All Chapters of THE HOSTAGE'S DILEMMA : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

DREW“You have my word,” Aaron says. “Don’t ruin them. Not yet. I want them to get off their scheming throne for a while so we can make up a plan.”“Oh, they’re so going to be busy. Extremely.” I reply, a little too happily.My fingers already fly across the keyboard, a familiar tingle of chaos coursing through my veins. I finally have something to work on. I originally planned to bum out the entire day and go get Mia by evening but now, I’ve never been happier to ruin someone’s life.My focus narrows to a single target: the Kraftman Group database. Aaron wants blood, and I’m the one who will catch the prey. Even though he asked me not to go too far. I navigate through layers of corporate firewalls, bypassing overly tight encryption like it’s child’s play. This is my fort.My fingers hit the keys, a frantic rhythm as I dig, searching for anything – cheating scandals, embezzlement, anything that will implicate this bastard company. My mind is a trap, every detail, every line of code, p

MIAIt's finally the end of the work day, and I hurriedly pack my things. Thankfully, Mr. Wilson never returned, so unlike others who ended up working overtime due to the whole news mess, I’m running out of the company. My brain feels like mush, my shoulders ache because of the intense cleaning, and the only thought occupying my mind is escape—escape back into the comfort of my room.Then, the familiar rumble of an engine outside the large doors of the company. It’s Drew. I’ve never felt happier to see someone after the hectic day I had.The thought of seeing Drew’s easy smile, the way his eyes crinkle when he’s amused, and his jokes too. It's a therapy for the exhaustion that has settled deep into my bones.I step out of the building, the late afternoon air cool against my skin. Drew is leaning against the car. His face has a goofy grin as he holds out a small paper bag, and I know immediately what it is. Ice cream. My heart does a little flip. It’s such a small thing, but after the

MIAMy breath still hitches in my throat. I can still feel Aaron’s lips on mine, his hands on my body. Aaron’s hand still rests on the small of my back as we finally leave the room, the quiet click of the door echoing softly. My legs feel shaky, my mind is still a haze of sensation, and Aaron’s whispers against my ear.We descend the large staircase, each step a gentle creak in the otherwise silent house. The air grows cooler as we reach the ground floor. The scent of dinner fills the house and my stomach growls in excitement. As we turn into the living area, the scene that greets us makes my heart pound for an entirely different reason.Drew stands near the large window, his shoulders hunched, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He looks around awkwardly, his gaze darting from the ceiling to the patterned rug beneath his feet, anywhere but at us. Across the room, Trina is perched on the edge of a plush sofa, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her expression is a thunderclou

MIAThe night closes in around me, a heavy, almost suffocating presence that I can’t seem to shake off. Sleep feels impossible, a cruel twist of fate when every part of me yearns for rest. Tomorrow. That single word reverberates in my mind like a heavy bell tolling, marking the weight of what lies ahead. Tomorrow, I will return to Texas. Tomorrow, I will confront the men who have taken my sister. Tomorrow, I must trade valuable information about Aaron for her safety. Just thinking about it sends a shiver down my spine, a cold fear that originates deep in my belly and spreads to my limbs. I’m feeling scared—no, more than scared; I’m utterly terrified. It’s hard to breathe with such a weight on my heart.The clock on the bedside table glows showing 1:25AM. My room feels too big, too empty, too silent. A sudden, irrational need for warmth, for presence, grips me. I push back the covers, and the cool air of the room shocks my skin. My bare feet barely make a sound as I pad across the poli

MIAThe car rumbles to a halt. My heart, a frantic hummingbird, beats against my ribs. A rough hand yanks the blindfold from my eyes. The sudden rush of light makes me blink, disoriented, but I force my gaze to remain steady. I need to look confident, even though every cell in my body screams in terror.My bag is still clutched in my lap, miraculously intact. Inside, the carefully compiled documents on Aaron rest, a heavy secret. A chilling thought flickers: why didn't they just take the papers? Why abduct me from the taxi in broad daylight merely to escort me here? It makes no sense. There is no time to dwell on that thought. A firm grip on my arm propels me forward. I stumble slightly, regaining my footing. The air outside is cool, metallic, smelling faintly of dust and something acrid – probably chemicals from the industrial area we must be in. My eyes scan the bleak landscape; it’s an unknown warehouse. Knowing Texas we’ll, the government probably doesn’t know it even exists.The