Chapter 196
Ten Minutes Earlier
Alex and Sophia sat side by side in the dimly lit interrogation room, their wrists and ankles cuffed with heavy chains bolted to the floor.
Sophia’s breathing grew ragged.
She hated how the gloom pricked at her brain with worst–case scenarios.
“Alex,” she said quietly, her voice trembling, “do you honestly think we’ll get out of here alive?”
Alex didn’t move at first.
His gaze stayed locked on the metal door. “We will,” he finally muttered. “We’re walking out of this place in one piece. I guarantee it.‘
A humorless laugh escaped Sophia’s lips.
“Easy for you to say. You haven’t had nightmares about this creep, Mr. Bernard. His record in the station is as dirty as it gets.”
She swallowed hard, her next words barely above a whisper. “And with Sir Raymond pulling the strings, it’s like they have the entire city in their pocket. We don’t stand a chance.”
Alex turned to face her then–really turned, with a look that pinned her in place. “Sophia, have you ever trusted me? Even for one second?”
She opened her mouth but only managed a croak. The thought stuck in her throat like a jagged rock.
Before she could get another word out, the metal door groaned open.
Mr. Bernard stomped inside with a posse of four burly men behind him, each wearing that bored, dangerous sneer only seasoned criminals wore.
A battered duffel bag hit the metal table with a dull thud, its zipper snapping open to reveal thick wads of cash.
Bernard shot them a rotten grin, displaying crooked, yellowing teeth.
“Listen up, kiddies. This is one million dollars in unmarked bills.” He kicked the bag closer.
“All you gotta do is hand over what Sir Raymond wants. Then you can walk out with your little girlfriend here.”
“Or-” his eyes flicked to the men behind him with a sadistic gleam “-you keep being difficult. I let these fine gentlemen have their fun with your lady. Spoiler alert: you’ll still end up giving us what we want, only you’ll be a lot more traumatized afterward.”
Sophia’s stomach lurched.
She leaned toward Alex, her voice desperate. “Come on, Alex, just give them whatever Sir Raymond’s after. Please. This is insane.”
“This is not how I do things.” Alex let out a slow breath, eyes darkening. He turned to her and whispered, ” Sophia, close your eyes and keep them shut no matter what happens. Trust me on this.”
She bit her lip, clearly terrified.
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But something about the quiet force in his voice made her d. She closed her eyes, eyelashes fluttering as she fought not to peek.
“Bernard scoffed. “Aw, isn’t that sweet? A heroic little stand off. Too bad your time’s up, kid. Make your decision.”
“I have made my decision,” Alex said, calm as a gun barrel. “I’m not giving him a single thing.” Bernard’s face morphed from smug to furious in a heartbeat.
“You dumb piece of gutter trash. You think you’ve got a choice here?” He jerked a thumb at the gang of men.
“These guys are the nastiest scum we’ve got rotting in the cells. They’d love nothing more than to rip off that pretty little dress your girlfriend’s wearing. And you? You‘ be chained up, forced to watch.”
One of the men, a skinhead with a grotesque scar running across his cheek, licked his lips.
“I’ve been starved of a woman for too damn long, boss. Might not be gentle, but I’ll make sure the show is good.”
Bernård nodded, vindictive glee carving wrinkles into his face. “You hear that, kid? Time to learn your place in the world. A damn nobody.”
Alex’s voice dropped low, a lethal edge slicing through every word. “If you so much as touch her, you’ll be begging for a quick death.”
Bernard let out a bark of laughter. “Listen to you. All bark, no bite, you worthless—”
The metal cuffs around Alex’s wrists and ankles gave a sudden, earsplitting snap, interrupting Bernard mid-
insult.
In a heartbeat, Alex stood tall, the torn–off chains clattering onto the floor like broken shackles of a ghost.
Bernard’s jaw dropped. “What the-?! How-?!”
The gang of criminals froze, their predatory grin evaporating.
Even the scarred man backed away, his hands raised in a meek surrender. “Look, dude, we only did this ‘cause the pig told us to, alright? We’re outta this. No beef with you.”
Bernard’s eyes flickered between Alex and his petrified lackeys. Panic settled over him like a thick fog. “Don’t just stand there, you halfwits–stop him!”
But the criminals only shuffled back, wide–eyed.
They’d seen enough during their stints in lockup to know this was suicide territory.
No paycheck (or promise of release) was worth tangling with a man who could shred reinforced cuffs bare- handed.
Bernard spun, trying to bolt for the door.
“Help! Guards! Anyone-!” His shriek ended in a sputter when one of the men grabbed him by the back of his collar and hurled him straight at Alex.
“He’s yours,” the man muttered, eyes darting anywhere but Alex. “Do whatever you want. We didn’t sign up for this freak show.”
Bernard’s body smacked against Alex’s chest. In one fluid movement, Alex twisted his torso and delivered a punishing kick to Bernard’s gut.
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The man’s shrill squeal was pure terror as he tumbled across the floor and smashed into the table.
Birks spilled out of the duffel bag, fluttering like confetti.
Coughing and choking, Bernard sprawled on all fours.
Alex marched toward him, scooping up a fat wad of cash along the way.
“Shut up!”
Without warning, he crammed the roll of bills into Bernard’s mouth, shutting up the frantic squeals.
“You crooked bastard,” Alex growled, voice filled with cold fury. “Abusing your badge for personal gain. Threatening an innocent woman. Bribery. Intimidation.”
Each accusation hit like a punch to Bernard’s pride as Alex towered over him.
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Bernard spat out the money in a slobbery mess. “You- you can’t do this!” he howled, his face beet–red with rage and humiliation.
“You’re in a damn police station! You go too far, and you’ll be hunted down like a rabid dog!”
A humorless grin tugged at Alex’s lips. “Is that so? Let’s test that theory.‘
”
He grabbed another roll of cash, shoved it back in Bernard’s mouth, and brought his foot down viciously on the man’s arm.
The bone snapped with a sickening crunch, echoing around the small room. Bernard’s muffled scream rattled the walls, tears streaming from his bloodshot eyes.
“Alex! Stop!” Sophia’s voice rang out, breaking through the chaos. She’d finally opened her eyes, and the sheer horror on her face said it all. “Enough! If we hurt him any worse, they’ll charge us with assaulting an officer–or worse!”
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