90

“Thank you, Valery,” Jarek said through clenched teeth. “You’ll be protected from now on. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Valery thanked him about thirty times, her fear evident in her voice.

She feared for her life, knowing that Richard wouldn’t be happy that she had spoken up. But her conscience wouldn’t allow her to stay silent.

Jarek hung up the phone and headed to the room where Nathan was being held. It was a stark room, with gray walls and just a bed and a chair.

Nathan looked defeated, sad, his gaze lost somewhere on the floor.

“Richard escaped,” Jarek said bluntly, with gritted teeth. “That bastard plans to keep causing harm.”

Nathan looked up for the first time in a long while, and the hatred in his eyes sent a shiver down Jarek’s spine.

“You’re the one hurting me by keeping me away from my wife and kids, just because you’re convinced I’m like Richard,” he said furiously. “You’re the monster, Grandpa.”

Nathan’s words hit Jarek like a slap. He swallowed hard, his heart heavy with guilt and fear.

“Nathan, I just want to protect you,” he spoke with a tense voice. “Protect Suzanne and your children. Richard won’t stop until he destroys all of us.”

Nathan didn’t respond. His eyes remained fixed on Jarek with fierce hatred.

Jarek sighed, knowing his reasons wouldn’t be understood. He had managed to rescue his daughter Natalia from that psychopath’s hands, but he wasn’t sure he could do it this time.

He was mortally scared and didn’t want to admit it.

Maybe his plan was insane, but he saw no other option. With one last look at his grandson, he turned and left the room, determined to find a solution before it was too late.

…


Suzanne woke up with a terrible headache and shifted slightly, feeling her hands bound.

She quickly panicked when she realized she was in a dark room. She tried to free herself, but it was useless; all she did was hurt her wrists.

“Finally awake,” said a voice as the door opened. “I brought you something to eat.”

“I’m not hungry,” she lied. “I just want to see my babies.”

“Oh… those babies,” the man said with a cynical smile. “Don’t worry, they’re in good hands.”

“Whose hands?” she asked with a broken voice. “Why is he trying to hurt us so much?”

“I don’t know… I was just given orders,” he mocked.

“Let me out of here,” she pleaded. “I’ll give you money, whatever you want.”

He laughed heartily, making her feel like a fool.

“Doll, doll,” he said, stroking her cheek, but she pulled away. “I’m being paid a good amount of money just to keep you locked up here.”

“Who’s paying you?” Suzanne demanded, furious. “Who’s the bastard?”

“That’s not for you to say,” he said with a sidelong smile. “Now eat, you’ll need your strength.”

“I’m not eating. I’d rather starve than try that, which is probably poisoned,” she said, looking at him with disgust.

“Stop being pathetic, Suzanne.”

She was startled to hear him.

“How do you know my name? Who the hell are you?”

“Maurice,” he sighed wearily. “Are you happy now?”

“What do you want from me?”

“Enough with your questions,” he leaned against the wall. “Just shut up.”

“Fine,” she huffed.

“Although you know…” he walked towards her and loomed over her, looking at her lecherously. “I’d love to have you all to myself.”

“Get away from me,” she said, disgusted. “Please, don’t hurt me.”

“If you behave,” he kissed her cheek. “You’re quite a beauty, too bad you’re with that guy who…”

“Shut up,” said someone from the door. “Now get out of here.”

The man grumbled and reluctantly got off her. Suzanne saw him talking to the person at the door for a while before leaving.

“Mrs. Stone,” said the person, and Suzanne’s eyes widened in astonishment. “How nice to see you… although I believe it’s Miss Peyton now, isn’t it?”

“Deborah…” she said, filled with fear. “Are you the one keeping me locked up here? Let me go, you crazy wretch!”

The woman threw her head back and laughed.

“I enjoy seeing you weak,” she chuckled with amusement. “You look so delicate.”

“What do you want?” she spat out angrily. “Get to the damn point.”

“You have no idea what I have planned for you,” she walked around the room, looking at Suzanne with hatred. “Because of you… I couldn’t marry Nathan.”

“What are you talking about…?”

“I was the candidate to be his fiancée, but he chose you over me… a mere secretary,” she clenched her fists in anger. “I vowed to get my revenge, and that’s why I formed an alliance with someone who hates him almost as much as I do.”

“Who?” Suzanne whispered, terrified by what was happening. “Who hates Nathan so much to do this to him?”

The woman smiled with a feline grin, making Suzanne’s stomach churn.

“Richard Quirrell.”
Suzanne was left breathless when she heard that name come from Deborah’s lips. Her eyes widened in disbelief and terror.

“It can’t be,” Suzanne murmured, shaking her head. “Richard Quirrell is dead.”

Deborah let out a bitter laugh, her eyes filled with contempt.

“You’re such a fool, Suzanne,” she said, approaching slowly. “No one has ever been able to stop that man, and there won’t be anyone now who can.”

Suzanne’s stomach twisted into a knot of anxiety. She swallowed hard, her thoughts swirling in a whirlwind.

Could Nathan’s disappearance be related to this? A shiver ran down her spine, fervently wishing that it wasn’t so, that Nathan was somehow safe.

“What do you mean by that?” Suzanne asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Deborah smiled maliciously, savoring the fear in Suzanne’s eyes.

“Surely Jarek Strong will be searching for you now,” she said disdainfully. “He sent his people to watch over you, but I was more cunning. I outwitted them and managed to kidnap you for my dear Richard.”

Suzanne felt horror flood over her. The evil of Deborah and Richard Quirrell terrified her.

She had no idea what these two wanted, or if Jarek Strong would be able to save them in time.

The room they were in was dark and grim, with bare concrete walls and a single flickering bulb hanging from the ceiling.

The air was filled with a rancid smell, and the dampness was felt in every corner.

Suzanne was tied to a chair, her wrists aching from the pressure of the ropes, and the cold of the cement floor seeped into her bones.

“You don’t know how much I enjoy this,” Deborah continued, getting closer. “Seeing that fear in your eyes, knowing you have nowhere to go and no one to turn to.”

Suzanne closed her eyes for a moment, trying to find a trace of hope.

She thought of Nathan, her children, the life they had once dreamed of having. She couldn’t afford to lose faith now.

“No matter what you do,” Suzanne said with a trembling but determined voice. “Nathan will come for me. He always finds a way.”

Deborah stopped and looked at her with a mix of irritation and amusement.

“Keep dreaming, dear,” she said. “You don’t have much time left to do so.”

With those words, Deborah turned and left the room, leaving Suzanne alone with her thoughts and fears.

The silence that followed was deafening; every second that passed felt like an eternity.

Suzanne knew she had to stay strong, for herself and for Nathan. She couldn’t let terror consume her.

With every passing minute, she prayed for Jarek Strong and Nathan to find their way to her.