The Signal is Lost
Theo's grip on the steering wheel was deadly, his knuckles turning white.
"Evelyn, can you hear me?" His voice was sharp, commanding.
Nothing.
The static in his earpiece was deafening.
Kade cursed beside him. "Shit, Theo. We lost her feed."
Theo's pulse pounded. No. No, no, no.
Elias must have figured it out.
Or worse—something happened.
Without another thought, Theo slammed his foot on the gas. The tires screeched as the car shot forward.
"I'm not waiting," he growled.
Kade didn't argue. "I'll call for backup."
Theo didn't care. Evelyn was in there alone.
And he was going to get her out.
---
Inside the Hotel
Evelyn barely had time to react.
One second, Elias was smirking. The next—
A sudden click echoed in her ear.
The comms went dead.
Her stomach dropped.
He knew.
Elias tilted his head, amusement glinting in his eyes. "Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"
Evelyn forced herself to stay calm. Stay in control.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said smoothly.
Elias chuckled. "Oh, Evelyn. You're a terrible liar."
He leaned forward, his voice dropping. "Did you think a hidden camera would work on me?"
Evelyn's fingers twitched under the table. Stay in character.
"I just wanted to talk," she said carefully.
Elias smirked. "And yet, you came with tricks up your sleeve."
Then—
A flick of his hand.
The two men standing near the entrance suddenly stepped forward.
Evelyn's heartbeat spiked.
No. No, this wasn't supposed to happen.
Elias's voice was low, almost gentle. "You should've stayed out of this, Evelyn."
The men closed in.
Evelyn acted fast.
She flipped the table.
Dishes crashed, people screamed—chaos.
Evelyn grabbed her chair, swung it hard—it smashed into one of the guards.
She turned, running—
But hands grabbed her arm.
She struggled, kicking, twisting—but he was too strong.
Elias sighed. "Always making things difficult."
Evelyn's breath came fast. Think, think.
Then—
A loud bang.
And everything changed.
---
Theo Arrives
Theo barely parked the car before he was running..
He sprinted through the hotel doors, ignoring the shouts from the staff.
His focus was singular.
Find Evelyn.
Then—
A crash.
Screams.
Theo's blood ran cold.
He pulled open the doors to the lounge—
And there she was.
A man had her pinned. Elias stood nearby, watching with a smug smile.
Theo saw red.
"Let. Her. Go."
His voice was deadly.
Elias turned, unconcerned. "Ah, Theo. Right on time."
Theo didn't hesitate.
He moved.
The first guard stepped forward—Theo took him down in seconds. A sharp punch to the throat, a brutal kick to the ribs—gone.
The second lunged—Theo dodged, grabbed his arm, twisted—SNAP.
Elias raised an eyebrow. "Impressive."
Theo wasn't listening.
His only focus was Evelyn.
She struggled against the last man's grip—Theo's fury ignited.
One shot.
One clean hit to the man's jaw.
Evelyn gasped as the grip on her broke.
She stumbled—Theo caught her.
Their eyes met.
For a second, nothing else existed.
"You okay?" Theo's voice was rough, urgent.
Evelyn nodded quickly. "We have to go."
Elias sighed. "Leaving so soon?"
Theo turned to him, eyes dark.
"You're finished," Theo growled.
Elias only smirked. "We'll see about that."
But Theo didn't care.
Evelyn was safe.
And that was the only thing that mattered.
For now.
---
3:30 PM – The Getaway
Theo's grip on the steering wheel was tight.
Evelyn sat beside him, breathing heavily, her fingers gripping the bracelet he'd given her.
Kade's voice crackled through the radio. "Tell me you got out."
Theo exhaled. "We got out."
Evelyn glanced at him. "But we don't have the recording."
Theo's jaw clenched.
It didn't matter.
They'd find another way.
He glanced at her again. "Next time, we do this my way."
Evelyn smirked, despite everything. "We'll see."
Theo huffed. "You're impossible."
She just smiled.
For now, they were safe.
But this wasn't over.
Not even close.
---
End of Chapter 47