Chapter 770
Lena thought it was the cops. It wasn’t. It was Aaron. Did it matter? Not even a little. Someone was here to save her, and that was enough to chip away at the suffocating fear that had been clawing at her all night.
Because, newsflash: she wasn’t some fearless superhero. Sure, she’d kept talking to the guy holding her hostage like it was no big deal, but her heart had been lodged in her throat the whole time. One wrong word, one flicker of anger, and she’d be skydiving off the roof without a parachute.
“Shut up and back off!” Mr. Baxter shouted, tightening his grip on her neck. “One more step, and I’m taking her down with me!”
Aaron’s gaze locked on Lena, sweeping over her restrained form. His voice was calm, too calm, but his eyes burned cold and lethal. “If you jump, you gain nothing. Let her go, and I’ll make sure you get what the hospital owes you. Plus, I’ll personally give you a million dollars.”
Aaron wasn’t bluffing. He just lobbed the bag he was holding straight at Mr. Baxter’s feet. The bag hit the ground, and the open zipper spilled a small fortune – neatly stacked bills fanning out.
For a split second, Mr. Baxter froze, staring at the money. Then his face twisted with fury. “I don’t want your filthy money! I want my wife and child back!” His words, like everything he’d done tonight, were drenched in raw, unrelenting grief.
Aaron let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Let’s drop the act, shall we? I wouldn’t be here with this money if I didn’t already know the truth.”
Lena felt the man behind her go rigid, his body locking up like a statue. Her stomach churned. Aaron’s right. The truth’s out now.
She gritted her teeth, mentally cursing. So, the guy she’d pegged as a grieving husband was nothing more than a twisted pretender. A sick cosplay, complete with theatrics. But something still didn’t sit right – he hadn’t asked her for money earlier. If Aaron hadn’t shown up, who was this even for?
Her spiraling thoughts were cut short by Mr. Baxter’s sharp voice. “I don’t believe you! You’re just trying to trick me into letting her go. You probably brought the cops with you!”
“I didn’t,” Aaron said coolly, spreading his hands. “It’s just me.”
Mr. Baxter faltered, glancing toward the street below like he was weighing his options.
The moment his focus shifted, Aaron lunged forward, quick and precise, yanking Lena out of his grip. But Mr. Baxter wasn’t letting go that easily. The sudden move dragged all three of them into a chaotic tangle. Prepared for a fight, Mr. Baxter pulled a knife from his pocket and thrust it toward— But Aaron was faster. His long leg shot out, slamming into Mr. Baxter’s arm. The knife hit the ground with a clatter as Mr. Baxter flinched in pain.
Before the guy could snatch it back, more people swarmed the rooftop. They tackled him, pinning him down for good.
Someone yanked off Lena’s blindfold, and her eyes instantly locked on Aaron. Moonlight hit his face just right, highlighting those sharp features. His eyes glinted, full of worry, and his voice was all raspy.
Lena gave a small shake of her head. “My hands…”
“Are you hurt?”
Aaron’s gaze dropped to her wrists, and without a word, he leaned in and began untying the ropes binding her. They were so close Lena could feel his presence. The ropes came loose, but she barely noticed – too distracted by the clean, cool scent of him. Her daze only broke when his fingers brushed her wrist.
“The skin’s broken,” he said, voice low and serious.
“It’s fine,” Lena replied. “Barely a scratch. I’ll slap some ointment on it later.” Doctor mode: activated.
Aaron’s gaze lingered on her, but he didn’t say a word. Instead, he moved on, untying the ropes at her feet with the same calm precision.
As soon as she stood, though, reality hit. Her legs? Totally asleep. The second she tried to straighten, they gave out. She reached for something, anything, to steady herself – and oh, she found it. Solid. Stable. And then she realized what it was. Aaron’s thigh. His upper thigh. Cue instant heat rushing to her face.