Chapter 50
“Mr. Hockley, the money is all art and packed. Are you going alone?” Hanley asked wit
After all, the kidnappers Howell was dealing with were ruthless, and canning
dangerous group of m
men who could make anyone uneasy.
Howell took a deep breath and nodded. “Yes, 111 go alone. It’s what they asked for. Hooley, remember–no.
o police. By the way, did you get the
Hanley quickly handed him the coordinates on his device, “Here, Mr. Buckley Take a look.
“Good. You stay behind, but make sure to be discreet. Wait for the right moment,” Howell instructed, his voice firm
“Understood. But please, be careful,” Hanley said, his worry evident. He had already contacted the bodyguards to provide covert protection for
Howell
Howell’s eyes were cold and sharp, an eerie depth to his gaze that sent a chill through the room. Hanley silently prayed for the kidnappers–people who dared to cross Howell wouldn’t have time to scream before their lives were over,
Howell was different today, focused, almost terrifying in his resolve. Hanley had never seen him like this before.
Within minutes, the money was loaded into Howell’s car. He got behind the wheel, pressed the gas, and disappeared from Hanley’s view.
Without wasting any time, Hanley quickly got to work on the next steps.
After about 40 minutes of driving, Howell arrived at the outskirts of the bridge, but there was no sign of anyone.
His phone rang Without hesitation, he answered.
“Tve arrived, the money’s ready, and it’s just me. Can I hear their voices now?” Howell asked, his heart pounding. The kidnappers were unpredictable, and he feared the worst.
“Dammit, you’re demanding a loi,” Ryan’s voice snarled on the other end, frustration lacing every word.
“I just want to hear their voices. It’s a small request,” Howell’s tone remained calm, controlled, but with an underlying edge.
da faint ruling
There was a brief silence before Ryan grumbled. Then, Howell heard a
rustling before the phone was placed near Margot’s mouth.
Margot, her voice trembling, began to speak, “Howell.. is that you? I’m so scared… These people… they’re terrifying… I don’t want to be here… want to go home. They’ve locked me in this dark room, Howell. It’s so dark, like that place we hid in when you were hurt.”
Howell’s mind flashed back to that moment–a time when he was hunted by rivals, wounded and losing consciousness, only to be saved by: woman. He remembered the faint scent of her natural perfume as he awoke to find Margot by his side.
That moment had been enched in his mensury forever, cementing his belief that Margot had saved him.
But now, after all these years, he couldn’t quite figure out how he felt about her anymore.
“Margot, don’t be afraid. Ill be their soon,” Howell’s voler was a soothing, steady promise.
a
Ryan, new in front of Juania, yanked lier hair, pulling her head back with a cruel grin. “Come oni, talk to your lover. He’s dying to know how you’re doing. You briter watch your words carefully”
Joannu, exhausted and hungry, wined in pain as her scalplained from the rough nigging. Ryan’s voler slithered into her ears, cold and venomous.
Finally, Joanasa wired, her vone hoarse and strained. “Hello”
Howell froze, his barath ratching in his chest at the sound of her s
voice. “Joanna.
oth slack and confusion. “Howell‘ How could it be your
4 fun of anger tuned with a diver of hope rolored her work
tyanis mocking ware cut through the moment. “Mr. Buckley, relax. Your woman’s fine, just like you wanted. Now that you’ve heard her, are you
Howell’s jaw tiglmegedd, his voice hard as for “If you lay a finger on them, I swear I will destroy you”
The wright of Howells wordļi u Teel a squirt, undlevilable threat. It the kind of threst that came from ameone who had been in control for floo
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4:11 PM
Chapter 50
long-
—not a warning, but a promise.
Ryan chuckled darkly, his tone lecherous and crude. “We’ll see how it plays out. Your woman’s pretty delicate, but my guys are practically drooling. You sure you want to keep her all to yourself?”
“You dare?” Howell’s voice was sharp, cutting through the phone line like a blade.
“Mr. Buckley, if you don’t hurry up, we might just start. Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Ryan snarled before abruptly hanging up.
The pl
phone went black in Howell’s hand, his anger building so violently he almost smashed it against the dashboard.
“Dammit, Howell hissed, barely holding it together.
Moments later, figures appeared from the trees, their faces obscured. They bound Howell’s eyes with a cloth, grabbed the money, and led him
away.
Time passed, and Howell felt the rough pull of his blindfold being removed. The scene before him was almost surreal–a dilapidated house in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but barren trees.
Howell couldn’t help but admire the kidnappers‘ strategy.
- y. This place was impossible to find, even with GPS. It was clear now-
Operations.
“Get inside,” one of the men growled, shoving Howell forward.
now–this was t
was their base of
The creak of a door opening sounded, and inside, Howell’s eyes adjusted to the dim light. There, tied to chairs, were Joanna and Margot, both blindfolded.
As the blindfolds were removed, their faces registered shock, the recognition flooding their expressions simultaneously.
“Howell” Both women exclaimed in unison, their voices ringing through the empty house, their shock echoing through the walls.
Joanna’s heart rated. “What is this? What’s happening? Why
Why are we both here, and why did they contact Howell? Is it his enemies?”
But Margot’s face remained unreadable, no surprise, no shock. Just a cold indifference.
Confused, Joanna g
glanced at Margot, but this wasn’t the time for questions. She needed to stay focused.
Unconsciously, she placed a hand on her stomach, seeking comfort from the child growing inside her–Please, give me strength.
“Mr. Buckley, welcome. As you can see, your
ir woman’s untouched. Are you relieved now?” Ryan’s voice oozed with mockery as he spoke from behind a menacing mask.
Howell’s eyes narrowed, and his voice was a deep, threatening murmur. “The money’s been given. Now, we all leave, right?
can only take one.”
Ryan’s laughter was sickening.- “Leave! Sure. But you can
