Rescue

Book:Craving For His Punishment Published:2025-4-14

Gabriel stepped closer to Mia, his sharp gaze locked on her as if daring her to challenge him. His presence was commanding, making even Mia falter for a moment. Andrew stood just behind him, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips, but his eyes burned with anger.
“Untie her, now,” Gabriel demanded, his voice calm but laced with authority.
Mia scoffed, though her confidence seemed to waver. “Why do you care so much, Gabriel? She’s nothing. Just a nobody.”
Gabriel’s jaw tightened. He took another step forward, towering over Mia. “That ‘nobody’ doesn’t deserve what you’re doing to her. You crossed the line.”
Andrew added, his voice cold, “This isn’t a game, Mia. You want to prove a point? Prove it against someone who can fight back. Picking on Elena makes you look weak.”
Mia’s face flushed with anger. “Weak? You don’t understand! She’s….”
“She’s what?” Gabriel interrupted, his voice rising. “Tell me, Mia. What has she ever done to deserve this?”
Elena, still tied up and trembling, looked between them, unsure of what to do. She wanted to shout, to tell them to stop, but her voice seemed stuck in her throat.
Mia crossed her arms, trying to regain her composure. “She’s been a problem since day one. Acting all innocent, getting attention she doesn’t deserve. She’s in the way.”
Gabriel let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “You’re pathetic, Mia. You can’t stand that someone like her exists. Someone who’s better than you in ways you’ll never understand.”
Mia’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, she looked like she might lash out. But Gabriel didn’t flinch.
Andrew moved closer to Elena, kneeling down to untie her hands and legs. His movements were quick but gentle, and he muttered under his breath, “You’re safe now, little one.”
Elena finally found her voice. “Gabriel, Andrew… please, don’t make this worse. Let’s just leave.”
Gabriel glanced at her, his expression softening for a moment. “Leave? After what they did to you? No way.”
Mia sneered. “Oh, you’re such a hero, Gabriel. Protecting the damsel in distress. How noble of you.”
Gabriel’s eyes darkened, and he took another step toward her, his fists clenched. “Say one more word, Mia, and I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Andrew stood, helping Elena to her feet. She swayed slightly, still weak from the ordeal, but Andrew steadied her.
“Let’s go, Gabriel,” Andrew said firmly. “She’s not worth it.”
Gabriel hesitated, his anger still boiling beneath the surface, but when he looked at Elena-pale, shaken, and trying her best to stay strong-he nodded.
“You’re right,” he muttered. He turned back to Mia one last time. “Stay away from her, Mia. If I find out you’ve tried anything like this again, you’ll regret it.”
Mia glared at him, but she didn’t respond. Gabriel and Andrew escorted Elena out of the pool area, their pace quick, as if they couldn’t get her away from there fast enough.
Once they were far enough away, Elena finally spoke, her voice shaky. “Thank you… both of you. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t come.”
Gabriel stopped and turned to her, his expression unreadable. “You need to stop being so reckless, Elena. You could’ve gotten hurt.”
Elena frowned. “Reckless? I didn’t choose for this to happen!”
Gabriel sighed, running a hand through his hair. “That’s not what I meant. I just…” He trailed off, his frustration evident.
Andrew chimed in, his tone lighter. “What he’s trying to say, little one, is that you shouldn’t face people like Mia alone. You’ve got us now.”
Elena blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”
Gabriel rolled his eyes, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “You’re part of our group now, whether you like it or not. No one messes with you unless it’s us.”
Andrew laughed. “Exactly. So, you better get used to having us around.”
Elena stared at them, her mouth slightly open. “I… I don’t understand. Why are you being so nice to me?”
Gabriel stepped closer, his gaze locking with hers. “Because you don’t deserve what Mia’s been putting you through. And because…” He hesitated, his voice softening. “You’re different, Elena. You’re not like anyone else.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away, unsure how to respond.
Andrew clapped his hands together, breaking the tension. “Alright, enough of the sappy stuff. Let’s get you back to your dorm, little one. You need to rest.”
Gabriel nodded, his serious expression returning. “And tomorrow, we’re dealing with Mia properly. She’s not getting away with this.”
Elena bit her lip but didn’t argue. She was too tired to protest and too grateful for their help to push them away.
As they walked her back to her dorm, she couldn’t help but feel a strange warmth in her chest. For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel alone.
As Gabriel and Andrew guided Elena toward her dorm, their focus remained entirely on her. Gabriel’s hand rested gently on her shoulder, while Andrew held her arm to steady her shaky steps. Both of them moved with a protective air, their expressions softening when they glanced at her pale face.
“Hey,” Gabriel said quietly, leaning slightly closer to meet Elena’s gaze. “You’re not going to let this mess get to you, right?”
Elena swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m trying. It’s just… a lot.”
Andrew gave her a reassuring grin. “Don’t worry, little one. With us around, Mia won’t even dare look your way again.”
Elena couldn’t help but smile faintly at his confidence. “You two really don’t have to do all this for me. I can…”
Gabriel interrupted, his tone firm. “We’re not doing this because we have to, Elena. We’re doing it because we want to. You don’t deserve to deal with this alone.”
The sincerity in his voice made Elena’s heart flutter, but she quickly shook the feeling away. This wasn’t the time to get lost in emotions.
Andrew, ever the joker, nudged her lightly. “Yeah, don’t overthink it. Besides, we have fun messing with Mia. Think of it as a bonus.”
Elena couldn’t help but chuckle softly at his lightheartedness. For a moment, the tension lifted, and she felt a flicker of normalcy returning.
Unknown to them, Mia stood hidden in the dark, her phone buzz in her hand. Her eyes burned with anger as she watched the trio.
“Pathetic,” she muttered under her breath, angling the phone to capture the scene.
Gabriel leaned closer to Elena, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “You’ll be fine. Trust me.”
Andrew mirrored the motion on her other side, tilting his head playfully. “We’re not letting you out of our sight, little one.”
From Mia’s vantage point, it looked intimate, far more so than it actually was. She zoomed in and snapped several photos, ensuring she captured just the right angle. One shot showed Gabriel and Andrew standing on either side of Elena, their faces close to hers as if they were about to kiss her cheeks.
A wicked smile spread across Mia’s lips as she reviewed the images. “Let’s see how she explains this,” she whispered to herself.
Back in the hallway, Elena, still oblivious to Mia’s scheming, finally stopped walking. “You two… I don’t know how to thank you.”
Gabriel smirked, his tone teasing. “You can thank us by staying out of trouble.”
Andrew laughed. “And by letting us teach Mia who’s boss tomorrow.”
Elena shook her head, exasperated but grateful. “I can’t believe this is my life right now.”
As the trio neared her dorm, Mia slipped away silently, her plan already forming. She couldn’t wait to unleash the photos. If she couldn’t break Elena through bullying, she’d ruin her reputation another way their focus was entirely on Elena, determined to protect her at all costs.
But Elena’s troubles were far from over.