The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 231

After hanging up, Rebecca gripped her phone tightly, her eyes never leaving the group of burly men across the alley.

Five tense minutes crawled by before the sound of police sirens began to swell, approaching from the distance.

The men stiffened as soon as they registered the sirens, faces draining of color.

“We’ve been made! Time to go!” one of them shouted in panic.

They scattered, scrambling for any escape, but it was too late. Police cruisers screeched to a halt at both ends of the alley, officers pouring out to surround them. Within moments, the men were wrestled to the ground and handcuffed.

Relief flooded Rebecca as she watched the police take control. For the first time that night, the pressure on her chest eased. She stepped out from her hiding spot, her gaze steady as she watched the men being rounded up. Satisfaction flickered across her face.

After loading the men into patrol cars, a couple of officers approached her.

“Are you alright?” one asked, concern in his voice.

Rebecca managed a small shake of her head. “I’m fine. Thank you, really.”

The officers began to question her about what had happened. She recounted in detail how she’d noticed she was being followed, her suspicions growing as she watched the men’s movements. She made it clear she believed someone was pulling their strings from behind the scenes.

Rebecca turned to look at the handcuffed men. “Tell me—who sent you?”

The men stared at the ground, refusing to meet her eyes. They knew they were caught, and it was too late for excuses. But fear kept them silent; giving up the name of whoever was behind this carried consequences they weren’t willing to face.

She spun on her heel, desperate to get away. But just then, a black SUV screeched up beside her. The doors flew open, and two men leapt out.

Before Emily could even scream, they yanked a black hood down over her head.

“Mmmph—!” Her scream was muffled, barely audible through the thick fabric. She thrashed wildly, trying to break free, but their grip was iron-strong. They bundled her into the back seat, slammed the door, and the SUV peeled away from the curb.

Inside the suffocating darkness of the hood, panic surged through Emily. She had no idea who had taken her, or where they were taking her. All she could do was listen to the roar of the engine and the blur of city noise outside, her world reduced to fear and confusion.

At last, the car jerked to a halt. The doors swung open, and the men dragged her out. Her knees buckled, but they kept her upright, steering her toward what felt like a cavernous, echoing space.

The hood still over her head, Emily stumbled as they led her inside—into what she soon realized was an abandoned warehouse.