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All Chapters of BOUND IN IRON AND INK: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

85 Chapters

Chapter 21

THE LIE BEHIND THE BLOODKirrily”Rindy” Cross povI knew something was wrong the moment Jaxson told me not to leave the room.He didn't shout.He didn't even look angry.That scared me more.Jaxson was standing near the door, his arms crossed over his chest. His face was calm, but his eyes were not.They were watching me.“I want to go home,” I said.He didn't answer.I stared at him.“You heard me.”“I heard you.”“Then why aren't you saying anything?”“Because there is nothing to say.”I let out a small, bitter laugh.“There is always something to say with you.”His jaw tightened.I walked closer.“Was the execution real?”His eyes met mine.For a few seconds, he said nothing.Then he answered.“Yes.”My heart dropped.“Someone died?”“Yes.”The word made my stomach twist.I looked away.I could still see it.The body on the ground.The blood.The sound of the gun.I wrapped my arms around myself.“Who was it?”“You don't need to know.”“I have a right to know!”“You have a right to stay alive.”His voice was cold.I

Last Updated : 2026-09-10

Chapter 22

THE PROMISE I Jaxson’s pov: I knew Kirrily had heard us.The moment I walked away from her door, I knew.She wasn't stupid.She was scared, confused, and angry, but she noticed things. She listened when people thought she wasn't listening.And now she knew the execution had been fake.That was a problem.I walked into my office and shut the door behind me.I stood there for a moment, staring at the floor.Then I let out a slow breath.“Damn it.”I had worked too hard to keep her safe.Four years.Four years of watching from a distance.Four years of making sure no one found her.And now one mistake could destroy everything.I looked at the photograph on my desk.Evie.Her smile was still the same.Warm.Happy.Alive.For a moment, I forgot everything around me.I picked up the photograph.My thumb moved over her face.“I kept my promise,” I whispered.But even saying those words hurt.Four years ago, I had stood beside her grave in the rain.I remembered that day too well.I remembered the anger.The guilt.Th

Last Updated : 2026-09-11

Chapter 23

THE FORTRESS IN THE VALLEYKirrily”Rindy” povMy hands would not stop shaking.I kept hearing the same words in my head.I know where Kirrily's son is.Toby.The moment that man said my son's name, everything else stopped mattering.I didn't care about the guns.I didn't care about Jaxson's secrets.I didn't even care about the strange man who had somehow entered the house.I cared about my son.“Where is Toby?”I had asked Jaxson the question three times since we left.He hadn't given me a real answer once.Now I sat in the back of the black SUV, watching the city disappear behind us.Jaxson sat across from me.He was quiet.Too quiet.I stared at him.“Where are you taking me?”“Somewhere safe.”I let out a bitter laugh.“You always say that.”His eyes met mine.“This time I mean it.”“How am I supposed to believe you?”He didn't answer.I looked out the window again.The city was gone now.Tall trees lined the road.The houses became fewer.The road became narrow.I had no idea where we were.That scared me.Fou

Last Updated : 2026-09-12

Chapter 24

THE LOCKED ROOMKirrily”Rindy”POVI hit the door with both hands.“Jaxson!”The door shook, but it did not open.I grabbed the handle and pulled as hard as I could.Nothing.My heart raced.“Open this door!”I heard his footsteps on the other side.He was leaving.“Jaxson!”He stopped.For one second, I thought he would come back.Instead, his voice came through the door.“You'll be safe in there.”I stared at the door in disbelief.“Safe?”My voice shook with anger.“You locked me inside a room and you're calling that safe?”“You don't understand.”“No, you don't understand me.”I hit the door again.“I am not your prisoner.”There was silence.Then I heard his footsteps moving away.“Jaxson!”Nothing.He was gone.I stood there with my hand still on the door.My chest felt tight.I wanted to scream.I wanted to cry.Most of all, I wanted to get out.I had spent four years running from people who wanted to hurt me. I had spent four years keeping Toby safe and watching every person who came near us.Now I had been b

Last Updated : 2026-09-12

Chapter 25

I WILL GET OUTKirrily”Rindy” POVI ran to the door and pulled it open.Nothing.The man who had been standing there was gone.I stepped into the hallway and looked left.Then right.Empty.My heart pounded.“Wait!”I ran after him, but the door at the end of the hall slammed shut.I reached it seconds later.Locked.I hit it with my palm.“Open it!”No answer.I turned around slowly.The hallway was silent.Too silent.I rushed back into the room.The door shut behind me.A second later, I heard the lock.Again.I stared at it.“They think they can keep me here.”My voice shook.“They are wrong.”I started pacing.One side of the room.Then the other.I looked at the floor.Every corner.Every wall.Every window.Every place where two pieces met.If there was a way out, I would find it.I got down on my knees and ran my fingers along the floor.Nothing.I checked beneath the bed.Nothing.I moved to the window.I pushed it.It did not move.I pushed harder.Still nothing.I checked the frame.Then the lock.Then the space aro

Last Updated : 2026-09-12

Chapter 26

THE WEAKEST POINTKirrily”Rindy” povI woke before the sun came up.For a few seconds, I didn't remember where I was.Then I heard the soft hum of the air conditioner.I opened my eyes.The room came back to me.The locked door.The cameras.The guards outside.Toby.I sat up quickly.My heart was already racing.I looked toward the window.The sky over the Yarra Valley was slowly changing. The darkness was fading, and a pale light was spreading across the hills.Dawn.I had spent the night thinking about one thing.Getting out.I pushed the blanket away and stood.My body felt tired, but I couldn't rest.Not while Toby was somewhere outside this room.I walked straight to the door.There was a small black panel beside the handle.The biometric lock.I studied it.Jaxson had never given me access.Maybe that was the point.Maybe he believed the lock was enough to keep me inside.I placed my palm against the scanner.A red light came on.Access denied.I frowned.I tried again.Same result.I pressed my thumb again

Last Updated : 2026-09-13

Chapter 27

THE PERIMETERJAXSON povI knew something was wrong the moment the guardhouse lights went out.I stopped the SUV before it reached the main gate and stared through the windshield.The estate was supposed to be locked down.Every gate.Every camera.Every entrance.Nothing should have been dark.I grabbed the radio from the dashboard.“Security.”Static answered me.My jaw tightened.“Security, respond.”Still nothing.I got out of the SUV.The cold night air hit my face as I walked toward the guardhouse, one hand resting near the gun beneath my jacket. I didn't like surprises. I hated them even more when Kirrily was inside the estate.She was supposed to be safe.That was the whole point of bringing her here.But lately, nothing felt safe anymore.Not the estate.Not my men.Not even the walls I had spent years trusting.I pushed open the guardhouse door.Sergeant Darcy MacIntyre was standing over the security monitors.“Guns.”He looked up.His face was hard.“Boss.”Why did the cameras go dark?“They didn't.”

Last Updated : 2026-09-13

Chapter 28

A QUIET MESSAGE Kirrily”Rindy” Cross povI woke up angry.Not the kind of anger that burns hot and disappears.This one sat heavy in my chest.I had barely slept after what happened yesterday. Every time I closed my eyes, I remembered the locked door, the cameras, the guards outside my room.A prison could have looked exactly like this.The only difference was that this one had beautiful furniture.I pushed myself out of bed and walked to the window.The Yarra Valley looked peaceful in the morning.Mist rested over the hills. Trees moved gently in the wind. Birds called from somewhere beyond the glass.It should have made me feel calm.Instead, it reminded me how trapped I was.I touched the window.Locked.Of course.I stepped away with a bitter laugh.“Good morning, prisoner.”I said it to myself because there was no one else to say it to.A knock came at the door.I turned quickly.Another knock.“Who is it?”“Breakfast, ma'am.”I frowned.Breakfast?“I didn't order anything.”“Mr. Lawson did.”My heart g

Last Updated : 2026-09-13

Chapter 29

FACE TO FACE Kirrily”Rindy”Cross povThe bedroom door slammed open so hard that I jumped out of bed.“Ma'am!”I spun around.The guard stood outside, breathing hard.“What happened?”“Mr. Lawson wants you nowhere near the windows.”My heart stopped for a moment.“Why?”He didn't answer.Then I heard it.A sharp crack in the distance.I ducked instinctively.Another sound followed.The guard reached for his weapon.“Stay inside.”“What's happening?”“Lock the door.”He pushed it shut.I stood frozen in the middle of the room.My heart hammered against my ribs.Someone was outside.Someone had gotten close enough to scare the guards.Again.I rushed to the door.“Open this!”No answer.I hit it with my palm.“Open the door!”Nothing.Then my eyes fell on the table.The old book was still there.The book Jaxson had sent me.The book that had contained Evie's letter.I grabbed it.My fingers shook as I pulled the hidden paper from between the pages.Do not trust him.I had read those words so many times that they no long

Last Updated : 2026-09-14

Chapter 30

THE TRUTH I COULD NOT TELL HERJaxson pov:The door slammed open before I could reach it.Kirrily stepped into the hallway, moving fast.“I’m leaving.”I caught up with her before she reached the stairs.“No.”She spun around.“Move.”“No.”Her eyes flashed with anger. “I said I’m leaving, Jaxson.”“And I said no.”She pushed against my chest.I barely moved.“Get out of my way.”I caught her wrist before she could push me again, but I let go almost at once. Her eyes dropped to my hand.Then she looked at me.“You see?” she said. “This is exactly why I don't trust you.”I clenched my jaw.She was angry.I could handle her anger.What I couldn't handle was the fear hiding underneath it.“You can't leave this house.”“Why?”“Because it's not safe.”“You've said that every time I ask to leave.”“Because nothing has changed.”“Everything has changed!” she shouted. “You took me from my life. You locked me inside this place. You refuse to tell me what is happening, and now you expect me to sit quietly and wait f

Last Updated : 2026-09-14

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