Chapter 210

Julie’s POV

I opened my eyes with immense difficulty, a heavy weight crushing my head as if mountains were pressing down on my eyelids. I tried to process what had happened, looking up to see a towering white ceiling with a massive, shimmering gold chandelier hanging in the center.

I was lying on a large bed, but when I tried to move, the chill of metal bit into my skin; my hands and feet were tightly bound in shackles.

I began to thrash my body violently, trying to break free, but the restraints only dug deeper into my wrists. Panic seized me, and I started screaming at the top of my lungs until I felt my throat raw and tearing. "Help! Somebody help me!" But the only response was the trembling echo of my own voice.

My heart stopped for a second as a thought hit me... Who kidnapped me? Did Robert pull this trick again? Is he repeating what he did when I tried to escape last time, making me believe I was abducted? Yes, of course it’s him! I called out, my voice a mix of anger and pleading, "Robert! I know you’re playing with me... get me out of here!"

I waited, but the silence was absolute.

"Robert, I didn’t run away," I continued, my voice shaking. "I was only following you so you wouldn’t kill that man... please!" I watched the door without blinking, waiting desperately for it to swing open and for him to walk in with his usual coldness. But nothing happened.

That’s when true terror began to seep into my bones; a cold shiver ran down my spine. What if it wasn’t Robert? I remembered his stern words when he told me he didn’t want anyone to know about our relationship because he had many enemies who would exploit the situation... Does this mean an enemy of Robert actually kidnapped me? But no one knows about us!

I began to shake involuntarily, tears of fear burning my eyes as I wondered in a daze: My God, what will happen to me now? Will they kill me? I felt the coldness of death surrounding me in that luxurious room that had turned into a desolate prison.

-+----------------------------

Robert’s POV

Blood was boiling in my veins to the point where I felt an immense pressure behind my eyes. I roared at Carlos, "That bastard kidnapped her, Carlos!" Carlos replied, his features masked in bewilderment and confusion, "How did he get into the club and take her? I don’t understand!"

At that moment, the phone vibrated violently in my hand. It was Ron. I answered in a voice raspy with rage, "Yes, Ron!"

His voice came fast: "I tracked her. She went downstairs to the guard area, went to the gym, and was talking to Diego."

I knit my brows, a sting of suspicion burning my chest. "Diego? How the hell does Julie know Diego?" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"I don’t know, sir," Ron replied. "But she walked with him to his room and went inside. Obviously, I don’t know what happened in there, but she came out after a few minutes, went to the keypad door, and opened it."

"She opened it herself?" I asked in disbelief, my grip tightening on the phone.

"Yes. She went out and got into a taxi. That’s all, sir."

I exploded in fury, shouting at him, "Grab Diego now! Bind him, beat him, do whatever it takes and break him, Ron! I want to know what Julie was doing in his room and how the Don knew she left!"

I hung up and slammed my fist against the warehouse wall so hard my knuckles bled. "Damn it, Julie! Why did you leave the club? Why?" Carlos was listening to everything, his face pale. He tried to regain his composure. "Come on, Robert. The Don wants the Serpent in exchange for her, right? We take him and get Julie back."

I looked at him bitterly. "The Don knows she belongs to me now. I don’t think he’ll give her back that easily, Carlos."

Carlos spoke in a strange tone, as if the words had stabbed him. "Belongs to you? Julie belongs to you?"

"Stop it, Carlos!" I shouted, shoving him by the shoulder. "Julie is in the Don’s hands and you’re critiquing my words?"

The guard came out then, leading the "Serpent," who was handcuffed and dragging his feet heavily. I yanked him by the arm until he stumbled. "Come on, you piece of shit," I threatened.

Carlos followed in a cautious silence. I shoved the Serpent into the back seat of the car with Carlos beside him to watch him, then jumped behind the wheel, driving at a suicidal speed that tore through the silence of the streets.

I pulled out the phone and called that cursed number. The Don answered in a provocative tone, "What do you want? Is the Serpent with you?"

"He’s with me," I said, gritting my teeth hard. "Where are we meeting for the exchange?"

"I’ll send you the address," he replied coldly.

He hung up immediately, and seconds later, the message arrived. I took off like an arrow toward a massive, abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. I screeched to a halt, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The Don’s guards filled the place like vultures, their weapons aimed at us.

My phone rang again. "You arrived quickly, dear Robert... get out of the car."

"Not until I see Julie," I said, my eyes scanning the area for any sign of her.

He let out a wicked laugh. "I set the rules here! Get out and bring the Serpent in, or you know what will happen."

I cut the call and turned to Carlos, who was clearly tightening his grip on his weapon. "Get him out," I said in a booming voice. "We’re going in."

"Where is Julie?" Carlos protested in a sharp whisper. "He’s going to double-cross us, Robert!"

I looked at the dark entrance of the warehouse, my heart heavy. "We have no choice."