Chapter 39

Scarlett's POV

My legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead, yet I had to force myself to keep running.

In the pitch-black tunnel, only the weak headlights from the distant car barely illuminated this terrifying place.

However, I hadn't run far when reality dealt me a crushing blow!

The tunnel had no exit...

Looking back at the high beams and Tristan dragging a metal pipe along the wall, creating a grating noise, I had only one thought.

—I'm going to die here tonight!

As Tristan drew closer, I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff.

"Still running?" Tristan sneered, lifting the metal pipe to prod me. It didn't hurt much, but it was intimidating enough.

I was too frightened to speak. My body, which had been burning from the drug's torment, now turned ice cold. Facing Tristan's cruel games, I truly had no confidence.

Though Alexander was vile, at least he wouldn't take my life!

"Scared?" Tristan slowly closed in, backing me into a corner.

"If you're afraid, ask Alexander to save you. Don't worry, my boss and I won't let you die too painfully!"

His smile was hideous as he reached out and tore my clothes.

As more of my body was exposed, my skin broke out in goosebumps.

"I'll call him!" I practically screamed. "Give me the phone number, I'll find him! I swear!"

I really didn't want to die. As long as I could live, I wouldn't hesitate to betray Alexander!

"Didn't you just say you barely knew him?" Tristan narrowed his eyes, looking at me suspiciously.

"I beg you to spare me! You just want him to come, right?"

"That's right!" Tristan snorted, gave me the number, and indicated I should call Alexander immediately.

The call connected, but there was only a cold waiting tone on the other end.

I nervously counted the seconds—ten, twenty, thirty... no response.

My body was drenched in cold sweat, my fingers trembling uncontrollably.

"You dare toy with me!"

Sudden excruciating pain made me double over—Tristan kicked me in the abdomen. I collapsed to the ground in agony. Before I could explain, he grabbed my hair and dragged me toward the black SUV parked nearby.

"Please... I really tried..." I begged, but my pleas only resulted in more brutal dragging.

After we reached the SUV, he threw me in front of the mysterious man.

The man clicked his tongue disapprovingly. "Don't you know how to be gentle?"

Tristan released my hair, but the savagery in his eyes hadn't diminished one bit. "This whore is playing me! I think she's just Alexander's plaything, so it doesn't matter if she dies, right?"

I curled up on the ground, not daring to stand or look directly at anyone.

The mysterious man crouched down, calmly examining me with those eyes hidden behind his mask.

"You have ten minutes," he said quietly. "If Alexander doesn't come, we'll take you abroad for some fun."

What did he mean?

Every hair on my body stood on end.

Tristan crouched in front of me, roughly grabbing my chin, smiling obscenely. "Colombia, you know?"

My mind went completely blank.

Until Tristan said another word.

—Drug dealers!

I was utterly stunned!

"With your looks, you could earn quite a bit taking ten clients a night." Just as Tristan's hand was about to touch my face.

The sound of a revving engine caught their attention. The two turned to look at the approaching car, and the mysterious man's face lit up with excitement.

"He's here!" Compared to him, Tristan was clearly more excited and jubilant.

A strange mix of emotions surged within me—fear intertwined with a faint glimmer of hope.

Tristan retrieved a gun from the car, expertly loaded it, then grabbed my neck, pulling me up to use as a hostage.

I could feel the cold gun barrel pressed against my temple, and fear washed over me again.

A black sedan stopped about fifteen feet away from us, its headlights blinding in the darkness.

I squinted and saw Alexander sitting in the car, looking completely relaxed, as if he were merely attending a boring meeting.

Luke and Noah were also in the car, their expressions noticeably more tense than Alexander's.

But for some reason, only Alexander stepped out of the car.

He walked toward us with elegant poise, as if strolling through a park rather than facing a life-or-death confrontation.

In the dim light, I saw the corner of his mouth turn up slightly in a disdainful smile.

What is he smiling about? Does he find this amusing?

"I didn't expect you to personally handle this matter."

Alexander spoke without any fear, sounding remarkably relaxed and casual.

"I underestimated you. I didn't think I'd catch you this time, but it's fine. We can settle our scores slowly."

The mysterious man spoke casually, leaning against the car as he lit a cigarette.

Standing between the two men, I felt completely excluded from their conversation.

They seemed like old adversaries who hadn't seen each other in years, engaged in a dialogue only they could understand.

"Why involve an unrelated person in our affairs?" Alexander's gaze swept over me, his tone devoid of any concern.

"Unrelated?" The mysterious man seemed amused. "A woman you've slept with again and again must have some value, right?"

Hearing this, I felt as if I had been stripped naked and displayed before everyone.

Alexander burst out laughing. "If you like her, you can have her too."

In that moment, I felt my heart gripped by an invisible hand.

Even a pet would earn some affection after long-term companionship, yet in his eyes, I was worth less than an item that could be casually passed around.

But this ridiculous thought circled my mind once and then vanished without a trace.

I couldn't count on Alexander to rescue me after all. Even if I died here today, it would just be my fate.

Having made up my mind, I bit down hard on Tristan's hand, causing him to lose his composure from the pain.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, I stomped hard on Tristan's foot. Once freed, despite my discomfort, I rushed forward.

Just as I was about to reach Alexander, a gunshot rang out behind me, frightening me into crouching down with my hands over my head.

"Filthy whore! You dare bite me!" Tristan clutched his bleeding hand and was about to fire again when the mysterious man stopped him.

In the distance, police sirens could be heard, growing closer...

I raised my head to see a victorious smile spread across Alexander's face.

"I truly underestimated you!" There was a barely perceptible note of panic in the mysterious man's voice.

Alexander shrugged: "What could I do? You're a top wanted criminal overseas. I'd be an idiot not to call the police!" His tone became dangerous. "If you don't leave now, it will be too late."

I remained curled up, unable to believe how suddenly the situation had changed.

The mysterious man and Tristan quickly got into their car. The black SUV started and drove toward the tunnel exit.

Is it over?

I slowly raised my head, meeting Alexander's gaze.

There was no concern in his eyes, no warmth, only coldness.

The distance between us was less than 30 feet, yet it felt like we were worlds apart.

Just when I thought everything was over, the SUV slowed as it passed me, and a window rolled down—Tristan's twisted face appeared in the window, followed by a raised gun.

I didn't even have time to scream before a searing pain spread from my back.

I stumbled forward a few steps, then slowly fell.

The cold ground pressed against my cheek as I heard the sound of the car driving away and the increasingly clear police sirens.