Dark Revenge Of A Jilted Bride: Till Life Do Us Part!-Chapter 70: Kidnapped IV

Zane believed they were worrying for nothing, as he watched Spider at work.

They were all in the latter’s cottage, deliberately removed from the main mansion so as not to disturb its sleeping inhabitants, but to Zane, this entire midnight operation felt unnecessary, bordering on dramatic.

Gianna was working herself to death—that was it. Nothing more. Nothing sinister.

He was tempted to leave and head to Sandro’s place where he was staying for the time being, to stretch out, pour himself a drink, and sleep. But his desire to say I told you so to his friend won out in the end.

And so there he was, sitting on the couch with his legs crossed, posture relaxed to the point of provocation, looking every shade of bored as his gaze drifted lazily around the room.

"Vance Kleverman..." Spider called out, breaking the silence.

Zane glanced up just as Spider leaned closer to the laptop, eyes preened and intent on the glowing screen before him.

"Beneficiary of the Hearts of Gold charity scholarship," Spider continued, fingers tapping as lines of information scrolled past. "Saw him through both high school and college. Admired—or rather envied—for his rather unique jewelry designs..."

He paused.

Zane watched Spider’s expression shift subtly, the corner of his mouth twitching as understanding settled in.

"I can see why Gianna would take him under her wings."

"How old is he?" Zane questioned casually, his voice smooth, almost indifferent, even as Athena’s gaze slid sharply toward him.

He ignored it.

What? He was just making inquiries.

"He is twenty-five," Spider replied without looking up, tone dry. "So you can lose the airs. Nothing other than a platonic relationship between them."

Zane bristled, a muscle jumping in his jaw, but he said nothing. Better not to rise to the bait. After all, he had dug that hole himself through a spectacular lack of self-control.

"Well, there is his contact," Spider added. "Phone on standby? I’m calling it out now..."

Athena’s heart began to drum rapidly as Vance’s phone started ringing. She immediately put the call on loudspeaker for the benefit of everyone in the room.

At the fourth ring, Vance answered.

"Hello..."

The greeting came out uncertain, almost questioning.

"Hello, Vance. This is Athena speaking..."

On the other side of the line, Vance stiffened.

Athena? He didn’t know any Athena apart from Gianna’s—and even that connection felt far-fetched. Why would the woman be calling him?

"Athena?" he asked, confusion evident. "From where?"

"Gianna’s friend," Athena said steadily. "I’m calling about my friend. When was the last time you saw her?"

Shock and fear hit Vance simultaneously, a cold rush flooding his chest. This was serious. Very serious.

"I left her at the office almost two hours ago," he said quickly. "We had finished working, and then opted to go home. I wanted to accompany her to the car, but she waved me off—ordered me to get going...so I left."

He paused, breath uneven. "But I am sure she wanted to leave. That she was leaving. She already had her bag packed."

Another pause.

"What is the problem, Doctor?" he asked quietly. "Is she not back home?"

Athena shut her eyes.

Her heart roared in her ears, loud and merciless. She knew it. She goddamn knew it. Her friend was in trouble—real trouble.

Somehow, she had known it from the moment unease had crept into her chest.

She opened her mouth to speak, but a croak slipped out instead, betraying how close she was to breaking.

Immediately, Ewan gently pried the phone from her trembling hand.

"Thank you, Vance," he said calmly. "We will call you later. But if you hear anything from her, do let us know."

The call ended before a worried Vance could get another word in.

Guilt surged through the younger man as the line went dead. He should have stayed back. Maybe waited by the elevator. Maybe followed her anyway.

Why hadn’t he?

"Spider...can we track her?" Ewan asked, drawing Athena into his arms as he spoke.

Spider shrugged, already moving, fingers flying across the keyboard.

"Hey, honey," Ewan murmured softly into Athena’s hair. "Don’t worry. We will find her."

Athena nodded against his chest, but her hands clenched into his shirt. "But...what if—"

"No," Ewan cut in gently but firmly. "No what-ifs. We will find her."

He kissed her forehead. "I promise." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Zane, meanwhile, could hardly believe what he was hearing. His earlier certainty cracked—then shattered—when one name surfaced in his mind.

Noah.

"Maybe she went to Noah’s..." he said.

Athena’s glare shot toward him, sharp enough to draw blood, but it couldn’t push the thought from his mind.

"What?" Zane pressed. "That’s a possible route to check."

"She wouldn’t go to Noah’s by this time of the night," Athena snapped. "And even if she did, she would have answered the calls."

"Maybe they’re busy."

The emphasis he placed on busy left no room for doubt about what he was implying.

Athena scowled, wrenching herself free of Ewan’s embrace, already stalking toward Zane with murder in her eyes, ready to give him a piece of her mind—when her phone rang.

Ewan answered it. "Yes, Vance..."

"I just spoke to the guard," Vance said hurriedly. "The one on night duty. He mentioned that Gianna left about fifteen minutes after me. That he even bid her goodbye..."

Ewan pursed his lips.

"Call him again," he said. "Ask him to check whether her car is in the garage."

"Okay."

"Spider," Ewan asked, turning back, "how is it going?"

"No luck yet," Spider replied grimly. "She isn’t wearing the Rolex. She isn’t with her phone either..."

Dread pooled in Athena’s stomach, heavy and suffocating.

Their attention was raptured when Vance called again. He must be terrified, Athena thought distantly, as Ewan answered.

And the moment she heard his voice, she knew—she hadn’t been feeling dread for nothing.

"...the car is still in the garage, Mr. Ewan," Vance murmured. "Her bags and phone too. It seems...like she had left them and walked away..."

Or led away, Athena completed silently.

She turned slowly to Zane, whose face had gone pale, color draining from his skin.

"You were saying..."

Zane had no comeback.

She scoffed, straightening her shoulders, donning her big-girl pants. "Spider, what’s the situation?"

Spider winced at the bossy tone—one that was peculiarly Athena. She had switched fully into military mode.

"No luck yet," he said. "I’m hacking into the cams now..."

They all held their breath as he worked.

When Spider’s eyes widened just a fraction, they swarmed behind him instantly.

"What—" Athena bit out.

And then she saw it.

The company garage.

A black van emerging from the darkness at the edge of the garage, rolling silently toward the center.

A man dropping down, moving stealthily toward Gianna just as she placed her things in the car. Stopping her from shutting the door when she noticed him.

Athena watched, a tear slipping free as fear cloaked her best friend. Watched Gianna question the man dressed in black. Watched him pull out a gun and point it at her face.

Watched two other men step out of the shadows. Watched them lead her into the van. Watched the vehicle speed off into the street.

What?