Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Under the dim yellow glow of the streetlamp in the alley behind the café, two towering kidnappers were roughly manhandling Chloe.
Chloe's wrists were gripped tightly, leaving faint red marks on her delicate skin. Yet not a trace of panic showed on her face. Her deep eyes swept coldly over the two, as if she were the predator sizing up her prey.
"Do you understand the consequences of kidnapping me?" Her voice was eerily calm, yet carried a bone-chilling authority. "You should know exactly who I am."
The lead kidnapper, Cassian Lowell, scoffed, a hint of disdain flashing across his face. "We know exactly who you are, Ms. Quinn. But this time, you'd better cooperate nicely. Otherwise—"
Cassian paused deliberately, his fingers fumbling at his waist where the outline of a gun was barely visible.
"Otherwise what?" Chloe raised an eyebrow, a mocking smirk playing on her lips. "Kill me? Do you even have the guts?"
Her words struck like a physical blow. The two kidnappers exchanged a glance; a flicker of hesitation crossed Cassian's eyes before he quickly steeled himself.
He shoved Chloe hard against the wall, his voice dropping to a menacing growl. "Ms. Quinn, don't push your luck. We're just following orders. We don't want to hurt you."
Chloe sneered coldly, "Following orders? Did your boss order my death or my survival?"
Cassian didn't answer. Instead, he roughly yanked Chloe forward and shoved her into a black car waiting at the mouth of the alley.
As the door slammed shut, a wave of suffocating dread washed over Chloe—every fiber of her being rebelled against feeling trapped. 'This isn't the time for stubborn pride,' she wondered.
The car's interior was dimly lit. Cassian sat in the front passenger seat, his cold gaze meeting Chloe's through the rearview mirror.
He finally spoke, his tone flat and unfeeling. "Ms. Quinn, we're just taking you somewhere. No one's going to hurt you."
"Are you sure?" Chloe scoffed derisively. "Then who knocked out my assistant just now? Do you seriously expect me to buy that kind of bullshit?"
Cassian frowned slightly but quickly regained his composure. Turning to look out the window, he said, "Our mission is to get you safely to the designated location. Nothing else concerns you."
"A designated location?" Chloe's voice turned glacial. "Who's the mastermind so desperate to meet me?"
Cassian offered no further response, his lips now firmly sealed. Clearly unwilling to divulge more, his reticence only intensified the suffocating atmosphere inside the car.
The car cut through the night, streetlights flickering past the windows and casting fleeting shadows across Chloe's cool, composed face.
Fixing her piercing gaze on Cassian, she probed. "If you truly don't want to hurt me, release my assistant. Otherwise, you won't make it out of Dawnridge alive."
"Enough," snapped the other kidnapper, Bennett Lorne, in the driver's seat, slamming his hand on the steering wheel, his voice edged with irritation. "One more word and I'll shut you up right now."
Chloe took a deep breath, forcing down the anxiety churning inside her. 'Stay calm, Chloe. If I lose my cool now, they'll only get bolder,' she warned herself inwardly.
However, before she could even think of her next move, a sharp sting pierced her arm. Chloe looked down and saw a syringe being pulled from her arm—the clear liquid already coursing through her veins.
"You—" Chloe's eyes widened in shock, but her voice began to fade.
The world before her blurred as darkness crept into her vision. Summoning every ounce of strength, she struggled against it, but ultimately slumped unconscious against the seat.
At the jewelry counter on the third floor of Citrus Grove Plaza, Carlos was ostensibly focused on selecting a gift.
His slender fingers glided over display cases filled with diamond necklaces and earrings, yet never lingered.
His gaze never truly settled on these luxury pieces. He seemed to be searching for something far more significant, something truly special.
"Carlos, how about this one?" Yolanda asked, standing beside him and holding out a dainty necklace adorned with pink diamonds, her voice soft and tentative.
Carlos gave it a brief glance and shook his head. "It's too flashy, not her style."
Yolanda's smile froze for just a second before she quickly composed herself.
"How about this one?" she asked, picking out another piece. "It's elegant and understated, very sophisticated."
Carlos didn't really look at it and replied quietly, "Don't trouble yourself. I'll choose myself."
Though his tone was calm, it carried an unapproachable aloofness that made Yolanda feel a stabbing pain in her heart. Yet she maintained her gentle facade, taking a step back to give him space.
Just then, a commotion erupted in the main hall of Citrus Grove Plaza. A disheveled, blood-soaked woman staggered into the crowd, sending waves of panic through the shoppers as screams broke out and people scrambled away.
Carlos frowned as he looked over and recognized the woman as Demi. Acting on instinct, he strode forward and caught the swaying woman before she could collapse.
"What happened?" Carlos asked, his voice low and urgent, his eyes betraying a rare flicker of panic.
Demi lifted her head, clutching Carlos's arm with all the strength she had left. "M-Mr. Lambert, they've taken Ms. Quinn."
Carlos's pupils instantly constricted. Supporting Demi, he quickly led her to a secluded corner, instructing the security guards to keep the onlookers back.
In a low, urgent voice, Carlos said, "Take a deep breath. Now, tell me. What exactly happened?"
Demi gasped for breath, her voice trembling as she stammered, "T-Two men suddenly burst into the café. T-They knocked me out and took Ms. Quinn away."
"Who sent them?" Carlos demanded through clenched teeth, barely containing the fury raging inside him, his fists clenched so tightly they turned pale.
"I-I don't know." Demi shook her head weakly. "B-But they mentioned Yael, saying tonight's date wasn't the real purpose. It was a trap."
Upon hearing the name, a dangerous glint flashed across Carlos's eyes.
Without hesitation, Carlos whipped out his phone and dialed a number, barking orders to those around him. "Seal off every exit in the commercial district. Pull up the security footage. I need to know exactly where that car went."
Once the call connected, Carlos barked into the phone, "Dispatch a team to track down Yael's location immediately, and reinforce patrols around Citrus Grove Plaza."
After hanging up, Carlos turned back to Demi, his voice tight. "Are you absolutely certain they mentioned Yael?"
Demi managed a weak nod, but with her strength fading fast from excessive blood loss, she was beyond speech. Paramedics swiftly loaded her onto a stretcher and rushed her to the ER.
Carlos stood motionless, outwardly calm, yet everyone around him could sense the dangerous aura radiating from his body.
His hand hanging at his side slowly clenched into a pale-knuckled fist, and his deep eyes glimmered with a cold, complex light. "Yael," in a low, razor-sharp voice, Carlos murmured, each syllable as sharp as a blade.
At that moment, only one thought burned in Carlos's mind. 'No matter what it takes, I have to find Chloe,' he wondered.