Nadine’s POV
Tears stream down my face as I curl up in a ball, my body shaking with uncontrollable sobs. I feel like I’m slipping away.
I never thought I’d be in this situation – it’s like something out of a movie. Who would ever want to be here?
I realize I’ve just woken up from sleep. My stomach growls with hunger. I wonder where my essentials are – my credit card, phone, and ID. I must have dropped them when I was dragged into the car. I panic in fear as I scan my surroundings, trying to remember what happened.
I try to remember how I got here, but my memories are hazy.
I recollect being dragged into a car, but it’s all so fuzzy.
I try to sit up, but a sharp pain shoots through my head, making me wince. I must have hit my head when I was taken.
As I look around again, I notice a small door on the opposite side of the room, and I wonder if I could escape. But what if someone is waiting on the other side?
Suddenly, Sydney bursts through the door. Her face is with rage, and I’m caught off guard. “What the hell is wrong now?”
But before I can even process it, she connects her hand to my face, I feel a stinging slap on my cheek, and my eyes widen in shock.
But I’ve had enough. I’ve managed to slip free from the cuffs, and now I’m on my feet, pushing her backward. Sydney is taken by surprise, and for a moment, she’s off balance.
That’s all the time I need. My fist connects with her face, and I feel my anger burning hard. “How dare you slap me, you ass licker!” I seethe, in a low voice.
Sydney stumbles back, clutching her face, and I stand my heart racing.
Sydney’s eyes flash with anger, and she charges at me. I dodge her attack with ease, countering with a swift kick to her stomach.
She doubles over, gasping for breath, and I seize the moment. I grab her arm, twisting it behind her back, and spin her around to face the wall. She tries to push me away, but I’m not having it. I’m done with her games.
Then we crash to the floor, wrestling with each other throwing punches and kicks. Hitting her with every ounce of strength I have. Her face was bruised from the impact of our struggle.
We roll on the floor, as we struggle. I pin her down, my hands wrapped around her wrists. She tries to break free, but I hold her tight. For a moment, we lock eyes, our chests heaving. Then, I see the fear in her eyes.
Just as I think I’ve got the upper hand, I hear the sound of men rushing into the room. They swarm around me, pinning me down and slapping cuffs on my wrists once again. I struggle and kick, but they’re too strong, and I’m exhausted from my fight with Sydney.
As I’m held in place by the men, Sydney steps closer, her eyes blazing with anger. She raises her hand and slaps me again, but this time, I just laugh – a devious, mocking laugh that catches her off guard. She takes a step back, surprised by my reaction.
But then, her eyes narrow, and she reaches for my neck. She yanks off the necklace Logan gave me, the chain snapping as she pulls it away.
“Give it back to me!” I seethe, my anger boiling over.
But Sydney just smirks, her eyes glinting. “Watch me,” she says, dropping the necklace to the floor. She raises her boot and stomps on it.
And then it hits me with the realization that Logan must have put a tracking device on the necklace, to monitor my movements.
A small smile tugs at my lip as I smile in victory, turning into a dark laugh that bubbles up from my throat. “He’s coming for you, and when he does, I’m going to pluck those pathetic excuses for eyes right out of your face,” I say in a low menacing voice.
Sydney’s smile falters, and for a moment, I see fear in her eyes. But then, her expression hardens, and she sneers at me. “We’ll see about that,” but I can see the doubt lurking behind her words.
Suddenly, there is a commotion outside, and I smile in victory, knowing Logan has arrived. My heart swells with joy – he came for me, despite my attempts to push him away.
A voice in my head scolds me, “He only did it because of your son,” but I know that’s not true. Logan cares about me, and I’ve seen the change in him since I returned to New York.
I think back to the picture that manipulated him, making him think I was with Asher. He acted on impulse, but deep down, I knew he had feelings for me.
But my thoughts are cut short as Sydney sneers, “Come here, you bitch,” and tries to drag me away. I panic as I realize I’ll be taken from the location, and Logan won’t be able to find me. I struggle against Sydney’s grip, desperate to wait.
I try to stall for time, struggling from Sydney’s grip, when suddenly I hear loud gunshots, I panic with fear. Then, I see men in uniform storming into the room.
Sydney’s eyes dart towards them, and she raises a gun to my head – a gun I hadn’t even noticed she had.
“Leave her the fuck alone!” Logan thunders, in anger. The police chief tries to calm him down, but Logan’s eyes are fixed on me like he is trying to send a message.
I try to rush to him, forgetting that I’m still being held at gunpoint. But the sound of the gun cocking brings me back to reality, and I focus on Sydney’s twisted face.
“Please don’t do anything stupid,” I begged her, trying to reason with her. But her eyes are wild, and I’m not sure if she’s listening.
“I can’t promise that, Nadine,” Sydney says, in a cold voice that makes me wonder if it’s Sydney talking.
Then, she fires a shot into the air, I panic in fear. The sound of the gunshot is deafening, and I flinch, expecting the worst.
“Drop your weapon, Miss Blake,” the police chief orders calmly, but Sydney just laughs.
“No, I won’t,” she spits with defiance. “I’d rather have her killed than kill myself. I’d rather die than surrender.”
The chief tries to reason with her, “No, Miss Blake, you will do no such thing. Hand over the gun and let everything be sorted out.”
But Sydney’s not listening. She’s too far gone, her mind consumed by a desperate desire to escape. She tightens her grip on the gun, her finger hovering over the trigger, and I know I’m running out of time.
“No, you wouldn’t,” Logan says, stepping forward, but Sydney pulls the trigger anyway. The gun fires, and Logan wince in pain as the bullet hits his chest. He tries to maintain a brave front, but I can see the agony in his eyes.
“Logan!” I scream, rushing to his side. But before I can reach him, Sydney fires the gun again. This time, the bullet isn’t aimed at Logan, but I feel pain in my chest.
I don’t even realize I’m bleeding until I feel the warm liquid spreading across my chest. Then, the pain is excruciating and I feel my life slipping away.
I try to speak, but my voice is barely a whisper. I look up at Logan and see the horror in his eyes as he realizes I’ve been shot. He reaches for me, but I feel myself falling, my vision fading to black.
Logan’s voice pierces the air, “Nadine!” he screams, but I’m too disoriented to respond. I’m consumed by the chaos around me – the police firing, Sydney falling to the ground, a bullet wound to her head. I try to rush to her side, but the searing pain in my chest stops me cold.
For a moment, I remember the good times with Sydney, despite her twisted intentions. I watch in horror as she crumples to the ground, her eyes frozen in a permanent stare. She’s gone.
The pain becomes too much, and I feel my life slipping away. Logan’s eyes brimming with tears.
“Nadine, no! Don’t leave me!” he pleads. I try to speak, but my voice is barely audible. I’m fading fast, but Logan’s grip on me tightens, refusing to let me go.