ROLAND’S POV
The sound of my footsteps echoed through the vast, dimly lit warehouse as I rushed toward my partner, my phone clenched tightly in my hand. Impatience fueled my every stride, sharp, hurried, and purposeful.
I was tired of waiting. Tired of watching Sebastian live the life I had only dreamed of, and even more tired of seeing Sasha standing beside him, oblivious to the devotion I had silently nurtured for years.
“Did you get it?” I barked as I approached my partner, a wiry man with cold, calculating eyes who leaned against a steel beam with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Relax,” he replied calmly, barely glancing up.
“Yeah, I got it. She’s staying in one of the family’s properties downtown. Quiet place. Easy to get in and out without drawing attention.”
I exhaled sharply, my mind racing. Weeks of groundwork had led to this moment, and now that it was in motion, the stakes felt higher than ever.
“And the old man?” I asked, keeping my tone clipped.
“In critical condition, just like you said,” he confirmed. “But he’s still alive. That complicates things.”
I ran a hand through my hair, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. “I don’t care about complications. Just make sure nothing happens to him. We need him alive, at least for now.”
My partner arched a brow. “You’re getting soft. A loose end is a loose end.”
I stepped closer, narrowing my eyes dangerously. “I said, no harm comes to him. Do you understand?”
There was a tense pause before he shrugged. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you if it bites you later.”
I didn’t respond. My mind was already elsewhere, piecing together the next steps. Mistakes weren’t an option-not now, when I was so close to pulling Sasha away from Sebastian’s grasp.
“Once you secure the address, carry out the kidnapping immediately,” I instructed, lowering my voice. “But be careful. No unnecessary noise, no witnesses, and no slip-ups.”
My partner’s gaze sharpened. “You’re asking a lot for a job like this. You want precision, but you’re barely giving me time to prepare. Are you sure you’re ready for this to go down?”
My jaw tightened. “Are you questioning me?”
“I’m questioning your sanity,” he replied bluntly. “You’ve been obsessed with this woman for years. Obsession makes people sloppy.”
His words struck a nerve, but I forced myself to stay composed. “Just do your job. I’ll handle the rest.”
He smirked, a hint of amusement flickering in his otherwise emotionless expression.
“You really think this will work, don’t you? That once she’s away from him, she’ll suddenly fall into your arms like some fairytale?”
I balled my hands into fists at my sides, hating the mockery in his tone-and the truth behind it. “She doesn’t belong with him,” I hissed.
“Sebastian doesn’t deserve her. He never has.”
“Maybe not,” he conceded, “but that doesn’t mean she belongs to you.”
His words hung in the air like a challenge, but I refused to acknowledge them. I couldn’t afford doubt, not now.
“Call me when you’re ready to move,” I said, turning on my heel.
“Not every five minutes like you’ve been doing,” he called after me.
“If this blows up, I’m not going down because you couldn’t keep your cool.”
I spun around, glaring at him. “Are you saying this is my fault?”
“I’m saying you’re reckless,” he replied coolly.
“Every move you make leaves a trail. You’re too emotional, too jealous. It’s clouding your judgment, and it’s going to get us both caught.”
I stepped closer, lowering my voice to a growl. “I hired you because you’re supposed to be the best. If you can’t handle this, I’ll find someone who can.”
He didn’t flinch. “I can handle it just fine. But you? You’re the one I’m worried about.”
His words ignited a spark of anger, but I swallowed it down. Alienating him now would be a mistake.
Without another word, I shoved my phone into my pocket and stalked toward the exit, my footsteps echoing in the cavernous space.
“Just don’t screw this up,” he called after me.
I ignored him, stepping into the cold night air, my anger bubbling just beneath the surface.
I hated being questioned, hated being doubted. But most of all, I hated the fear gnawing at the edges of my resolve.
What if this didn’t work? What if, after everything, Sasha still chose Sebastian?
The thought was unbearable, and I pushed it aside. I climbed into my car, gripping the steering wheel tightly until my knuckles turned white.
This wasn’t just about Sasha-it was about proving something. To myself. To Sebastian. To everyone who had ever underestimated me.
But as I sat there in the darkness, the weight of my actions began to sink in. Kidnapping Sasha wasn’t just a means to an end; it was a line I couldn’t uncross.
For a brief moment, doubt whispered its way into my thoughts. Maybe my partner was right. Maybe I was being reckless.
But then I thought of Sebastian, smug and self-assured, and my resolve hardened. No, this was the only way.
I reached for my phone, my thumb hovering over the screen. I wanted to call, to check on the plan, to make sure everything was in place.
But my partner’s warning echoed in my mind: Don’t keep calling me every five minutes.
With a frustrated growl, I shoved the phone back into my pocket and started the car. I needed to keep moving, to stay focused.
As I drove through the city streets, my mind raced with possibilities. Every detail of the plan. Every potential obstacle. Every way it could go wrong.
But through it all, one thought burned brighter than the rest: Sasha, finally by my side, free from Sebastian’s grasp.
It was the only thing keeping me going. And I would do whatever it took to make it a reality.