The Bait
764 Words
"...She wants you."
The words hung heavily in the conference room.
Every face turned toward Isabella.
She remained calm.
Calmer than anyone expected.
"Then I'll go."
"No."
Damien answered instantly.
His voice left no room for discussion.
"You are not walking into a trap."
Isabella met his gaze.
"But if I don't..."
"They'll kill Dr. Vanessa."
"They've already tried to silence a nurse."
"How many more people have to suffer because of me?"
Damien stepped closer.
"This isn't your fault."
She looked away.
"Maybe not."
"But it's my responsibility now."
Before either of them could continue...
Adrian spoke.
"We don't even know where she is."
He looked at the phone in his hand.
"The caller blocked the number."
Lucas was already typing furiously.
"I'm tracing it."
Seconds passed.
Then...
"I've got something."
Everyone leaned toward the screen.
"The call lasted long enough to bounce off three cell towers."
Damien folded his arms.
"Can you narrow it down?"
Lucas nodded.
"It came from an industrial district near the old harbor."
He zoomed in.
"There are only six abandoned warehouses in that area."
Damien turned toward his security chief.
"Prepare every team."
"No one moves without my order."
...
Across the city...
Inside Warehouse Twelve...
Dr. Vanessa struggled against the ropes around her wrists.
Her breathing was shallow.
The warehouse door creaked open.
The woman with the silver rose entered again.
She carried a small velvet box.
Vanessa stared at it.
"What is that?"
The woman smiled.
"A gift."
She opened the box.
Inside...
Was a beautiful antique pocket watch.
Vanessa frowned.
"I don't understand."
"You will."
The woman gently placed the watch on the table.
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
Only then did Vanessa notice...
The tiny red light blinking beneath it.
Her eyes widened in horror.
"It's a bomb..."
The woman leaned close enough for Vanessa to hear her whisper.
"Exactly."
...
Blackstone International.
Damien was checking bulletproof vests when Isabella quietly walked into the room.
She watched him in silence.
He looked up.
"You should be resting."
"I can't."
She hesitated.
"Can I ask you something?"
He nodded.
"Anything."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"Why are you doing all this for me?"
The room became quiet.
Damien slowly removed his gloves.
"When I was seventeen..."
"I lost someone important."
She frowned.
"My younger sister."
Isabella's expression softened.
"What happened?"
"She asked me for help."
"I told her I was too busy."
"When I finally got home..."
"...it was too late."
Pain flickered across his face.
"For years..."
"I wished someone had been there for her."
He looked at Isabella.
"I can't change the past."
"But I won't stand by while history repeats itself."
Isabella didn't know what to say.
Instead...
She quietly reached out.
Her hand rested gently over his.
"Thank you."
Damien looked down at her hand.
Then back at her.
For the first time since they met...
Neither of them spoke.
Words weren't necessary.
...
The silence was broken by Lucas bursting into the room.
"Mr. Black!"
"We've intercepted another call."
He connected it to the conference speaker.
The same woman's voice filled the room.
"You have one hour."
"No police."
"No security teams."
"Bring Isabella alone."
"If I see anyone else..."
"...Dr. Vanessa dies."
The call ended.
Damien immediately looked at Lucas.
"Keep tracing."
Lucas frowned.
"This time..."
"They wanted us to trace it."
"What do you mean?"
"It's another burner phone."
"But it was activated..."
"...inside Warehouse Twelve."
Damien smiled grimly.
"So they're inviting us."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Or leading us into an ambush."
Damien nodded.
"Exactly."
He turned toward Isabella.
"You are staying here."
She opened her mouth to protest.
He gently interrupted.
"This time..."
"Trust me."
...
Forty-five minutes later...
A convoy of black SUVs rolled silently toward the harbor.
The warehouses stood abandoned beneath the moonlight.
Security teams spread out through the darkness.
Lucas whispered into his radio.
"Perimeter secured."
"No movement."
Damien stepped forward.
His instincts screamed that something was wrong.
Everything was...
Too quiet.
He slowly pushed open the warehouse door.
It creaked loudly.
Inside...
A single spotlight illuminated the center of the room.
Dr. Vanessa sat tied to a chair.
Her head hung forward.
Motionless.
"Vanessa!"
Damien rushed toward her.
Adrian followed close behind.
Just as Damien reached the chair...
His eyes fell on the antique pocket watch resting at Vanessa's feet.
Its hands were moving.
Tick...
Tick...
Tick...
His pupils contracted.
"Everyone back!"
But it was too late.
The display on the watch flashed.
00:00:10
Nine...
Eight...
Seven...
Damien grabbed Vanessa's chair with one hand.
Then shouted with all his strength—
"RUN!"
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