After that, Ariel vanished from all surveillance footage.
“Are there any exits in that part of the building? Any staircases, freight elevators, or service lifts that could lead elsewhere?” Jayson asked.
The club manager shook his head. “No, nothing like that over there.”
Jayson’s frown deepened, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. “Think carefully. Is there anything in that
area?”
Even though Jayson hadn’t raised his voice, his commanding presence was suffocating. The manager broke into a cold sweat under his emotionless stare.
After a moment of intense thought, the man spoke up. “No staircases or elevators. But there’s a door leading to the kitchen. The kitchen connects to a back passage that exits to the street.”
Jayson took off immediately, heading for the location the manager had described.
The building’s layout was complicated, and he spent some time weaving through the kitchen before finding the exit.
The passage led him to a narrow alley, which opened up onto a busy street. But there were no more clues.
Jayson forced himself to breathe steadily, scanning the area. Whoever had taken Ariel could have disappeared in any direction by now.
Then his gaze shifted to the tender hall across the street. His eyes hardened. Pulling out his phone, he
called Arthur while breaking into a run.
“Find the person in charge of the venue. Keep it quiet. Ariel’s probably being held somewhere inside.”
Ariel stirred, her head pounding as she regained consciousness. A sharp, chemical smell still lingered in her senses–the same one that had knocked her out earlier.
From her prior hospital visits, Ariel recognized the scent as some form of ether.
Her hands were bound. She opened her eyes to find herself in a dimly lit, poorly ventilated room. The air was heavy and stifling, and her limbs felt like lead from the lingering effects of the drug.
She struggled to sit up and froze. Someone else was in the room.
A sinister laugh cut through the silence. “Cautious, aren’t you? Just like your impressive husband.”
A chill ran down Ariel’s spine at the mention of Jayson. She immediately turned toward the voice.
1/4
Chapter 631
+15 BONUS
The man approached Ariel. He was quite tall and had a medium build.
Sweat beaded her forehead as she instinctively tried to inch away. The man’s hand clamped down on her shoulder like a vice. “Where do you think you’re going? Your husband put my brother in prison just days ago. It’s only fair I take you to settle the score, don’t you think so?”
His grip tightened painfully, anger radiating off him in waves.
“You’re angry at him, not me,” Ariel said, her voice calm despite her racing heart. “Kidnapping me won’t get you anywhere.”
The man spat, “Aren’t you his wife?”
Ariel’s eyes flicked around the room. The carpet was plush and expensive, the kind seen in upscale establishments–clubs, hotels, private lounges.
“Didn’t you hear the rumors about his affair?” she said coolly. “If you wanted leverage, you’d have been better off taking the woman he’s keeping in prison.”
The man faltered, doubt flickering across his face.
That brief hesitation was all Ariel needed. Summoning every ounce of strength, she twisted sharply,
shoved him hard, and bolted.
Caught off guard, the man stumbled back, crashing into a table and hitting the floor with a thud.
Ariel sprinted toward the restroom near the entrance, her eyes locking on a small window.
She dashed inside, slammed the door shut, and locked it. Grabbing a hairdryer, she smashed it against
the window. “Help!”
Her bound hands made it hard to keep her balance. She nearly fell several times but didn’t stop. “Help!”
Although Aria was weakened by the chemical coursing through her body, a powerful will to live drove her, but even that wasn’t enough. She failed to shatter the glass despite several attempts.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Dead at Heart (Ariel and Jayson)