Chapter 2
The man in the car, Jonas Lawson, let out a low chuckle, his voice casual yet laced with menace. “Looks like I’ll just have to settle this with your
Before his words had fully settled in the air, the sound of gunfire ripped through the silence.
Natalie barely had time to comprehend what was happening before the grip on her arm slackened. She felt the kidnapper’s heavy body collapse against her, the sudden weight pressing her legs down.
Warm, sticky liquid splattered across her calves, soaking into her skin. The sickening sensation jolted her nerves, and a chill of raw terror crawled down her spine.
An overwhelming surge of fear coursed through her, leaving her muscles drained and her legs buckling beneath her. She sank to the ground in a trembling heap. Her mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out, her voice strangled by the sheer panic gripping her chest.
Her bead buzzed with chaos, thoughts spinning like an unstoppable storm. Around her, the world fell eerily silent. Not even a groan escaped from the bodies strewn nearby. The sudden quiet was broken only by the amplified sound of a car door creaking open..
Natalie’s trembling fingers dug into the skin of her wrist, nails biting down painfully. The sharp sting grounded her just enough to force her thoughts into coherence. They didn’t kill me… That means there’s still room to negotiate.
The rhythmic thud of approaching footsteps echoed in her ears, each step sending a fresh wave of tension flooding her veins. She nervously raised her head, her gaze catching on a pair of sturdy combat boots moving toward her
As her eyes trailed upward, they took in the muscular legs encased in black tactical pants, the taut lines of a lean waist, and broad shoulders that exuded an air of unyielding dominance. She craned her neck further, her breath catching when her gaze finally met his face.
The first thing that caught her attention was Jonas’s eyes. Deep–set and framed by thick, impossibly long lashes, his piercing blue gaze shimmered with an almost hypnotic brilliance, like sunlight dancing over a sea of shattered diamonds.
Jonas must have noticed her stolen glances because his lips quirked up in a slow, deliberate smile. As the corners of his mouth lifted, he looked over and his eyes followed suit, curving into a half–lidded expression that was both captivating and dangerous
That smile was a weapon in itself–devastatingly alluring yet laced with the promise of untold peril. It disarmed her defenses effortlessly, leaving her vulnerable in a way she hadn’t thought possible.
Before she could gather herself, the buzz cut woman who had been lounging casually against the hood of the SUV straightened and strode forward She lifted her phone, snapped a couple of nonchalant photos of the fallen kidnappers, and uploaded them to the Nocriudor military network.
Her voice was flat and devoid of emotion as she announced, “Two fugitives from the red notice list, neutralized”
The woman’s gaze then shifted to Natalie, her tone as indifferent as if she were debating what to have for dinner. “She’s likely with them. Boss, do we shoot her”
‘Shoot… me? Natalie’s pupils constricted, and the words echoed in her mind, pulling her back to reality
Logically, the first thing anyone would do after hearing that would be to deny any association with the kidnappers. But the woman had spoken in Nocriudorian–heavily accented, regional Nocriudorian at that
Natalie’s heart raced as suspicion tightened around her. ‘Could this woman be testing me?
or the globally
Most Mastrarians wouldn’t bother learning Nocriudorian. The lingua franca for trade, tourism, and diplomacy was either Mastrarian or dominant Apairian.
Even Natalie’s grandfather, who had done business in Nocriador for years, only knew a smattering of the language.
And here she was, a seemingly ordinary woman who was only visiting Nocriador for the second time, fluent in a dialect so obscure it would raise eyebrows even among locals. The very thought of trying to explain this made Natalie’s stomach churn.
Plus,
the
reason she’d learned Nocriudorian in the first place was something even she found laughable.
Not wanting to complicate things further, Natalie feigned ignorance, sticking to her own logic. I’m Mastrarian. I was kidnapped by them at the airport. If you can get me somewhere safe, I’ll pay you.
“I don’t have $70 million, but I could sell my family’s old estate. That would get me $3 million. If that’s not enough, I’ll find another way.
Her tone was sweet, almost pleading, carrying just the right amount of sincenty to tug at even the hardest heart.
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Chapter 2
Jonas, however, seemed unfazed. He neither confirmed nor dismissed her words. Instead, he raised his hand with a languid elegance and took another drag from his cigarette. The air seemed to thicken as his lazy demeanor stretched time itself.
His sensual lips parted slightly, releasing a thin stream of smoke that curled around his face, shrouding his features in a veil of mystery. Whatever thoughts lingered behind those striking eyes were impenetrable, hidden behind his nonchalant facade.
“Oh, so you’re a Mastrarian. His voice, low and unhurried, came out in fluent Mastrarian, his accent so impeccable it made Natalie’s chest tighten,
Her pulse quickened at his tone, and the familiarity of her native tongue, spoken so effortlessly, sent an involuntary warmth through her. But Jonas’s detached air and the foreign danger surrounding her kept her guard firmly in place.
Swallowing her nerves, she answered with steady determination, “Yes. I am”
Jonas finally crouched down. The action caused the lean muscles beneath his camo uniform to tense, outlining a sculpted, taut physique. The sheer intensity of his presence, commanding and suffocating, stood in stark contrast to his youthful, strikingly handsome face. And yet, somehow, the two were perfectly in harmony.
He let out a soft scoff. “kdentification?”
Natalie froze, her heart, which had barely calmed from its earlier frenzy, began to race again.
She knew all too well how vital passports and IDs were in war–torn regions like this one. Without proof of identity, she might as well be invisible- or wone, expendable. But the truth was, she didn’t have them
Her thoughts s spiraled as panic clawed at her mind. She could never have foreseen any of this. No matter
ter how much she racked her brain, couldn’t fathom why kidnappers would blow up that private jet and take her hostage.
Her mind flickered to the fact that the jet had been leased by her grandfather, and she began to wonder if she would have to compensate for the damage.
Natalie hesitated, her soft voice tinged with unease as she finally responded, “It’s it’s in my bag. On the plane.”
“Then it’s gone,” Jonas said flatly. His tone was calm, almost indifferent, but there was a chill lurking beneath his words that sent a shiver down her spine.
An inexplicable sense of foreboding surged within her. Something about his demeanor, the way he spoke, made her feel as though he’d already made up his mind to abandon her.
Desperation gripped her like a vice. “I really am Mastrarian,” she blurted out, her voice trembling but determined. “I can prove it.”
“Oh Jonas’s response was a low, thiruaty sound of curiosity, as though humoring her. But his body told a different story. Slowly, he began to straighten, his movements measured and deliberate, signaling his intent to leave.
Natalie’s mind raced. She could feel the sand of time slipping through her fingers. She knew her next move would undoubtedly come off as crazy to anyone watching, but she didn’t care. She was out of options and had no other way to prove her identity.
She didn’t want to die. Jonas’s earlier interactions had made one thing crystal clear–he wasn’t hostile toward Mastrarians. That, in this war–torn⠀⠀⠀ hellscape, was her one sliver of hope. She had to seize it, no matter how ridiculous it made her look.
Taking a deep, shaky breath, she did the only thing she could think of
She opened her mouth and began to sing the Mastranian national anthem in a single, desperate burst. “Between the mountains and the seas, your light forever guides us free. We stand united, shining bright, to guard your name, to fight your Eght. Oh, Mastrary, land so grand. Your courage.
Jonas listened to her trembling off–key singing, her voice cracking from fear and nerves. For a brief moment, he appeared stunned, as if caught off guard. Then, a low, sardonic chuckle escaped his lips.
Natalie instantly froze, the sound cutting through her like a whip. Her face flushed a deep crimson, both from embarrassment and the suffocating tension. Her wide, anxious eyes fixated on Jonas through the narrow gap in her blindfold.
It felt as though a guillotine were poised above her neck, the blade ready to drop at any second. Every muscle in her body went rigid, fear locking her in place as she barely dared to breathe.
Without warning, Jonas moved. The hand holding his cigarette casually shifted, and before she could react, his fingers grasped her cheeks, firm but nor bruising. His deep, velvety voice followed, tinged with an almost amused warmth. “Echoes through this land?”
Natalie’s breath hitched, her eyes widening in disbelief. He had joined in, finishing the next line of the anthem as if it were second nature. Her heart leapt, a flicker of hope sparking within her. In that instant, the excitement made her body tremble slightly.
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Chapter 2
Jonas had simply replied casually, but when he saw her expression, as though she had just cracked some secret code, surviving this ordeal, he couldn’t help but find her naivety amusing.
He tilted his head slightly, as if considering something. His sharp gaze dropped to her slender neck, her delicate skin glowing
Slowly, his free hand moved, fingers teasingly brushing her collar. He rugged the collar down to reveal the smooth expanse of her collarbone. A mischievous glint flickered in his eyes.
The faint chill of his touch made Natalie flinch, but she forced herself to stay still and calm.
Jonas, sensing her tension, released her collar, his voice dripping with malicious amusement. “They didn’t have their way with your happened? Did they suddenly grow a conscience?”
What
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