Leo Linden was true to his word. Seeing the funds hit his offshore account, he immediately grabbed Peyton Joyce and shoved her out the side door. "Here’s your little lover back. I’ll need to borrow your wife for a while longer. Don’t try any tricks. If I don’t leave here safely, your wife won’t live to see the end of the day."
Peyton stumbled out. Simon Hawthorne caught her, his lips pressed into a tight line.
Peyton looked at him guiltily, subconsciously touching her swollen cheek. With a touch of sorrow in her eyes, she said, "I’m sorry, Simon, for putting you in such a difficult position. Since you cared so much about me, Zoe must... must be feeling terrible."
Simon lowered his eyes and untied the ropes around her wrists. Without paying any attention to her gestures, he spoke in a low, cold voice. "Linden, take Peyton downstairs. Send a message to Grandfather that she’s safe and sound."
Linden was deeply shocked. "Mr. Hawthorne? What about you?"
Simon kept his gaze locked on the door, his voice hoarse. "I’ll personally keep an eye on Zoe Lancaster."
Peyton immediately grabbed Simon’s wrist and urged, "Simon! The man inside is a vicious criminal who will do anything. It’s not safe for you to stay here alone. Come with me! Can’t you just arrange for someone else to rescue Zoe?"
His eyes were devoid of warmth as he brushed her hand away. "You go back first. Grandfather is very worried about you."
He didn’t directly answer Peyton’s question. His tone was forceful and left no room for argument. Peyton’s heart skipped a beat, and a look of uncontrollable shock slipped into her eyes.
Linden, knowing Simon better than anyone, immediately pulled Peyton along. "Miss Joyce, come with me. Mr. Hawthorne and the Madam will be fine."
Unable to resist, Peyton was forcibly led away.
Separated by a single door, Zoe’s face remained completely expressionless.
The howling cold wind dried her eyes. Behind her was a three-story drop; any sudden movement and she would plummet. Yet, even the sheer terror of the height couldn’t compare to the endless, suffocating ache spreading through her chest. Numb and freezing.
He knew it perfectly well. He knew that Leo was a desperate outlaw, emotionally unstable, and prone to volatile, unpredictable actions. Even so, he had still chosen Peyton, abandoning her to Leo’s mercy.
She felt utterly ridiculous. Just minutes ago, she had actually believed that their recent moments of sweet intimacy were signs that he cared about her. She thought he might at least hesitate or struggle with the decision. But no—he had firmly and resolutely chosen Peyton.
Zoe lowered her eyelashes, no longer caring what happened next. She was shivering from the cold, yet it felt as though magma was surging through her veins, trapping her between extremes of ice and fire. She couldn’t save herself, not even a little.
Leo abruptly grabbed Zoe, pressing his dagger against her neck. "Behave. Once I get the money, if I’m in a good mood, you might just make it out alive. But if..."
He left the rest unsaid, but Zoe understood perfectly.
Forced to walk out under Leo’s restraint, Zoe kept her head down. She could feel a heavy, brooding gaze resting on her, watching her unblinkingly, but she refused to meet his eyes.
Watching Leo press the sharp dagger to Zoe’s neck, Simon’s pupils contracted, and the dark, murderous intent in his eyes intensified. "Don’t hurt her, or you won’t take a single step out of Kingsford!"
Leo’s heart gave a violent jolt, deeply startled by the man’s terrifyingly gloomy aura. An inexplicable wave of insecurity washed over him. Gritting his teeth, he yelled, "Back off! As long as I leave safely, she’ll be fine!"
Simon glared at him coldly. He tried to offer Zoe a reassuring look, only to find the woman entirely devoid of expression. She showed absolutely no intention of communicating with him. A hollow, trembling sensation seized his chest, and his brow furrowed deeper without him realizing it.
Leo’s movements were rough as he dragged Zoe down the stairs. He had come prepared, having parked a rented car in a dark corner.
Zoe was thrown into the vehicle. Her shoulder smashed hard against the interior, the sharp pain draining the color from her face and leaving her drenched in a cold sweat. He tossed the dagger onto the passenger seat and immediately started the engine.
Simon quickly chased them downstairs. Hopping into his car, he whipped it around and sped after the vehicle ahead. Driving with one hand, he made a call. "He’s heading toward Westerly Road. Get your men in position. The area is relatively open—take him down in one strike. Do not give him a chance to counterattack."
He had made all the arrangements before arriving. He was going to save her, but there was no way this audacious bastard was getting away.
Shane Shaw replied swiftly, "Rest assured, Mr. Hawthorne."
Simon kept his eyes firmly locked on the car ahead. His thoughts were a chaotic mess. Frustrated, he yanked his tie loose, his hands seemingly trembling. Zoe—he wouldn’t let anything happen to her.
The car sped up, going faster and faster. With her hands tied, Zoe had no balance and swayed wildly in the back seat. She began subtly working the ropes loose, her eyes shooting a quick glance at the dagger resting in the front. Even though panic clawed at her heart, this ordeal had taught her one brutal lesson: relying on others was never as reliable as depending on herself.
They swerved into another sharp turn. Although Leo had committed such a crime, he was still an ordinary man deep down. Panic was setting in. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he constantly checked the rearview mirror, tracking Simon’s pursuing car. Perhaps, in his eyes, Zoe was nothing more than a weak, defenseless woman, causing him to lower his guard.
Feeling the ropes gradually loosen, Zoe’s heart hammered like a drum, yet her face remained an unreadable mask. She cast a glance out the window. This area was rather remote, devoid of streetlights. Ahead lay a tunnel. It appeared to be under maintenance—there were no interior lights, leaving only the headlights to pierce the gloom.
Three.
Two.
Zoe stared at the tunnel entrance, silently counting down in her head. Until the exact second the car plunged into the tunnel.
One!
The interior of the car pitched into momentary darkness. She lunged forward, snatched up the dagger, and viciously plunged it into Leo’s rear shoulder blade. Caught completely off guard, the man shrieked as agonizing pain hit him.
"Ah! You bitch!"
He jerked violently, sending the steering wheel out of control. The car careened wildly. Fueled by sheer rage, Leo possessed immense strength. He shoved Zoe away with one brutal swing, sending her crashing back into the rear seat. His eyes bloodshot with fury, Leo yanked the dagger free and slashed blindly at Zoe. Unable to dodge in time, Zoe’s left arm was sliced open. Her face drained of all color.
Suddenly, CRASH! A terrifying sound ripped through the air as the car lost control once again. The vehicle shuddered violently before slamming into the tunnel wall and grinding to a forced halt.
Leo’s face contorted in horror. Enduring the agony in his shoulder, he tried to twist around and grab Zoe to use as a hostage, but the movement outside was much faster. A blindingly intense beam of light pierced into the car, causing temporary blindness. The searing pain in his eyes made him instinctively raise a hand to shield his face.
In that brief window, the car door was ripped open. He was dragged out of the vehicle like a piece of trash. A heavy boot stomped down viciously onto his injured shoulder, the hard sole feeling as if it were grinding his bones to dust. The excruciating pain tore a crazed scream from Leo’s throat. "Ah! No!"
The entire sequence happened impossibly fast. Zoe curled into a tight ball, clutching her bleeding arm, completely unaware of what was happening outside. That was, until the rear passenger door opened, and the faint, familiar scent of ebony drifted into her nose.
She raised her head and locked eyes with a pair of dark pupils that were suppressing smoldering fury and an indescribable emotion.
He leaned down and gathered her into his arms. The hands resting on her waist gripped her tightly, carrying a faint, unmistakable tremble. His voice trailed off in a hoarse whisper. "Zoe. It’s over. Don’t be afraid."