Chapter 14

The digital clock on the wall ticked down the seconds, each one a reminder of how little time we had left. I stood at the large glass window, my eyes locked on the bustling activity below.

The estate was a hive of activity, with Marcus and the team working tirelessly to pinpoint Eleanor's location. The tension was palpable, a constant undercurrent of fear and determination.

Marcus entered the office, his expression grim. "We're making progress," he said, though his tone lacked confidence. "We've narrowed down the possible locations, but we're still working to trace the exact source of the call."

My jaw tightened. "We don't have much time, Marcus. We need to move faster."

"I know," Marcus replied, frustration evident in his voice. "We're doing everything we can."

I turned back to the window, my eyes fixed on the digital clock. The seconds continued to tick away, each one a reminder of the ticking time bomb that was Eleanor's life. I couldn't shake the image of her bound and scared, the thought of her in danger gnawing at me.

The phone call from Eleanor's parents was the last thing I needed, but it was inevitable. They were frantic, their voices filled with worry and fear. I did my best to reassure them, but the truth was, he was just as terrified.

"Alexander, you have to find her," her mother pleaded, her voice breaking. "She's our only daughter."

"I know, and I will," he replied, his voice firm. "We're doing everything we can. Please, just trust me."

Her father's voice came through, a mixture of anger and desperation. "When I decided to honour your wish in exchange for your help you promised me she would be safe !"

Their words stung, but I couldn't deny the truth of it. "I will. I promise."

After the call ended, I stood there, the weight of their words pressing down on Me. I had to find Eleanor, not just for her, but for her family as well. They trusted Me to protect her, and I had failed.

---

Eleanor's POV

The room was dimly lit, the silence oppressive. My hands were still bound, my body aching from the hours spent in the uncomfortable position. I tried to keep my mind focused, to stay strong, but the fear was overwhelming. Thoughts of Alexander and my family swirled in my head, the uncertainty of my fate pressing down on me.

The door opened, and Wales entered, his presence a dark cloud in the small room. He looked at me with a calculating gaze, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "Comfortable?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

I glared at him, refusing to show any sign of weakness. "What do you want from me?"

"It's not about you, Eleanor," he replied, his tone cold. "You're just a pawn in a much larger game. Your husband knows what we want, and he has fifty-eight hours to comply."

I tried to keep my voice steady. "Alexander won't let you get away with this."

Wales chuckled, a low, menacing sound. "We'll see about that. In the meantime, I suggest you get comfortable. This could take a while."

He left the room, the door closing with a heavy thud. I was left alone once more, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air. I tried to stay strong, to hold on to the hope that Alexander would find me. But as the hours dragged on, the fear grew, an unrelenting presence in the darkness.

The sound of the door opening pulled me from my thoughts. This time, it wasn't Wales, but a different man, younger and less intimidating. He carried a tray with food and water, setting it down on the small table in the corner.

"You should eat," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "You'll need your strength."

I looked at him, my suspicion clear. "Who are you?"

He hesitated, glancing at the door. "My name is David. I'm just doing my job."

"Your job?" I repeated, my voice tinged with anger. "Kidnapping innocent people?"

He looked away, guilt flashing across his face. "I don't have a choice."

Before I could ask more, he left the room, closing the door behind him. I looked at the food, my stomach growling despite the fear. I knew I needed to eat, to keep my strength up. But the reality of my situation made it hard to swallow.

---

Alexander's POV

Marcus re-entered the office, his expression a mixture of frustration and determination. "We've made some progress," he said, holding up a folder. "We have a list of possible locations. It's not much, but it's a start."

I took the folder, flipping through the pages. Each location was marked on a map, a red circle indicating a possible hideout. "How soon can we move?"

"We're assembling the teams now," Marcus replied. "We need to move carefully. If Wales senses anything, he could relocate her, or worse."

I nodded, my jaw set with determination. "We need to do this right. No mistakes."

The clock continued to tick, each second a reminder of the time slipping away. I turned back to the window, watching as the team prepared for the search. My mind was filled with thoughts of Eleanor, her voice replaying in my head. I had to find her, no matter what.

The phone rang, breaking the tense silence. I answered immediately, my heart pounding. "Alexander Sterling."

The phone immediately went dead, and I stood there, seething with rage. I had to find her. There was no other option. As I looked out at the team working below, the determination in their movements gave me a glimmer of hope. We would find her. We had to.

---

Alexander's POV

The phone call from Ciara was another reminder of the stakes. She was frantic, her voice filled with worry and fear. "Alexander, you have to find her. She's my best friend."

"I know, and I will," I replied, my voice firm. "We're doing everything we can. Please, just trust me."

"Just promise me you won't let anything happen to her," Ciara pleaded, her voice breaking.

"I promise," I said, feeling the weight of her words. "I won't let anything happen to her."

After the call ended, I stood there, the weight of their words pressing down on me. I had to find Eleanor, not just for her, but for her family and friends as well. They trusted me to protect her, and I had failed.

Marcus returned with a grim expression. "We've got leads, but nothing concrete yet. We're monitoring all possible contacts and locations."

I nodded, my mind racing. "We have now less than Fifty-eight hours. Let's not waste any time."

As we coordinated the search, my thoughts kept drifting back to Eleanor, imagining what she must be going through. The thought of her in danger was almost too much to bear.

---

Eleanor's POV

The sound of the door opening pulled me from my thoughts. This time, it wasn't Wales, but David again. He carried another tray with food and water, setting it down on the small table in the corner.

"You need to eat," he said, his voice still gentle.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, my voice tinged with desperation. "Why are you helping them?"

David sighed, looking conflicted. "I don't have a choice. It's not as simple as you think."

"What do you mean?" I pressed, hoping to get some answers.

"It's complicated," he replied, glancing nervously at the door. "Just stay strong, Eleanor. Your husband is doing everything he can to find you."

Before I could ask more, he left the room, leaving me alone once again. I looked at the food, my stomach growling despite the fear. I knew I needed to keep my strength up, but the reality of my situation made it hard to swallow. I took a few bites, forcing myself to eat, and tried to think of a way to communicate with Alexander.

---

Alexander's POV

The hours continued to slip away, the countdown on the digital clock a constant reminder of the time we had left. Marcus and the team were working tirelessly, each lead bringing us closer to Eleanor. But the uncertainty was unbearable, the fear of what might happen if we didn't find her in time gnawing at me.

"Alexander," Marcus said, breaking through my thoughts. "We've got a promising lead. One of our informants mentioned a warehouse that's been recently occupied. It matches one of the locations on our list."

I felt a surge of hope. "How soon can we move?"

"We're assembling the teams now," Marcus replied. "But we need to be cautious. If Wales senses anything, he could relocate her, or worse."

I nodded, my jaw set with determination. "We need to do this right. No mistakes."

As we prepared for the search, the tension in the air was easily perceived. Every second counted, and the stakes had never been higher. I looked out at the team working below, their determination mirroring my own. We would find her. We had to.

---

Eleanor's POV

Time dragged on, each minute feeling like an eternity. The fear was a constant presence, but I tried to stay strong, to hold on to the hope that Alexander would find me. The sound of footsteps approaching the door made my heart race, a mixture of fear and anticipation.

The door opened, and Wales entered, his expression smug. "Enjoying your stay?" he asked, his tone mocking.

I glared at him, refusing to let him see my fear. "What do you want from Alexander?"

"It's simple, really," Wales replied, leaning against the wall. "We want him to give up control of his operations. Surrender his power to us. If he does that, you go free."

"And if he doesn't?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Wales's smile was cold. "Then you die. It's as simple as that."

The weight of his words pressed down on me, a crushing reality that I couldn't escape. I tried to stay strong, to hold on to the hope that Alexander would find a way to save me. But the fear was always there, an unrelenting presence in the darkness.

---

Alexander's POV

The hours continued to slip away, the countdown on the digital clock a constant reminder of the time we had left. Marcus and the team were working tirelessly, each lead bringing us closer to Eleanor. But the uncertainty was unbearable, the fear of what might happen if we didn't find her in time gnawing at me.

The phone rang, breaking the tense silence. I answered immediately, my heart pounding. "Alexander Sterling."

"Mr. Sterling," Wales's voice came through, calm and controlled. "Just a reminder. You have now Forty-eight Hours left. Tick-Tock.