Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Jonas’s remark was so abrupt and brazen that Natalie froze on the spot, unsure how to react. A flush of panic surged through her as she thought nervously, ‘Why… why did the conversation suddenly turn to this?”
Still, she obediently shook her head, even aough her mind was racing.
As she moved, the sou smooth.
cheeks pressed a rubbed against his palm, the sensation impossibly tender and
Jonas finally took a moment to prop deceptive with its striking curves. Th skin, which appeared almost luminous
…e the girl in front of him. She looked barely twenty, her petite frame
k cloth loosely wrapped around her eyes contrasted starkly with her flawless, clear
A few stray locks of hair clung to her delica. face, framing her pale lips, which seemed so soft yet so fragile that it was as if a single harsh touch might shatter her.
For a fleeting moment, he simply stared, his gaze inscrutable. Then, without warning, he lifted his thumb, pressing it against the corner of her lips. He toyed with her lower lip, lightly brushing and rolling it under his thumb.
Her soft lips, cold and pale at first, turned a vibrant shade of pink as blood rushed to the surface, leaving them plump and impossibly alluring.
‘Not bad… he mused, a lazy smirk tugging at the edge of his mouth. ‘She’s quite the knockout, now that I take a good look. I wonder what those eyes of hers look like.
Jonas was never one to second–guess himself. The moment the thought crossed his mind, his hand moved. With a swift tug, he pulled away the bothersome black cloth, letting it fall to the ground.
But Natalie squeezed her eyes shut tightly, as though she could somehow shield herself from his piercing scrutiny.
Jonas chuckled, his voice low and unhurried, tinged with a teasing edge.
His calloused fingertip brushed her closed left eyelid, lingering just long enough to send a shiver down her spine. “Weren’t you staring at me earlier? Looking like you were ready to pounce on me? What’s with the sudden change of heart?”
His tone was so light, almost playful, that it was impossible to discern any hint of genuine emotion–whether amusement or
menace.
Beneath her tightly shut eyelids, Natalie’s eyes darted back and forth, her thoughts scrambling for a response. But nothing coherent came to mind, leaving her in silence.
Just then, the buzz–cut woman’s crisp voice broke the tension. “Boss, time to go,” Myla Carr said, glancing at her watch before shifting her sharp gaze to Natalie. Her tone was calm, almost businesslike, but there was an edge of impatience in her words.
‘If we don’t leave now, we’ll be spending the night out here,‘ she thought grimly.
She let her eyes linger on Natalie for a moment longer, her expression unreadable but undeniably assessing.
The question she had posed in Nocriudorian earlier had indeed been a test. Despite her cold and ruthless demeanor, she wasn’t interested in killing a defenseless, stunningly beautiful woman–it felt too cruel, even for her.
But it was understandable that she suspected Natalie might be working with the two kidnappers. The pair were notorious terrorists wanted on red notices for their brutal acts–murders, looting, and, most infamously, torturing women.
It would take about an hour to get here from the nearest airport.
It didn’t add up that such a delicate, strikingly beautiful woman like Natalie could have been untouched in their hands. It defied logic. And the timing of her appearance was too suspicious, especially considering the crude way the kidnappers had
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crashed their van.
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Myla figured that if even she could piece things together, Jonas must have seen through it long ago. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have bothered checking Natalie for any signs of abuse.
If time had been on their side, they might have interrogated Natalie thoroughly. But this mission was tied to a classified operation involving military cooperation between America and Cataguna–an undertaking at the highest levels of national security. Jonas, currently representing th Cataguna military, couldn’t afford any mistakes.
‘Now’s clearly not the
about the boss losing his bac
Jonas cast a glance at Natalie, w. to lose interest entirely.
into this,’ Myla thought. ‘We’ll just leave her here and move on. Anyway, I’m not worried
some pretty face. He’s practically allergic to women.
Sept her eyes squeezed shut, her entire body radiating unease. The sight made him.
With an air of indifference, he rose to in feet and spoke with deliberate nonchalance, “Well, since you’re American, I suppose I should help you out…”
Natalie’s heart leapt with a flicker of hope, and she was just about to thank him when his next words hit her like a slap.
Jonas continued, his voice as cold as steel, “Leave her a knife. That way, if she runs into more bandits, she can slit her own throat and save herself the trouble.”
Natalie froze in shock. Her gratitude evaporated, replaced by a rush of panic so overwhelming she momentarily forgot the risks of seeing his face. She had no time to think about being silenced for good. Her eyes shot open, desperately searching for Jonas’s figure.
The moment their gazes locked, the intensity of his eyes was like a jolt of electricity. Deep and unfathomable, his eyes seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words. For a fleeting second, it felt as though he were looking straight into her soul.
But just as quickly, that flicker of indifference and playfulness vanished, replaced by a chilling detachment. His gaze grew sharp, full of emotions Natalie couldn’t decipher–disdain, anger, and something far darker.
Her chest tightened as she realized what being left behind here would mean for her. Death would be the best outcome- what came before it would surely be worse.
Gathering every ounce of courage she had, Natalie stammered, “If you could just… just drop me somewhere safe. Please. If money’s not enough, I’ll give you whatever you want. Name it.”
Her plea hung in the air, unanswered. Jonas stared at her, his expression growing icier with every passing second, as though. he were fighting back some inner turmoil.
Natalie felt her resolve crumbling under his unrelenting gaze. Her mind was a whirlwind of panic, her lips parting as she struggled to find the right words to negotiate for her life.
Then it happened. A flash of silver caught her eye, swift and blinding. Before she could process it, the sharp tip of a blade was inches from her left eye, poised like a viper ready to strike.
Jonas’s expression was utterly transformed. The sharp lines of his chiseled features hardened further, his brows drawn low in a way that made him look even more dangerous. His jaw was clenched tight, his rage barely contained.
It had been a long time since he’d felt this kind of anger. “They actually dared to send someone with those eyes to me? Was this deliberate? A calculated move to provoke me?‘
His thoughts burned with fury. ‘Only a handful of people know about that incident… and that person. Who’s behind this? Who’s stupid enough to play this game with me?‘
His grip on the knife tightened, his knuckles whitening. His voice turned icily sharp, like a blade slicing through the air. “Oh, I don’t mind playing the knight in shining armor. But I don’t do charity. How about we call it even with your eyes as payment?”
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The chilling sensation of cold steel grazing the corner of her eye was enough to make Natalie snap her eyes shut, a raw, primal instinct taking over. Desperation boiled up inside her, and before she could think, she shouted with all the strength she could muster, Jonas Lawson!”
Jonas froze mid–motion, the knife hovering precariously close. Not pretending anymore, huh? Just one scare, and she’s already blown her cover? Calling out my name, of all things?
A flicker of disappointment crossed his rad. And here I thought she’d at least put up a fight. This spy–wherever they dug her up from–is a joke. No skill, no finesse. But those famn eyes… really bug me.
His jaw tightened as his t Anything less would be impolit
Then came the trembling voice,
rkened. Anything–or anyone–that unsettles me always gets what’s coming to them.
as Lawson’s fiancée.
“What?” The corner of his lips curled in a wicked grin. He couldn’t help it. He laughed–a low, sardonic sound that felt more dangerous the reassuring. This ättle spy is full of surprises. Stumbling into my lap, all wide–eyed innocence? Is she pretending, or is she really that clueless?
Without warning, his arm dropped, and the gleaming blade vanished as swiftly as it had appeared, sliding back into its sheath.
Natalie stood frozen, her body trembling with leftover adrenaline. When the expected pain didn’t come, relief washed over her in a shuddering wave. Her heart was pounding so loudly it drowned out her thoughts. Jonas Lawson… He must be a terrifyingly powerful figure here in Nocriudor.
Tentatively, she cracked her eyes open, her lashes fluttering like she was bracing herself for a death blow. But when no strike came, she managed to muster a flicker of courage. “If you bring me to him, I’m sure he’ll reward you handsomely
Jonas’s lips twitched into a broader smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Jonas Lawson, huh? Now, that’s a name to be careful with. He’s a ruthless madman. Not the kind of guy I want to cross.”
Natalie’s heart sank as she realized he still had no intention of helping her. Desperation overtook pride. If one lie wouldn’t work, she’d pile on another. “I… I’m very important to him.”
“Oh?” His gaze was fixed on her now, sharp and unyielding. “Just how important?”
His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that made her skin crawl.
A faint shiver ran down her spine as she tried to ignore the goosebumps rising along her neck. Something about the way he asked made her feel like he was a predator playing with its prey.
Backed into a corner, Natalie clenched her fists to steady herself, though her voice betrayed her fear. “He… He loves me. Very
much.”
Natalie’s heart pounded like a drum, each beat loud enough to drown out rational thought. Her lips trembled as she nervously licked them, trying to calm her frayed nerves. ‘If I can convince him that I’m Jonas’s beloved fiancée, maybe I’ll
survive this…
Her mind raced, frantically piecing together a plan. ‘Staying alive is all that matters right now. I’ll just have to apologize- and find a way to make it up to Jonas–once I meet him.
To her surprise, Jonas tilted his head slightly and nodded, a mocking grin tugging at the corner of his lips. “Makes sense. Jonas’s fiancée, looking as tempting as you do? He’s probably head over heels for you, can’t live without you.”
There wasn’t an ounce of sincerity in his tone, but he delivered the line with the ease of someone enjoying a private joke.
Myla, standing nearby, instinctively glanced up at the sky. She thought, “The sun still rose in the east and set in the west, right? Then what the hell was she witnessing? Since when did Jonas play along with anyone’s little dramas?‘
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Her gaze flicked toward Natalie, taking in the girl’s delicate features. Those bambi eyes–wide, shimmering, and impossibly pure–softened her otherwise strikingly beautiful face, adding a touch of innocence that felt almost out of place,
With her flushed cheeks and tear–brimmed eyes, Natalie looked heartbreakingly vulnerable, like a lost lamb in a wolf’s den. Myla swallowed hard, suddenly feeling a little restless. There was something about Natalie’s sweet, fragile charm that made it hard to look away.
But as Natalie’s quiet sobs grew softer, My ‘s attention shifted back to Jonas.
Myla’s brows furrowed a
for her? That would be a first. It
he wanted her, he could take her. !
Wait a damn second. No way. Was he actually? Was the infamous Jonas Lawson falling
Lost in her musings about Jonas’s me
as the case, why the charade? Why not just throw her in the car and get on with it? If
i now. So why play the big bad wolf?”
Myla barely noticed when his expression shifted, his eyes narrowing in
rved into a sly smile as he raised his hand.
a way
that
sent a chill down Natalie’s spine. His t
The flash of steel caught Natalie’s eye before her brain registered the movement. The same deadly knife reappeared, its blade gleaming with an ominous light.
This time, the edge pressed directly against the soft curve of her neck. The cold, venomous touch felt like a serpent coiling around her throat, its hiss a silent promise of death.
Jonas leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper that seemed to slither through the air like poison. “But wouldn’t you know it? Life’s funny that way. Jonas Lawson and I? We’ve got bad blood. We’re sworn enemies.”
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