Laura
I could feel my legs barely keeping up as Jackson yanked me along, his grip like iron around my arm. I dug my heels in as best as I could, my body fighting against his, but he only tightened his hold, dragging me through the dark corridor.
There was no need to explain myself… that if had no idea of the tracker in the necklace. Jake had given it to me as a gift to compliment my dress and I didn't suspect a thing. Being kidnapped on such a big day was the last thing on my mind, but thinking about it now, I guess it was good that Jake hid the tracker in there. That was so thoughtful of him. He had done well, now was the time to be useful and play my part too.
"Let go of me!" I screamed, my voice bouncing off the walls, echoing down the hall. But he just sneered, tugging me harder, ignoring my pleas. The hallway felt endless, and with every step, I felt my energy draining, the hopelessness creeping in.
"Shut up," he muttered, not even bothering to look back as he hauled me forward. "No one's coming for you."
But he didn't know Jake.
Relaxing how far my voice went, I took a deep breath, and with every ounce of strength left in me, I screamed his name, the sound tearing from my throat like a last desperate hope. "Jake!"
Jackson's hand immediately shot to my mouth, his palm pressing hard against it, muffling my voice. But it was too late. From somewhere down the corridor, I heard footsteps pounding closer.
"Let her go!" Jake's voice roared through the darkness, and I felt my heart soar, relief flooding my chest. He was here. He had found me.
Jackson hesitated, his hand loosening just a bit as he turned toward the sound. And in that brief moment, I seized my chance. I bit down on his hand, hard, tasting the salt of his skin and the metallic hint of blood as I sank my teeth in. He yelped, pulling his hand back in pain, and I stumbled free, falling to the ground just as Jake's silhouette filled the doorway.
Jackson turned, and I watched as the two men sized each other up, the air thick with tension. Jake's gaze locked on Jackson, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Jake," I whispered, my voice shaky, but he didn't even glance my way. His entire focus was on Jackson.
"You messed with the wrong person," Jake growled, stepping forward, his fists clenched. I'd never seen him like this, never seen such raw anger radiate from him. It was like the calm, controlled man I knew had been stripped away, leaving only rage and determination.
Jackson smirked, wiping the blood from his bitten hand. "Big words. Think you're man enough to back them up?"
And just like that, they collided. Jake lunged forward, his fist connecting with Jackson's jaw with a sickening thud. Jackson staggered back, his head snapping to the side, but he quickly recovered, retaliating with a punch that struck Jake's ribs. The two of them grappled, fists flying, each strike echoing through the hall.
I scrambled back, pressing myself against the wall, my heart pounding as I watched them. Jake was strong, but Jackson fought like a man possessed, every punch laced with hatred. They were locked in a brutal dance, neither one willing to back down.
"Jake, be careful!" I called out, my voice shaking.
They were throwing punches, each hit sounding harder than the last. Jake didn't even flinch when Jackson swung at him again, his focus unbreakable. But Jackson was relentless, his movements quick, landing blows with a force that I could almost feel in my own bones. My heart was pounding as I watched, every fiber of my being screaming for Jake to come out on top.
Jackson sneered, barely catching his breath. "You think you can just take her from me? She's mine."
Jake wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes never leaving Jackson. "You lost any right to her the day you started this twisted game. Laura deserves better than the likes of you."
Jackson laughed, a low, bitter sound. "And you think you're that better choice? She's just another possession to you, just like everything else."
"You don't know a damn thing about what she means to me," Jake spat, his voice a fierce growl. And then he charged at Jackson, their bodies colliding, the force sending them both stumbling backward.
It was in that moment that a beam of light flooded into the hallway, flashing red and blue. Sirens wailed in the distance, and Jackson faltered, glancing around in confusion. The sound of footsteps pounded down the hall, echoing louder with every second. The police had arrived.
"Jake!" I shouted, my voice a mixture of relief and desperation. "They're here. They're going to take him away."
Jackson's face twisted in rage, and he swung at Jake again, the blow just barely grazing him. But then Jake's team stormed into the hallway, joining him and pulling Jackson back. He fought against them, but there was no escaping the grip of the officers as they pinned him down.
"This isn't over," Jackson hissed, his eyes blazing as he was handcuffed. "I'll be back for her. You won't get away with this."
But Jake ignored him, his gaze fixed on me, his expression softening as he finally took a step toward me. "Laura…" His voice was low, but it held a relief I couldn't even begin to describe.
The paramedics entered next, attending to the scene, and as they wheeled Kurt's body out, the chaos of the scene was surreal. I could hardly breathe as I watched them, everything feeling like a nightmare I hadn't fully woken up from.
And then, suddenly, Jake was beside me, his hand reaching out to brush my hair away from my face, his touch grounding me.
"Are you okay?" His voice was gentle, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions I'd just witnessed. His hand lingered on my cheek, warm and steady.
I nodded, my voice catching in my throat. "I am now… thanks to you."
He took a deep breath, his gaze flickering over me as if he were reassuring himself that I was really there, really safe. And then, with a look of determination I hadn't seen before, he slowly dropped to one knee.
My heart skipped a beat as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, velvet box. The world around us seemed to fade, the noise of the sirens and voices blending into a distant hum. He looked up at me, his eyes filled with a love and sincerity that stole my breath.
"Laura," he began, his voice low and steady, "life is unpredictable. We've both seen that. But if this has taught me anything, it's that I don't want to waste another second wondering. The next minute isn't guaranteed, so why delay?"
He opened the box, revealing a beautiful ring that sparkled under the flashing lights. The words caught in my throat as I looked down at him, my heart swelling with emotions that felt too big to contain…
Author's Thought
Hi lovely readers🥰 how are you finding the story so far? Thank you all for sharing your thoughts in the comments, I see them all and honestly, they make my day, and keep me going.
Also, the story is just starting so be sure to grab your popcorn and relax, because I'm about to take you on a ride to sweet adventures of dramatic and sweet love.
Jake is about to switch from being the playboy and grumpy boss, to the sweetest man ever!!!