Chapter 21
Chapter 21: Reckoning The world seemed to still around Stuart as he stood face-to-face with the man who had taken Ela. He was average in height, dressed plainly, but there was something about his eyes—dark, unflinching, and filled with years of resentment. Behind Stuart, Ela clutched the edge of a broken chair, weak but watching every movement. “I don’t know who you are,” Stuart said coldly, setting Ela down gently behind him, “but I’m not leaving here without her.” The man chuckled, a chilling sound that echoed through the abandoned room. “Oh, I’m sure you don’t remember me,” he said. “Men like you rarely do. You ruin lives like they’re boardroom deals, then walk away. But not this time.” Ela’s breathing was shallow, but her mind was alert. Her instincts screamed that this man had s
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