Ruthless

47

After a short distance, I realized we were venturing into a part of the mansion I had never seen before. This sparked my curiosity about just how vast the mansion truly was. We arrived at an old, weathered door, its appearance hinting at centuries of history. The blond man pushed it open, revealing a pitch-black void.

Both men pulled out their phones, turning on the flashlights to illuminate a narrow tunnel-like passage. I was taken aback, unaware of this hidden tunnel.

As we proceeded, the blond man cautioned, "Watch your step, miss."

"Okay," I responded quietly.

The tunnel was seemingly endless, and the stench was overwhelming, making me desperate to reach the end. A wave of relief washed over me as another door swung open, and a rush of cold wind. I took a deep breath, savoring the refreshing coolness after feeling suffocated in that tunnel.

A car was waiting a short distance away, and for the first time, a sense of unease settled over me. Where were they taking me? My thoughts were interrupted as I was urged, "Please get in the car, miss. We're running out of time."

The urgency in his voice only deepened my confusion, but I complied reluctantly, sliding into the back seat. The blonde man sat to my right, while the bald man took the front passenger seat next to the driver. Without delay, the car sprang to life and sped off.

*********

After a nearly forty-minute drive, we pulled up to a building. In daylight, this place would have been crowded, offering me a chance to seek help. But now, under the cloak of night, the area was deserted.

We entered the building and, after a brief walk, stepped into a room. Two men sat facing each other; the one who was visible, dressed in formal attire, was clearly a lawyer. The other's face remained hidden, as his back was turned to us.

I wondered why the brothers had brought me to a lawyer's office and where they were, since I could tell the man facing us wasn't any of them.

The lawyer noticed us and said something inaudible to the man with his back to us. My heart raced when the man finally faced us.

What is Edward doing here?

Edward's expression mirrored my confusion.

"Sir, we've brought her as per your instructions," one of the men said.

Edward's confusion deepened, and then, as if struck by a revelation, his expression shifted to rage. He sprang from his seat and was in front of the bald man almost instantly, his rage palpable.

If I didn't know better, I'd swear he was a vampire.

"Who is this?" he demanded, his voice thunderous.

"Miss Faith Walker," the bald man said, as if stating a fact but in a polite manner.

I gave a hesitant nod.

"She is not," Edward roared, his voice echoing with fury.

The men looked at me with a mix of betrayal and fear, and the funny part is although I knew I was completely innocent in the mess, I was hit with a pang of guilt. Before I could explain, their gazes now looked fearful and were already back to Edward, who looked poised to erupt.

"She claimed to be Faith Walker," the man stammered, trembling.

Edward's piercing hazel eyes locked onto me with the same intense anger. Before I could defend myself, a sharp, excruciating pain shot through my jaw as Edward gripped it tightly. The pressure was so severe it felt like it could shatter my jaw. I struggled to free myself, but his strength was overpowering.