Julian Sterling could only rely on the ager skills he had acquired in his previous life to attempt untying his hands first. He pressed his palms together, raising them slightly, intending to use brute force to burst the bindings open. However, his captors had used rope rather than plastic zip ties or duct tape, so Julian found it impossible to snap them. He could only take a deep breath, curl his body inward, and use his still-functional fingers to grasp his own shoelaces. Fortunately, he was wearing sneakers today; after a clumsy struggle, Julian managed to untie them.
He pulled the long shoelace into a loop to thread his foot through, then utilized it as a makeshift saw. With his hands pressed tight, he positioned the rope against the shoelace and began to rub back and forth, the speed increasing with every second. The friction generated a searing heat. The rope was not only chafing against the shoelace but also burning his skin. He didn’t know how much ti had passed, but the rope, which wasn’t excessively thick, finally snapped under the heat of the friction. However, Julian’s wrists were now drenched in blood.
Yet, he had no ti to dwell on the pain. Dragging his body, which was trembling with agony, he desperately sought a way to escape this predicant.
anwhile, Aaron Sterling was driving Ethan Caldwell on a long, winding route. As he drove, Aaron wept and rambled, incessantly recounting how worried he was for Julian. Throughout the journey, Ethan simply furrowed his brows, remaining completely silent.
Finally, the car turned into a small alleyway where the houses were dilapidated and shabby. If Ethan’s estimation was correct, this was the slum district located near the western outskirts of Saint Lawrence City.
At that mont, his phone vibrated lightly. Ethan glanced at it, and his expression darkened instantly. He suddenly asked: "You are going to ransom soone, so where is the money?"
Aaron, who was just turning the steering wheel to enter an old apartnt complex, paused for a second upon hearing the question before replying: "It’s in the trunk."
The car pulled into a desolate courtyard. Aaron and Ethan stepped out. Aaron opened the trunk, retrieved a securely locked suitcase, and then glanced around the area. He spoke cautiously: "They said the exchange would happen here, and then they would release him imdiately. Julian must be locked up here."
Just then, Aaron’s phone rang. He answered, uttered a few affirmative sounds, then turned back to speak to Ethan: "They told us to go upstairs to the third floor. We hand over the money there."
Ethan said nothing. He simply signaled for Aaron to lead the way while he followed close behind. His phone received another ssage. Ethan glanced at the screen once more before continuing the ascent.
This old apartnt building was not tall and lacked an elevator. The two of them climbed the stairs to the third floor and walked to the end of the corridor. There, nestled in a dimly lit corner, was a room with a damp, moss-covered door. Seeing this, Aaron whimpered: "Is Julian locked up here? It’s so filthy..."
Ethan had no patience for his rambling and cut him off: "Where are they? Do they expect us to just leave the money here? If they don’t let see him, there will be no money."
Hearing this, Aaron shook his head and said, "They told us to open the door and co in. The exchange happens inside."
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from downstairs. Aaron turned around in panic, only to see a group of five or six tall, burly n with ferocious expressions approaching. He whipped his head around to ask Ethan: "Did you call the police?"
Ethan did not answer. He rely signaled for one of the n to break down the door.
Seeing this, Aaron suppressed a smile. He had already signaled the gang inside earlier. He feared that by now, Julian was likely prostrate under soone’s body, begging for pleasure. The more people who witnessed it, the better. Not only would Ethan be furious, but Julian’s life would also be thoroughly ruined.
He turned his face away, struggling to keep himself from laughing out loud.
Although the apartnt was old, the door was surprisingly sturdy. The bodyguard kicked it several tis until the hinges began to loosen. Just as he was about to deliver the final kick, a scream rang out from inside.
It was Julian’s voice.
Ethan pulled the bodyguard back and delivered a powerful kick himself. The entire door burst open, and he sprinted inside. Aaron also watched with gleeful anticipation, but when the scene inside beca clear, he froze completely.
There was no filthy orgy as he had imagined.
A man was lying on the floor, while Julian had collapsed onto the bed, wounds visible on his hands and face. When Ethan burst in, a man was holding a knife to Julian’s neck, threatening him, but Julian stomped on the attacker’s foot and drove an elbow into him. Julian fell back onto the bed, while the man was sent flying by a kick from Ethan, ending up pinned beneath his foot.
The bodyguards sward in, swiftly subduing both attackers.
The mont Julian saw Ethan, his entire body went limp. His eyes turned red, and he sobbed out a single word: "Ethan..."
Ethan rushed over and gathered him into his arms. He looked at the wounds on Julian’s body, his clothes disheveled from the struggle with the two n, and especially his wrists, which were dripping with blood. His face grim, Ethan took off his coat, draped it over Julian, and carried him out. A bodyguard quickly followed as the three of them descended to the open lot downstairs.
By now, in addition to Aaron’s car, there were two or three other vehicles. Helen Lloyd was present. Seeing her boss carry soone out, she hurriedly opened the car door. Ethan placed Julian into the car, barking out an order: "To Kieran Talbot’s clinic."
At this point, Aaron ran over, calling out: "Ethan!"
But Ethan didn’t even spare him a glance. Seeing this, the subordinates remained silent. A bodyguard hopped into the driver’s seat, Helen took the passenger seat, and the engine roared to life as the car sped away.
Aaron was left standing alone, dumbfounded in the cloud of exhaust fus.
Just as he stomped his foot, furious and ready to curse, the remaining bodyguards appeared. They dragged the two captured n and threw them into their own vehicle, then blocked Aaron’s path.
"What do you want? Get out of my way!"
But the bodyguards did not heed his words. One of them stepped forward and said: "Our boss invites you for a trip. If anything happens to the young master, you shouldn’t expect to live a good life anymore."
Having said that, he reached out and grabbed Aaron, who was attempting to flee, effortlessly lifting him up and tossing him into the car. Panic finally set in, and Aaron scread: "Let go! What are you doing? Let..."
The bodyguard struck the back of his neck with a sharp blow, and the space instantly fell silent.
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