Meanwhile, back at De Globes, news of Mandy's disappearance spread through the company like
wildfire. Conversations among investors grew tense, clients demanded answers,
and whispers among employees filled the halls. The uncertainty surrounding her
sudden vanishing cast a heavy cloud over the organization, sending ripples of
unease through every department.
Outside the towering glass doors, the media swarmed
day and night, cameras flashing, microphones shoved toward any employee willing
to speak. Reporters were relentless, questioning anyone who had even the
slightest connection to Mandy. Some employees, especially those close to her,
found themselves cornered for interviews, their words twisted into headlines
that only fueled the growing mystery.
Sophia, on the other hand, remained composed. She
knew she was under suspicion—the glances, the hushed tones whenever she entered
a room made that much clear. But if she had learned anything in her years of
maneuvering corporate politics, it was that staying calm under pressure was the
key to survival.
When a pair of investigators arrived at her office,
she welcomed them with a cool smile, folding her hands over her desk as they
took their seats.
"Miss Amore, we're just following up on some leads
regarding Mandy Morgan's disappearance," one of them
began, his sharp gaze studying her reactions. "We
understand you and Miss Morgan had a… complicated professional relationship. Is
there anything you'd like to share?"
Sophia let out a light chuckle, shaking her head. "Complicated? That's a rather interesting way to put it," she mused. "Look, I won't lie—Mandy and I were
never the best of friends. But to suggest that I had anything to do with her
disappearance? That's absurd. I'm far too busy to engage in something so…
childish."
She leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs. "Whoever took her? Maybe it was one of her so-called fans or someone
who's been holding resentment against her. Who knows? You can never tell." She gave a nonchalant shrug, her expression unreadable.
The lead investigator studied her for a moment
before nodding. "We appreciate your time, Miss Amore."
As they stood to leave, Sophia watched them with a
placid smile, but the moment they exited her office, her fingers curled into a
tight fist on her desk. She knew the walls were closing in. But she wasn't
about to let them catch her—not yet.
Hazel paced back and forth in her hotel room,
gripping her phone tightly. She had been in Lagos for almost two months,
tirelessly searching for any lead on Mandy's whereabouts. The weight of her
best friend's disappearance pressed heavily on her, and exhaustion clung to her
every move.
One afternoon, while scanning her laptop for any
trace of information, her phone buzzed. She froze, staring at the screen. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan.
She had been expecting this call—dreading it, even.
Mandy's parents had been reaching out for days, their messages growing more
persistent. She had ignored some, hoping for a breakthrough before speaking to
them, but now, as the phone continued to ring, she knew she had no choice.
Taking a deep breath, she answered. "Hello, Mrs. Morgan."
"Hazel, dear," Mandy's mother
said, her voice lined with worry. "We've been trying to
reach Mandy, but she hasn't answered any of our calls. It's been weeks now.
What's going on?"
Hazel's heart pounded. She gripped the edge of the
desk, forcing herself to sound calm. "Oh, um… Mandy's
been really busy with work," she said, attempting a light
chuckle. "You know how things get at De Globes. She's
been traveling a lot for business, handling some major projects."
A pause. Then Mr. Morgan's deep voice came through
the line. "Hazel, are you sure? We tried calling the
office, and they said she hasn't been around. No one has seen her for a while.
Something isn't right."
Hazel swallowed hard. They were catching on. Panic
curled in her chest, but she couldn't let it show. Mandy's parents didn't need
to know the truth—not yet. If they found out, they'd be devastated.
"I promise she's okay," Hazel
said quickly. "She just needs some time to herself. You
know how she gets when she's overloaded with work. She's probably just keeping
her head down and focusing."
Mandy's mother sighed on the other end. "Hazel, please. If there's something you're not telling us…"
Hazel's grip on the phone tightened. "I swear, she's fine. I'll let her know you called. She'll reach out
soon."
The line went silent for a moment before Mrs. Morgan
spoke again, softer this time. "Alright, Hazel. But if
you see her first, tell her we love her… and we just want to know she's safe."
"I will," Hazel promised, her
throat tightening.
When the call ended, she let out a shaky breath,
sinking onto the bed. The guilt was unbearable. Lying to Mandy's parents felt
wrong, but what choice did she have? Until she had real answers, telling them
the truth would only break them.
Wiping away the tears that threatened to spill, she
grabbed her keys and her laptop. Nathan wasn't the only one searching. If Mandy
was out there somewhere, Hazel was going to find her—no matter what it took.
Nathan sat in his office, his fingers drumming
against the desk as his mind ran in circles. The search for Mandy had consumed
him, and every second that passed without a lead only fueled his frustration.
He had deployed every resource available—private security, law enforcement
contacts, and even hired a special agent to follow any potential suspects. But
one name kept surfacing in his mind: Sophia Amore.
Just as he leaned back in his chair, running a hand
through his hair, movement outside his window caught his attention. His eyes
narrowed as he spotted Sophia hurrying out of De Globes, glancing around nervously before slipping into her sleek black
Mercedes. She was acting differently—more cautious, more secretive.
His jaw clenched. He had been suspicious of her for
a while, but this? This was out of character. Without hesitation, he picked up
his phone and dialed one of his most trusted men.
"Damian."
"Sir."
"Sophia just left the building. She's moving like
she doesn't want to be seen. I want you to follow her—discreetly. I need to
know where she's going and who she's meeting."
"On it, boss."
Nathan hung up, his pulse steady, but his grip on
his phone was anything but calm. If Sophia was involved in this nightmare, if
she had anything to do with Mandy's disappearance, then… he didn't even want to
finish the thought.
Hours later, Damian returned with unsettling news.
"Sir, I followed her to a private restaurant on the
outskirts of town. She met with a man—tall, dark-skinned, well-dressed. I ran
his plates. It's Jayson Anderson."
Nathan's world tilted for a moment. His breath
hitched, and for a second, he couldn't move.
Jayson Anderson.
The name alone was enough to send fury blazing
through his veins. Mandy's ex. The man who had betrayed her. The man who had kidnapped her.
And Sophia was meeting with him?
Nathan forced himself to breathe, to remain composed
even as his knuckles turned white from gripping the edge of his desk.
"What else did you find?"
Damian hesitated. "They were
careful, but I got close enough to hear some of their conversation. Jayson
seemed… confident. Too confident. He was talking about Mandy like she was
already his. And Sophia…" Damian sighed. "She didn't seem to object. In fact, she told him something that stood
out."
Nathan clenched his jaw. "What
did she say?"
Damian hesitated before answering. "She said, 'Nathan never loved me the way he loves her. I won't let
them be together.'"
Silence. Heavy. Suffocating.
Nathan exhaled sharply, his entire body tensing. His
past with Sophia had been complicated, but this… this was something else
entirely.
She hadn't just been bitter. She had been plotting.
His hands trembled as he reached for his glass of
whiskey and threw it back in one gulp. The betrayal was deeper than he could
have imagined.
Sophia and Jayson were working together.
His heart pounded violently in his chest as he stood
up, his chair scraping against the floor.
Mandy was out there, trapped, and these two were
responsible.
His eyes darkened with resolve. If Sophia thought
she could get away with this—if Jayson thought he could take Mandy from
him—then they were about to learn the hard way just how wrong they were.
Nathan Hydes wasn't just going to find Mandy.
He was going to end this.
Nathan's Breaking Point
Nathan sat alone in his dimly lit office, the city
skyline stretching beyond the glass windows, its lights flickering like distant
stars. Days had passed—agonizing, torturous days—with no sign of Mandy. No
messages. No ransom notes. No slip-ups from Jayson. Nothing.
The silence was driving him insane.
His fingers trembled as he gripped the edge of his
desk, his mind running in relentless circles. He had turned Lagos upside down,
deployed every resource, and yet—nothing.
Mandy was out there, somewhere, alone, afraid… and
he wasn't there to protect her.
With a sudden surge of rage, he grabbed the whiskey
glass beside him and hurled it across the room. The sharp shatter echoed like a gunshot, fragments of
glass scattering across the marble floor.
Hazel stormed into the office at the sound. "Nathan!" she called out, concern lacing her
voice.
But Nathan wasn't listening. He was breathing
heavily, his hands in his hair, his mind spiraling into darker places.
This is my fault.
He had promised to protect her. He had sworn to keep
her safe. Yet, he had let her slip through his fingers.
Hazel cautiously stepped closer. "Nathan, you need to pull yourself together. We are going to find
her—"
"When, Hazel?" he snapped, his
voice rough, raw. He turned to her, his eyes burning with fury and anguish. "Every second she's gone, he could be hurting her. Do you understand
that?" He ran a hand over his face, exhaling sharply. "And I'm sitting here, powerless."
Hazel's expression softened. "You're
not powerless, Nathan. You're doing everything you can."
But it wasn't enough.
He turned to his security team standing nearby. "I want an increase in the search radius. No one rests until we find
her. Every street, every hidden corner—tear them apart if you have to."
His men nodded and left immediately, knowing better
than to argue.
Nathan's hands balled into fists. He had built an
empire, commanded boardrooms, controlled entire industries—but none of that
mattered if he couldn't bring her
home.
He had lost control, and for the first time in his
life…
He was terrified.
Mandy sat in the corner of the dimly lit room, her
hands tied tightly behind her, her wrists raw from her failed escape attempt.
Her breathing was steady, but her mind was in chaos. Every second in Jayson's
presence was suffocating, his obsessive gaze a reminder of the nightmare she
was trapped in.
The door burst open, and Sophia strode in, her heels
clicking sharply against the floor. Her face was set in a mask of barely
restrained fury.
"Jayson, I thought I said you should take her
away—possibly to another country. That was our discussion the last time, wasn't
it?" she snapped, folding her arms.
Jayson, lounging carelessly against the table,
barely spared her a glance. Instead, his gaze remained locked on Mandy,
drinking in every detail of her as if he was memorizing her. His lips curled
into a smirk.
"Patience, Sophia. I'm on it. Besides, didn't you
see the news? The media has taken over Mandy's case, and the immediate lockdown
Nathan ordered? That son of a bitch ruined everything. Mandy and I would have
been long gone by now."
His voice was eerily calm, but there was venom in
his words. Mandy felt a chill run through her at how easily he spoke of taking
her away, like she was some prize to be stolen.
Sophia huffed in frustration, pacing the room. "Do what you need to do, Jayson. I won't be coming here often again. I
think I'm Nathan's next line of target."
Jayson chuckled darkly, finally turning his full
attention to her. "Oh, Sophia… Nathan Hydes will never
stop until he gets his little princess back in his arms again. How touching!" His voice dripped with sarcasm as he clapped his hands mockingly.
Mandy's stomach twisted. Nathan was looking for her. She had to hold on. She had
to believe that he would find her before it was too late.
Sophia let out a sharp breath. "I did my part, Jayson. Make sure she disappears before Nathan finds
her. If she talks, we're both screwed."
Jayson tilted his head, amusement dancing in his
eyes. "Relax, Sophia. Mandy isn't going anywhere. Not
until I decide otherwise."
Mandy clenched her fists. I
won't let him decide my fate.
She had to escape—no matter what.
But how could she escape? Jayson had stationed his
men at every corner, watching her every move. Any attempt to flee would be a
death wish. Her only hope was to survive until Nathan came for her.
After Sophia's abrupt departure, Jayson turned his
full attention back to Mandy, his cold, obsessive gaze sweeping over her.
"Mandy Morgan," he drawled, a
mocking smirk tugging at his lips. "Your Prince Charming
won't stop until he finds you." He scoffed, shaking his
head. "But it's pointless. You belong to me now."
Mandy's eyes darkened with fury. Enough.
"Jayson, you and I both know you don't love me. You
never did!" she spat. "So why this?
Whatever we had was in the past, and you made sure to destroy it. You fooled me
into believing in something that never existed—an illusion. But in the end, I
was nothing more than a pawn in your pathetic games. And you? You're just a
miserable loser."
The words barely left her mouth before a sharp slap
cracked through the air.
Mandy's head snapped to the side, pain radiating
through her cheek. A warm, coppery taste filled her mouth as blood trickled
from her lip.
"Shut up!" Jayson bellowed,
his voice laced with fury. His breathing was ragged, his fingers still
trembling from the impact of the slap.
Mandy's vision blurred, but she refused to let the
tears fall. Slowly, she turned her head back to face him, her glare piercing
through the haze of pain.
Jayson ran a hand through his hair, cursing under
his breath.
"Fuck! You see what you made me do?" He exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. "Just
shut up, okay?"
Without another word, he spun on his heel and
stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
The lock clicked.
Mandy inhaled shakily, her body trembling from a mix
of fear and rage. She pressed her back against the cold wall, her mind racing.
Escape was nearly impossible. But she refused to be
broken.
Nathan, please… find me.
Sophia's Betrayal
Nathan stormed into Sophia's office, his patience
threadbare, his eyes burning with barely contained fury. He had followed the
trail of lies—the suspicious movements, the hushed phone calls—everything
leading back to her. The woman he had once trusted.
Sophia, seated behind her sleek glass desk, barely
flinched at his sudden entrance. Calmly, she looked up, arching a brow. "Nathan, I don't remember scheduling a meeting with you."
Nathan slammed a folder onto her desk, sending
papers scattering. "Cut the bullshit, Sophia. I know
you've been working with Jayson." His voice was
dangerously low, vibrating with restrained rage.
Sophia sighed dramatically, leaning back in her
chair. "And?"
Nathan's jaw clenched. "And?
That's all you have to say?"
She stood slowly, circling the desk, her heels
clicking against the marble floor with deliberate ease. "What
exactly do you want me to say, Nathan? That I regret it? That I feel guilty?" She let out a humorless laugh. "Because I
don't."
Nathan stepped closer, fists tightening at his
sides. "You knew Mandy was in danger. You knew what
Jayson was capable of, and you still helped him?"
Sophia smirked, tilting her head. "Oh, Nathan…" she purred. "You
never saw it, did you? You never saw me."
His eyes narrowed. "What the
hell are you talking about?"
She scoffed, shaking her head. "All those years, I waited. I stood by your side, thinking that maybe
one day you'd look at me the way you look at her. But you never did. No matter
how much I did for you, no matter how hard I worked, it was always her."
Nathan exhaled sharply, his mind reeling. "So this is what? Some twisted revenge?"
Sophia stepped even closer, her eyes glinting with
something dark. "Jayson and I may have different reasons,
but we share the same goal—to take Mandy away from you."
Nathan's vision blurred with fury. His entire body
shook as he fought the urge to lash out. Instead, he fixed her with a gaze
colder than ice. "Where is she?"
Sophia smirked, her arms crossing over her chest. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Nathan gripped the edge of her desk, his breath
heavy and slow, his control slipping. "You just made the
worst mistake of your life, Sophia."
For the first time, a flicker of unease passed over
her face.
Nathan leaned in, his voice dangerously quiet. "If anything happens to her, I swear to God, I'll make you pay for
it."
Sophia swallowed but quickly masked her reaction
with another smirk.
Without another word, Nathan turned on his heel and
stormed out of the office, his mind consumed by one thing—finding Mandy before it was too late.
Jayson's Hideout Found
Nathan stood rigid, gripping his phone as the words
from his special agent rang in his ears. "Sir, we have a
location."
A slow exhale left his lips, his pulse hammering in
his throat. Finally.
Hazel, who had been sitting across from him in the
dimly lit command center, shot up from her chair. "Where is she?"
The agent's voice remained steady. "A remote safe house on the outskirts of town. It's well-guarded.
Jayson was careful, but not careful enough."
Nathan's hands curled into fists. That son of a bitch. He turned to Hazel. "Get
ready. We move now."
Hazel nodded, determination hardening her features.
"I'm coming with you."
Nathan didn't argue. He knew there was no stopping
her.
As they gathered their team and prepared for the
rescue, a mixture of hope and dread settled deep in Nathan's chest. They had
found Mandy. But the real battle was just beginning.
Mandy's Life in the Balance
Nathan's heart pounded as he stepped into the dimly
lit hideout, his sharp eyes scanning the room. His men had already secured the
perimeter, snipers stationed at key points, ready to act at his command. But
none of that mattered when his gaze landed on Mandy.
She was tied to a chair in the center of the room,
her wrists and ankles bound tightly. But what made Nathan's blood turn ice-cold
was the blinking red light strapped to her body—a bomb.
And Jayson stood right beside her, his finger
hovering dangerously over a small detonator.
"Ah, Nathan," Jayson greeted, a sick grin stretching
across his face. "Took you long enough."
Nathan forced himself to stay calm, his fists
clenched at his sides. "Let her go, Jayson. You don't want to do this."
Jayson tilted his head mockingly. "Oh, but I do. You
see, Nathan, you took something from me. And I'm only here to return the
favor."
Nathan's jaw tightened as he took a cautious step
forward. "I'll give you whatever you want. Just let Mandy go."
Jayson chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, you still
don't get it, do you? This isn't about money. It's about her." He gestured toward Mandy, who was breathing heavily, fear shining in
her eyes.
Mandy swallowed hard, her voice trembling. "Nathan,
don't—"
"Shhh," Jayson pressed a finger to her lips.
"Wouldn't want to trigger anything too soon, now would we?"
Nathan's mind raced. If Jayson pressed that button,
Mandy would be gone in an instant. He had to think fast. He subtly glanced at
the sniper position he had arranged outside, hoping they were in position.
His voice remained steady, though every muscle in
his body screamed to rip Jayson apart. "You're not walking out of here alive,
Jayson. You know that, right?"
Jayson smirked. "Then I guess I'll take her with
me."
Nathan took another step closer. His gun was
holstered, his hands raised slightly to show he wasn't making any sudden moves.
"You won't get that chance."
Outside, Hazel watched through a scope, waiting for
the perfect moment. The tension inside the room was suffocating, every second
bringing Mandy closer to danger.
Nathan knew he had one shot to save her. And he
wasn't going to miss.
Mandy's Choice
Mandy's breaths came in sharp, shallow gasps as
Jayson tightened his grip on the detonator. The blinking red light on her vest
taunted her with every passing second. Across the room, Nathan stood rigid, his
piercing eyes locked on her, his entire body vibrating with restrained fury.
Jayson let out a low chuckle, brushing a stray lock
of hair from Mandy's face. "Well, princess, it looks like you have a choice to
make."
Mandy flinched at his touch, her body trembling.
"W-What?"
Jayson leaned closer, his voice dripping with
twisted amusement. "It's simple, really. Stay here with me, and I promise
you'll live. Or…" His gaze flicked toward Nathan. "Go with your beloved knight
in shining armor, and risk me pressing this little button." He twirled the
detonator between his fingers, his smirk widening.
Nathan took a step forward, his voice deadly calm.
"You won't do it, Jayson. Killing her means you lose."
Jayson shrugged. "Oh, Nathan, you underestimate how
much I love the thrill of destruction." He turned back to Mandy, his expression
darkening. "So, what will it be, angel? Will you stay with me and live… or run
to him and die?"
Mandy's mind was spiraling. Her body ached from
exhaustion, her wrists raw from the ropes. Fear clawed at her throat, but
beneath it all was something stronger—anger.
She lifted her gaze, meeting Nathan's eyes. They
were filled with desperation, determination, and something else… something that
told her he would never let her go.
Mandy's Final Choice
The world around Mandy seemed to blur, the steady
beeping of the bomb's timer echoing in her ears like a death toll. Every nerve
in her body screamed at her to choose survival—to give in to Jayson's twisted
game just to stay alive.
But then she saw him.
Nathan stood there, unwavering, his eyes locked onto
hers, filled with something fierce and unbreakable. It wasn't just
desperation—it was love, raw and undeniable. The same love she felt for him.
And in that moment, the fear gripping her chest loosened.
Tears burned in her eyes as she whispered, "Nathan…"
Nathan's hands curled into fists. "Don't listen to
him, Mandy. I will get you out of
this."
Jayson scoffed. "Tick-tock, darling."
Mandy inhaled sharply, her mind made up. If she was
going to die, she wasn't going to die as Jayson's captive. Her choice was
clear.
She turned to Nathan, her voice steady despite her
fear.
"I choose you."
Sophia's Arrest and Jayson's Fate
Mandy barely had time to catch her breath before the
heavy sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hideout.
Nathan turned swiftly, his protective hold on Mandy
tightening as the special agents stormed in. And there, standing in the shadows
with a twisted smile, was Sophia.
She had been there the entire time—watching,
reveling in the chaos.
Nathan's fury burned hotter than ever. "You."
Sophia smirked, arms crossed as if this was just
another business deal. "Well, well, I must say… that was quite the performance.
I was almost rooting for you, Mandy." Her voice was mockingly sweet. "But
honestly, I was hoping for more fireworks." She gestured lazily toward the bomb
still strapped to the chair.
Nathan took a step forward, his jaw clenched so
tightly it was a wonder he hadn't shattered his teeth. "You played your part
well, Sophia. Too bad this is where your game ends."
Before she could respond, two special agents grabbed
her arms, pinning them behind her back.
"Let me go!" she shrieked, her composure cracking as
she struggled against them. "Nathan, you don't understand! She doesn't deserve
you!"
Nathan didn't spare her another glance. He turned
his focus back to Jayson, whose face was twisted in pain as he pressed a bloody
hand to his shoulder.
But even wounded, Jayson's obsession burned as
fiercely as ever. His gaze landed on Mandy, dark and desperate.
"You think this is over?" he rasped, coughing.
"Mandy, we were meant to be. You'll never be free of me."
Nathan's body moved before his mind even registered
it. He stepped between them, shielding Mandy from the man who had tormented
her.
"No," Nathan said coldly, "you'll never be free."
In that moment, Jayson made a final, reckless
move—his shaking hand reaching for a hidden weapon.
Bang!
A single shot rang through the air.
Jayson's body jerked violently, his head snapping
back as the bullet struck him clean. A dark red mist followed, and then—he
collapsed.
His lifeless eyes stared at nothing. His grip on his
gun slackened, the weapon clattering uselessly to the floor.
Silence fell over the room.
A beep.
The bomb.
Nathan's eyes widened as he saw the detonator slip
from Jayson's dead fingers, tumbling toward the ground.
No, no, no—
In a flash, he lunged forward, snatching it just
before it hit the concrete. His breath caught in his throat as he held it
still, his heart hammering.
For a moment, the room remained frozen.
A Narrow Escape
Nathan's pulse thundered in his ears as he raced to
Mandy, his hands shaking violently as he tore through the restraints.
Ten seconds.
"Mandy, hold on!" His voice was raw with urgency. He
scooped her into his arms, his muscles burning with the weight of both her and
the moment.
Five seconds.
The hideout doors loomed ahead. Nathan pushed
harder, his legs screaming in protest. The world around him blurred into
nothing but smoke, heat, and impending disaster.
Mandy's breath hitched as fear coursed through her
veins, but she nodded. She trusted Nathan.
Without wasting a second, Nathan yanked the straps
from her wrists and hoisted her into his arms. He bolted through the dimly lit
corridors of the hideout, his muscles burning as he pushed himself faster than
he ever had before.
Behind them, the bomb's beeping grew faster.
Hazel's voice crackled through his earpiece. "Nathan, get out! You have less than thirty seconds!"
Nathan didn't stop. Didn't look back.
The exit was just ahead. With every ounce of
strength left in his body, he leapt
forward, shielding Mandy as they burst through the doorway—
Three seconds.
The doors burst open. The night air hit them like a slap.
Two seconds.
With one final, desperate surge, Nathan dived.
One.
BOOM!
The explosion roared behind them, a fiery inferno
consuming the hideout. The force threw them forward, and they crashed onto the
pavement just as debris rained down.
For a few agonizing seconds, everything was silent
except for the ringing in Nathan's ears.
Then—he heard a soft cough.
"Mandy?" His voice was hoarse as he lifted himself
onto his elbows, his arms still protectively wrapped around her.
She stirred beneath him, her eyes fluttering open.
"Nathan…?"
Relief crashed over him so hard it almost knocked
the air from his lungs. He let out a shaky breath, brushing a stray strand of
hair from her face. "You're okay."
Mandy looked past him at the burning wreckage, her
body trembling. "We almost—"
"But we didn't," Nathan cut in firmly, gripping her
shoulders. "You're safe."
Tears welled up in her eyes, and for the first time
since her nightmare began, she let herself collapse against him.
Nathan held her close, his own body shaking from
adrenaline and the overwhelming realization that he almost lost her. That he
could have failed.
But he didn't.
They had survived.
There was a bit silence.
Then—a soft gasp.
Nathan's arms were still locked around Mandy's body.
His lungs ached. His ears rang. But none of it mattered.
Because she was breathing.
Because she was alive.
A shaky exhale left his lips as he cupped her face.
"Mandy?"
She blinked up at him, her voice barely above a
whisper. "You saved me."
Nathan swallowed hard, pressing his forehead to
hers. "I always will."
And as the sirens of approaching authorities filled
the air, Nathan knew that nothing—no
threat, no enemy, no force—would ever take Mandy from him again.