18. Chapter 18

Chapter 18

-Jared-

I had never felt so nervous or so pressed for time as I did in that moment. We raced toward Louis's location, every fiber of my being calling out for Alison. Yet, even before we arrived at the isolated house, I sensed something amiss. There were no guards to greet us, just scattered bodies strewn across the ground, and an unsettling silence pervaded the air. Before the car even came to a halt, I bolted out, sprinting across the terrain.

"Alison!" I cried out, bursting into the house. The door stood wide open, stained with blood.

"Alison!" I shouted, scouring every inch of the premises, but she was nowhere to be found. She was gone.

"Fuck!" I bellowed, my voice reverberating through the empty rooms.

Running a hand through my hair, I felt the weight of defeat settle over me, reminiscent of the last time she was taken. How could this keep happening? My sole purpose was to protect her, yet I had failed repeatedly.

In my fury, I slammed my hand into the wall, fracturing the bones, but I didn't care. The pain barely registered as I slowly made my way through the house, casting one last glance around. Entering a room filled with masculine belongings, I surmised it to be Louis's. Yet, amidst the stuff lay a pool of blood, but no body.

Scanning the area for clues, I struggled to make sense of what had unfolded. That's when I noticed a rope dangling over the railing. Stepping outside, I watched it sway in the wind, my mind racing. Had Alison managed to escape? If so, why was there blood on the ground?

Something had transpired, yet the pieces of the puzzle eluded me. Returning inside, I fixated on the bloodstains until my phone emitted a notification. Retrieving it from my pocket, I discovered a message waiting for me. Once again, I was confronted with an image of my wife, bound and gagged, inside a vehicle. I had arrived mere minutes too late. They were just now transporting her away.

Beneath the image, a chilling message awaited: Julia for your wife. You have three days to make your decision.

A growl of frustration rose in my throat, tempting me to hurl the phone against the wall, but I restrained myself. Instead, I took a deep breath and departed. I believed I knew whose blood stained the scene since Alison didn't appear to be bleeding, only bruised. Seeing her in such a state was beyond belief, but we wouldn't leave this place as the defeated ones. I vowed to bring her back to safety. Yet, what would be the price?

Descending the stairs, my men awaited my command. I surveyed the group in front of me, grappling with a decision. Deep down, I knew what I wanted to do. There was nothing that could deter me from reclaiming Alison. Thus, I locked away any trace of soft emotion stirred by the sight of the lost little girl. I was prepared to sacrifice everything for Alison, even my own conscience.

"What's the plan?" one of them queried.

"We're heading home. I have a delivery to make," I responded icily.

They all nodded in understanding before returning to their vehicles. I didn't need three days to make my decision. Despite what I had promised Julia, in that moment, the urgency to retrieve Alison overshadowed any lingering doubts. I couldn't bear the thought of her remaining in their clutches any longer. We had been separated for far too many days, and I yearned to have her back.

As we drove, a nagging feeling began to gnaw at me, a sense of unease creeping in with each passing mile. I admonished myself to suppress it. The girl meant nothing to me. She belonged with her grandparents. Alison was my priority. She had suffered severe beatings, and whether it was Louis or his family responsible, I couldn't determine. All that mattered was bringing her home.

In silence, we returned to my residence. My hand throbbed with pain, a reminder of my earlier outburst against the wall. Before seeking out Julia, I located a first aid kit to provide some relief and support. I would need to have it examined properly later, but for now, painkillers and a tight bandage sufficed.

Ascending the stairs, I found Julia's room still guarded. Instructing the guards to leave, I approached the door, feeling resolute in my decision yet strangely unsettled, my hand trembling as I reached for the handle.

"Get a grip," I ordered myself, steeling my resolve before attempting to open the door, only to be reminded that I had instructed Julia to lock it.

"Julia?" I called out, knocking on the door.

It didn't take long before I heard the lock click. Pushing down the handle, I swung the door open, only to be immediately engulfed by Julia's embrace. She wrapped her arms around my waist, holding me tightly.

"You're alive!" she exclaimed, relief evident in her voice.

I coughed uncomfortably, unsure how to respond to the sudden affection. Attempting to gently pry her off me, I found she refused to let go, clinging even tighter. With a sigh, I felt my resistance weaken, allowing her to hold me, knowing it might be the last warmth she would feel from me.

She continued to cling as if her life depended on it, yet I had arrived here with the intention of trading her for Alison. I knew I was a monster, and oddly, I didn't feel particularly remorseful. But as I looked at Julia, guilt began to gnaw at me. I had made her a promise, and yet I had been prepared to break it the moment I laid eyes on Alison's battered body.

However, I felt conflicted now. If I handed Julia over, her fate would be sealed. I would never be able to help her. Blood-related or not, I had no ties to her. Her mother was gone, and I suspected Louis might have some legal claim over her, tying her to Dominic and the rest of them. I feared she would forever be lost in their grasp.

But if I didn't exchange her, how would I ever get Alison back? Louis was just one person, while Dominic had formidable support and now my wife as leverage. I couldn't believe the dire situation I found myself entangled in once more. Thus, I initially thought it would be easy to hand over Julia. After all, she had only been here one night. What did it matter? I had been married to Alison for almost 15 years and known her almost all my life, yet I couldn't bring myself to do it.

I allowed Julia to cling to me, gently stroking her hair in an attempt to comfort her. She seemed to find solace in the gesture, but inside, I felt adrift. Would I ever see Alison again if I refused to give up Julia? And if I surrendered Julia, could I truly guarantee Alison's return? There were too many uncertainties and too many ways it could all go wrong. One thing, however, was clear: handing Julia over to Dominic and his wife would condemn her to a bleak future.

With some reluctance, I crouched down to meet Julia at eye level. She still clung to me, clutching my jacket tightly.

"Where's Alison?" she asked, peering past me.

I released a heavy sigh. "I didn't reach her in time."

Julia's eyes widened, and she looked down, her expression weighted with guilt.

"It's not your fault," I reassured her firmly, reaching out to rest my hand on her shoulder. "I was simply too slow. Again."

"What are you going to do now?" she inquired, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm not sure yet."

"What will they do to her?" she whispered, her fear obvious.

"I don't know," I admitted helplessly.

She nodded slowly, finally releasing her grip on me. However, I gently touched her neck, seeking to reassure her.

"Hey, remember the promise I made you?" I asked.

She nodded again. "But they want me, right? Not Alison."

"No, they don't want Alison," I confirmed.

"So, are you going to... do it?" she questioned, her voice trembling with apprehension.

"Hand you over?" I asked.

"Yes."

"I don't negotiate with people who threaten my wife. I warned them of the consequences," I declared.

"What happens?" she whispered.

"Not good things. But you don't need to worry about that," I reassured her. "I will... figure something out."

Julia fell silent, her gaze fixed on the ground, clearly struggling to process this information. Then her eyes drifted to my bandaged hand, and she reached out, gently taking mine in hers.

"What happened to you?" she inquired.

"It's nothing."

"It doesn't look good," she murmured.

"It stings a bit, but I've dealt with worse," I assured her.

"Did you see a doctor?"

I chuckled softly. "Not yet, but I'll call one. Don't worry about it."

"Should I worry about Alison?" she questioned, meeting my gaze.

I shook my head. "Alison is tougher than she looks. We always find our way back to each other. We will again."

Though Julia seemed unconvinced, she remained silent instead of arguing with me.

"Come. You haven't eaten," I said, gently guiding her out of the room. Part of me wanted to go search for Alison, and another part still considered handing Julia over. But what kind of person would I be if I did that? No, I needed to find a different solution, and I would. Alison would just have to hold on a little longer until I found her.