said quickly, though even I knew how weak that sounded.
Alex’s face darkened. “Are you kidding me, Raina?” His voice cut through the room, sharp as a blade. “You were followed. And you didn’t think to
mention it?”
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