Chapter 71

Annoyance etched across Alexia's face. "Why are you trailing me now?"

Brandon's chest heaved with each breath. "Delete the recording! Do it now!"

Before Alexia could fire back, her phone screen flashed-Waylon's name lit up. She started to answer."Hello."

Brandon lunged forward, reaching for her phone. "Who's on the other end? Give it here! I'll erase the recording myself!"

Sidestepping his grasp, Alexia snapped, "Brandon, enough of this bullshit!"

Waylon, hearing the tension in her voice, frowned on the other end. Brandon? What was he doing pestering Alexia now?

Growing more frantic, Brandon shouted, "Give me your phone! You're not leaving here until I get that recording back!" In a sudden burst, he yanked the driver's door open and dropped himself into the seat.

Rage colored Alexia's words. "Brandon, have you lost your mind?"

Her protest was cut short. Out of nowhere, hands snatched her phone from behind. Metal pressed cold and hard into her side.

A gun. Its presence was unmistakable.

"Don't make a sound," a low voice said in her ear. "Get in the car."

Alexia kept her composure, refusing to let fear show. Without warning, two more men emerged, forcing her roughly into the back seat. Brandon went rigid, eyes bulging with fear. "Who are you?"

A thug pressed the gun barrel hard against Brandon's head. "Keep your mouth shut if you want to stay alive.Start driving."

At that command, every trace of confidence melted away. Fingers shaking, Brandon fumbled with his seatbelt, barely able to steady himself. His eyes flickered up to the rearview mirror, where Alexia's face came into focus.

To his disbelief, she looked back with cold calm. Not a hint of fear or distress crossed her features, nothing like the panic that had seized him.

The car shot from the parking structure, tires screeching, as if it had been fired from a bow.

Waylon stared at his phone in fury, the abrupt call drop fueling his rage. "Simon, bring the car. Now."

Simon, who had heard every word, pieced the situation together-kidnapping. "Mr. Mason, allow me to take care of this."

A glare from Waylon cut him off, sharp as a blade. "I won't repeat myself."

Realizing his mistake, Simon felt sweat bead at his brow. "Understood. I'll handle it."

In no time, the car was ready, and Waylon slid inside, a laptop in hand.

As they sped through the city, blue light from the laptop washed over Waylon's stern face, sharpening every feature.

"Is everyone set?"

Simon dropped his voice. "All teams are in place and fully armed. We tapped intocity surveillance using the license plate. The manhunt has already begun."

Waylon's hands danced rapidly across the keyboard, streaming live feeds from the university's parking lot straight onto his screen.

On the screen, Brandon was behind the wheel, visibly rattled, and the armed thug beside him made Waylon's eyes narrow with pure,lethal intent.

Although Alexia looked unruffled on camera, Waylon recognized the mask she wore for protection-cool,unreadable, but never truly calm.

These men, judging by their ruthlessness, had a history of violence. Waylon understood the stakes.Every second counted if he was going to save her.

As for Brandon-utterly worthless bastard in a crisis.

Cold fury flickered across Waylon's face. He spoke with cutting clarity."Call Roger. Tell him to come pick up his useless cousin,"

Simon gave a swift nod and got to work without pause.

The getaway car screeched to a halt outside an abandoned factory on the city's edge.

Sliding out of the passenger seat, the scar-faced thug led the charge, his crew right behind him.Without warning, they jerked Alexia and Brandon from the car and hustled them inside, leaving no room for resistance.

"Boss, check out the lady-she's something else," one goon sneered, eyes hungry. "You take the first turn.I'll handle the man."

A wicked grin stretched across the scar-faced man's lips as he turned his full attention to Alexia, his gaze crawling over her with shameless anticipation.

Cornered in that rundown building, Alexia's allure only seemed to intensify-long hair spilling over her cheeks, delicate lines caught in the flickering light. Even in plain jeans and a crisp shirt, her figure turned every head.

Nobody could call her ordinary.

No wonder that jealous actress had wanted her gone.

Swaggering over with a mocking grin, the scar-faced thug clicked his tongue."Wel, aren't you something.Never picked up a catch like you before. Behave, darling, and I might just show you some kindness."

As his hand reached out, Alexia smoothly turned away, dodging his grasp as if he were nothing more than a bothersome insect.

For a fleeting second, something dangerous flashed in her eyes. It vanished, replaced by a mocking smile."By the way your men cower, you must be the big boss. Hilarious. Funny how a 'leader'like you has to kidnap a woman for attention. You must really be scraping the barrel these days. I bet you jump at any gutter job that comes your way."

Her words hit their mark. The henchmen's tempers flared, one snapping, "Shut it! We're with the Black Tiger Gang! You think we're some nobodies? You're way outta your league!"

Black Tiger Gang.

Recognition flickered in Alexia's mind. Ada had once warned her about this crew.

The clty's underworld had long been infected by thelf coruption--Black Tiger Gang was infamous for its backroom deals, tron-fisted rackets, and willingness to get dirty for a price.

A sudden gust rattled the battered doors, thet hinges shrieking in protest as wind tore through the ruined factory.

Tilting her head, Alexiá mocked, "So it's the famos Black Tiger Gang? The police is cracking down on yOUF Kind,yet you dare to kidnap me. Your employer must really hate me."

The scar-faced boss seized her chin, leering as he forced her to meet his gaze."Look at that-brains and beauty. Think you'll trick me into talking? Not a chance. You guessed one thing right, though. The police are swarming everywhere, so tonight, we're taking what we want before they find us."

His filthy fingers inched toward the front of her shirt, intent on tearing through the fabric.

Yet just as he moved in, Alexia's mouth twisted into a cold, pitiless grin. In one fluid movement, she slipped her wrists from the rope.