Ever growing 2

Chapter 48 Ryan's POV

"Everything is set up. Are you ready Sir?" An officer asks me. I'm feeling nervous but determined to get Ella back. I wish I were getting ready for a movie but this is real life as crazy as it is. Cooper and Max are coming with me but they'll be hiding. Jake said no cops or bodyguards but we can't risk her being hurt. I would never forgive myself if something happened to her just thinking about it breaks me. "Yeah, I'm ready," I say.

My friends' faces are grim. Emma and Maddy cried after Jake called me, everyone was able to listen in silence. Hearing Ella's scared plea for him to stop touching her made me sick to my stomach. I keep picturing him forcing himself on her and I want to destroy him. Sam and Trevor had to hold me down when he hung up on me, I went into a rage. "I'm coming to get you, baby," The cops were able to trace the call even though he used an app to try and mask his location. Ella somehow found a way to text me to warn us about his gun, I froze when I read the text worried about what he might do to her. We waited for him to send the location so he wouldn't suspect a thing. I keep praying that I'll get there on time.

I knew Jake was infatuated by my wife but I never expected him to kidnap her. It was bad enough for him to show up at her hotel but I thought we would never hear from him after he got fired. How did he find all that information about me or how he figured out where the villa was is beyond me! I don't even use my biological father's name. I guess he has been stalking us for a while. A shudder goes down my back thinking of all the occasions he might have been following Ella. As crazy as it is, I wish Isabelle would have been the one behind it. I know she wouldn't be able to physically hurt Ella, not badly at least. Jake obviously put his hands on her, I just don't know what he did exactly and it's making my blood boil.

"Hey man, should I come with you? I feel terrible, it's all my fault. I kept you away from her because I was a fool and got drunk," Sam says visibly shaken. Although I have been angry thinking about all the what-ifs, I have to focus on Ella now.

"No, he said he wants me alone, don't feel bad. I know it's hard but none of you or me asked for it. He's a psycho and I will make him pay for it."

"Time to go," Cooper tells me.

"Ryan!" Emma walks to me and grabs my hand. "Bring her back...alive," she bursts into tears, I hug her until Trevor brings her outside.

Maddy, Sam, and I exchange one last look, no words needed. I follow Cooper and Max outside the house. We ride in different cars to make sure Jake won't see us together. We get to the location and adrenaline kicks in, I'm ready to bring my love home. Without wasting time, I get out of the SUV, walk to the door, and knock. "Oh my, Mr. Ryan Faulkner Taylor, the movie star is at my house," a crazed looking Jake answers the door. "Cut the bullshit, let me see Ella!" I bark at him.

He lets me in following behind me and then I see her sitting on the couch. A slight movement of her head stops me from running to her, it's so brief, Jake doesn't notice. She's still wearing my hoodie with her dress underneath, her makeup has been ruined from her tears. She's looking so small and fragile sitting there, it rips my heart. Our eyes are staring into each other, her brain is screaming at me to stay calm while mine is screaming at hers to let me handle the situation.

"Ryan, our Ella here has decided to give me a chance, right, beautiful?" he kisses her cheek after sitting down next to her. I see a part of her shutting down. She nods.

"Say it!" he puts his hand on her neck, choking her. I can't stop myself from taking a step forward until he waves his gun at me. "I said say it bitch!" he tells her.

"Yes, I will," her voice is faint. He laughs before crashing his lips on hers. I see the panic in her eyes. I can't stop myself from launching at him.

I manage to punch him but he stands up pointing his gun at me. "What the fuck do you want? Money?" I yell at him. "I told you she's mine now!" He laughs. I can see Ella from the corner of my eye, she's terrified. "Ryan, we don't need you anymore," he points the gun at me again.

I see Ella trying to reach for the gun but before I can even tell her to stop, he fires.

My eyes never leave hers as I fall backward on the ground.