The Billionaire’s Regret -Alessa (by Bukolami) novel Chapter 45

**Shadows Beneath the Silent Moon**
**Rising Echoes by Aiden R. Vale**

Alessa sat at the edge of her bed, her heart racing with anticipation as she waited for the call that felt like it would never come. Fully dressed, she tapped her feet impatiently against the wooden floor, the rhythmic sound echoing in the stillness of the night. The clock on her wall ticked past midnight, each tick a reminder of the urgency that filled the air. Just earlier, Aria had been discharged from the hospital, the doctor assuring her that everything was fine, but Alessa’s mind was still clouded with worry.

Suddenly, the shrill sound of her phone broke through the tension. She glanced at the screen and felt a rush of relief wash over her when she saw Thane’s name. Without a moment’s hesitation, she answered the call.

“We found him, boss,” Thane’s voice came through, steady and confident. Instantly, Alessa felt a weight lift from her shoulders.

“Are you sure?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, as if saying it too loudly might shatter the fragile hope she held.

“Yes, boss,” he confirmed.

“I’m on my way,” she replied, her determination igniting.

Alessa ended the call and sprang to her feet, adrenaline coursing through her veins. She strode purposefully to her table, her fingers shaking slightly as she reached for the drawer. Just as she was about to pull it open, the sound of her door creaking open made her freeze.

She quickly shut the drawer and turned to face Aiden, who stood in the doorway, a bemused expression on his face.

“Why are you dressed like Batman?” he asked, his hand still gripping the door handle.

“What do you want?” Alessa sighed, trying to mask her irritation. She hoped he wouldn’t pry too deeply into her plans.

“I was hungry,” he replied, raising a crinkled bag of chips as if it were a trophy.

“Okay,” Alessa said, nodding curtly. She silently wished he would keep the conversation brief.

“Good night,” he yawned, and with that, he slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him. Alessa let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding; he seemed too tired to linger, a small relief in her otherwise tense evening.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Alessa retrieved her gun from the drawer, her keys jangling as she pocketed them, and then she stepped out of the house into the cool night air.

The drive to the location took about ten minutes, each second stretching into an eternity as her mind raced with thoughts of what lay ahead. Upon arriving, she spotted Thane and two of her men standing near a man who was kneeling on the ground, his hands bound behind him. The setting was an abandoned warehouse, the shadows dancing ominously under the dim light.

Alessa stepped out of her car, her presence commanding as she approached the group. They bowed their heads in respect as she neared, a gesture she acknowledged with a subtle wave of her hand, signaling them to rise.

Her gaze fell upon the man on his knees. He matched every detail Aria had described, and a shiver of recognition coursed through her.

“How did you find him?” Alessa asked Thane, her eyes never leaving the man.

“It was easy, boss. It was like he was waiting for us to find him,” Thane explained, his voice steady.

“That explains why he didn’t bother to cover his face when he took Aria,” Alessa thought, a cold anger bubbling beneath her calm exterior.

“Who are you?” she demanded, her tone sharp as she focused on the man. He looked up at her, a slow, mocking laugh escaping his lips.

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