Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 41: Chapter 41

Chloe froze in place, rooted to the spot. The towering figure before her was like an insurmountable wall, completely extinguishing any hope of escape.
Dim yellow light cascaded over him, outlining his chiseled features. He advanced toward her, one step at a time, his footsteps echoing through the empty workshop, each one a heavy hammer blow to her chest.
"Where do you think you're going?" The gravelly voice cut through the silence again, his hawk-like gaze pinning her with suffocating intensity.
Chloe forced herself to stay calm. She lifted her chin slightly, masking the fear churning within, and asked in a guarded, distant tone, "Who are you?"
He offered no reply, simply standing fixed in front of her, looming over Chloe with an inscrutable, cold yet conflicted expression, like he was weighing his options or suppressing some deep emotion.
Only then did Chloe notice the jet-black handgun clutched in his hand, its muzzle angled slightly downward but still radiating lethal intent.
"Don't move," the man finally said, his voice low and gravelly. "I'm here to get you out."
Chloe froze, instinctively stepping back, but her numb legs betrayed her, and she nearly stumbled.
The man quickly reached out, his broad, strong hand surprisingly gentle as he steadied her arm. He carefully helped her regain her balance before letting go.
"You—" Chloe started to speak, but before she could finish, the man pressed his index finger to his lips.
"Shh, quiet. They're waking up," he murmured.
Sure enough, a kidnapper stirred nearby. One of them groggily sat up, rubbing his eyes and muttering, "What's going on? Who's there?"
The man swiftly pulled Chloe behind him, shielding her with his body. At the same instant, he raised his pistol and aimed it directly at the kidnappers.
"Freeze, both of you," he commanded in a deep, authoritative voice that brooked no argument. "One more move and I'll shoot."
The kidnappers snapped into alertness at the sight. They exchanged nervous glances, and one of them warily asked, "Who the hell are you? How'd you find this place?"
"I'm a cop," the man stated coldly. "The place is surrounded. Make this easy on yourselves and surrender now."
"A cop?" the other kidnapper scoffed, clearly unconvinced. "Just you alone? That's bullshit."
The man paid them no mind, pulled a pair of handcuffs from his belt, and tossed them onto the ground. "Cuff yourselves," he commanded coldly. "Or face the consequences."
The kidnappers hesitated briefly, then quickly regained their composure.
Clearly doubting the man's claim about backup, they exchanged a glance before one of them suddenly lunged for a nearby metal pipe, ready to strike.
A gunshot rang out, halting the kidnapper in his tracks. He stared down at the smoking bullet hole by his foot, cold sweat beading on his forehead. His accomplice stood transfixed, not daring to make another move.
"Final warning—cuff up." The man's voice was ice-cold, leaving no room for negotiation.
This time, the kidnappers finally complied. Moving sluggishly, they picked up the handcuffs and cuffed their hands behind their backs.
The man stepped forward to inspect their restraints, then reinforced the bindings with rope.
Having dealt with everything, he turned back to Chloe. "Let's go."
Chloe hesitated for a split second, but in the end, she chose to trust him. 'What other choice do I really have?' she wondered.
The two moved cautiously through the derelict factory, navigating dim, narrow passageways where every step was a gamble and every shadow a potential threat.
The man led the way, always ahead to clear the path for Chloe. His movements were swift and practiced, every pivot and pause calculated with military precision.
Chloe finally couldn't hold back. "What's your name?" she asked.
"Maverick Jennings," he replied tersely, offering no further explanation.
The name rang a bell, but Chloe couldn't quite place it. Still, there was no time to dwell on it. They had already reached the factory's back exit.
Even more decrepit than the main entrance, this place was littered with rotting wooden planks and rusted metal doors.
As Maverick pushed the door open, a wave of musty stench assaulted them, making Chloe wrinkle her nose in disgust.
The night was thick and impenetrable, with only a few faint slivers of moonlight filtering through the clouds, adding an eerie atmosphere to the desolate scene.
Just then, a sharp pain shot through Chloe's ankle, nearly knocking her off her feet.
Maverick immediately noticed this. He knelt down to examine her ankle. "You are sprained badly."
"Don't worry about me. Let's just go," Chloe said through gritted teeth. She knew staying here was too dangerous. Every second they lingered only heightened the risk of being caught.
Maverick shook his head and pulled medical supplies and bandages from his compact field kit. "Hang in there. Let me treat this first, or you won't make it another step."
Maverick's touch was gentle yet practiced, every movement precise and careful, never once making Chloe's injury worse.
His unwavering focus and patience gave her a sense of security she hadn't felt in a long time. The feeling was so unfamiliar and so dangerous that Chloe instinctively found herself resisting it.
"All set." Maverick stood up, secured the bandage, and then bent down with his back to her. "Hop on. I'll carry you."
"No need—" Chloe started to protest, but Maverick cut her off.
"This isn't the time to play tough. I need to make sure both of us get out of here safely." He spoke with calm certainty, his tone brooking no argument.
Chloe hesitated briefly before climbing onto his back. Maverick secured her thighs, rose effortlessly, and made a beeline for the waiting car in the distance.
Throughout the journey, silence lingered between them, broken only by their mingled breaths and Maverick's steady, measured footsteps.
In that long, quiet stretch, Chloe suddenly realized this stranger wasn't as cold or unfeeling as he appeared. The warmth radiating from his shoulders and the way he carried her both hinted at a quiet, undeniable humanity she couldn't ignore.
When they finally reached the car, Maverick opened the door and carefully settled Chloe into the passenger seat.
He rounded to the driver's side and started the engine. The engine growled to life, cutting through the night. They sped off into the streets of Dawnridge, disappearing into the darkness.
The silence in the car lingered, but something unspoken now hung between them. Chloe turned her head to look out the window, finding herself strangely reluctant to meet Maverick's eyes.
At that moment, Maverick suddenly spoke up, his tone calm, yet carrying a subtle undercurrent of confusion and concern. "What were you doing in a place like that at this hour?"
Chloe froze for a split second before lowering her gaze, avoiding his eyes, and answered evasively, "It's just an accident."
Maverick didn't press her further, focusing instead on the road ahead. Every now and then, his pensive yet restrained gaze flicked to the rearview mirror, stirring an inexplicable unease in Chloe's chest.
As the car stopped in front of the Stone Villa's gates, an uneasy silence fell between them. At last, Maverick broke it. "We're here. You can go back safely now."
"Thank you." It was all Chloe could muster, but the words sounded hollow as soon as they left her lips.
After she faced life and death, thanks hardly seemed enough to express what was truly in her heart, if there was anything left to say.
Maverick simply nodded, saying nothing more.
He watched as Chloe pushed open the car door and, limping, made her way toward the brightly lit Stone Villa, a flicker of indecipherable emotion passing through his deep, fathomless eyes.
But soon, Maverick averted his gaze and drove off into the night, his car disappearing into Dawnridge's shadows.