The Rescue

Chapter 3

Alice

He signed the papers without protest. Then he threw them back at me, his eyes burning with rage. “You'll regret this Alice. You're nothing without me!”

“We'll see to that.” I said quietly, shooting them one final glance before making my way out.

Samantha's voice echoed behind me as I left… thick with mockery. “Goodbye, Alice. Don’t come crawling back when your pathetic little savings begin to fail you!”

Her words stirred something inside me, but I didn't look back. I had long made up my mind to leave for good… I couldn't stop now.

I booked a cab quickly as soon as I stepped out of the room.

As the car took off, I made a promise to myself never to return to Thomas's house. I was never going to spend one more night there… and that begins tonight.

When the car pulled up at the hotel I had planned to spend the night in, I stepped out and walked straight into the building. 

The place was grand and quiet… the exact kind of serenity I needed at this moment.

The receptionist greeted me with a warm smile, treating me like I was a special guest. I didn’t understand why, but I didn't care either.  

“Come with me, ma’am. I’ll take you to your room,” she said, leading the way.

I nodded and followed her, my heart pounding with each step.  

We reached the last door at the end of the hallway, with bold letters that read VIP, and she stopped.

I froze. 

VIP? This had to be a mistake. I couldn’t afford anything close to that.  

The woman noticed my hesitation and smiled. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Brooks. It’s all taken care of.”  

My chest tightened. Taken care of? By who? And how did she know my name?  

Before I could speak, she pressed a key card into my hand. “This unlocks your room. Have a pleasant stay.”  

She turned and walked off, her heels clicking down the hallway, leaving me there, confused… and a little bit scared.

I stood there, gripping the card in my hand, her words ringing in my head like an endless drum.  

Fear gnawed at me as I glanced at the card one last time, but I shook it off and slid the card into the slot anyway. The door swung open… and I froze at the magnificence of the room.  

A massive chandelier gleamed at the center of the ceiling, lighting the space with a soft… rich glow.

I sank onto the king‑sized bed, my cheeks flushing with a strange mix of relief and excitement.

Finally, a moment of peace after all the chaos I had endured all these years.

My eyes drifted to the minibar in the corner. I got up, walked towards it, and poured myself a glass of tequila, gulping it down without a second thought.

Just then, the door burst open with a loud thud, startling me to my feet.

I dropped the glass with shaky hands, my heart slamming heavily in my chest. Two men in black suits stormed in, their faces grim.  

They charged towards me fiercely, and grabbed my arms. My struggles to break free from their grip were all useless.

“Who are you… ” My words died as one of the men clamped his large palm over my mouth.  

“Shut the fuck up, Alice!” he hissed, venom dripping from his voice.

They pushed the door open and began to drag me out when a sharp, deafening sound thundered through the room, knocking them off their feet.

I clamped my hands over my ears, my head dropping low as gunfire echoed through the air.

Moments later, silence returned. I opened my eyes, my legs shaking with terror.

My heart nearly exploded when I saw the two men sprawled on the floor… lifeless, their blood staining the tiles.

Then I heard footsteps. I raised my gaze slowly, and I saw him… he was tall, dressed in a brown suit, his hair falling messily across his face, his jaw sculpted perfectly like a statue.

He looked too familiar… yet I couldn’t place him. My legs wobbled beneath me; the alcohol hit hard now.

But before I could reach the ground, he caught me, holding me steady in his arms. His eyes studied mine calmly as he laid me gently on the bed.

“You should rest,” he said and turned away.

But I caught his hand before he could go any further. I tugged him back until his body pressed against mine, my arms sliding up to lock around his neck.  

“No,” I breathed, my voice shaky and raw against his skin. “I don’t want rest… I want you.”

His eyes narrowed, a flash of surprise crossing his face. "Are you sure about this, Alice?"

The sound of my name on his lips made me freeze. 

I had no idea he knew who I was. But right then, it didn’t matter. Nothing else mattered except the urge to feel him against me… deep inside me.

I nodded, closing the last bit of space between us. He met me halfway, and his mouth claimed mine in a kiss that stole my breath, his hands sliding across my waist, firm and possessive. 

In one smooth motion he lowered me onto the bed, his hands cupping my breasts, his thumbs brushing over my nipples until they hardened under his touch.

A helpless moan tore from my lips as I kissed him back, desperate… drowning in him. 

His fingers tightened gently around my throat… just enough pressure to make my heart race faster.

For a brief moment, he lifted his head, his eyes locked onto mine with a quiet intensity. 

Then, without a word, he tore the cap sleeves of my dress off my shoulders, his breath fanning my face. 

His fingers trailed along my curves, sending a jolt of electricity running down my spine. 

Then he lowered his head towards my breast… but the moment his mouth closed over my nipple, his phone lit up with a message that made him freeze.