Rick's POV
Silently, I stepped out of the car, my mind totally numb. But whatever it was, I could already feel it wasn't good.
I swallowed hard, straightened my shoulders, and followed them out of the airport parking lot, walking toward the far end of the open space, just a few steps away.
They suddenly stopped in front of a black, tinted SUV that was parked there.
They turned to look at me, and I winced, unsure of what that meant. My eyes locked on the dark window.
I couldn't see through its screen, but I knew someone was inside. A wave of unease ran through me, but I remained composed.
Then the window slowly rolled down, and my eyes widened at the sight before me, My chest tightened.
Smoke drifted out from the car as the man inside looked at me, then turned away and took a drag from the cigarette in his hand.
I swallowed hard, lost in confusion.
But then, I forced myself to speak, "Mr. Jones. Nice to meet you, to what do I owe this invitation?" My voice slightly wavering under his commanding aura.
I exhaled deeply, placing my hand on my chest. Silence stretched out between us, except for the distant bustling noise of city activities.
The longer the silence lasted, the more the fear settled into my bones. I stood frozen, hands clenched, eyes locked on the car.
Finally, he looked at me again, and my heart skipped a beat, but I stood my ground, shaking slightly within.
"I'm here to warn you directly," he said, pausing to take another drag from his cigarette. "If you as much as make my daughter sad again, you won't like what happens next."
My heart sank. I couldn't believe Emilia had told her father about my decisions already.
But something about this whole thing felt different. The Jones family was dangerous. Far more ruthless than the Moores.
The sharp sound of the window closing snapped me out of my thoughts. His dark eyes stayed on mine until the window shut completely. "I won't warn you again," he said before the dark glass blocked him from view.
I stood there, frozen, my hands falling to my sides in uncertainty. My heart felt heavy with fear, doubt, and worry.
"Emilia…" I whispered. Her name left my lips, sending another wave of unease through me.
It had taken me two minutes to walk toward the SUV, but it took me ten more to return to my car.
My legs shook slightly, my mind lingered on Mr. Jones words. It felt like a threat. And then, Catherine's name flashed through my thoughts.
I wasn't going to let them break me. I wanted Catherine. Emilia had always been different; six years of nothing but regret and disappointment.
I opened the car door and dropped onto the driver's seat. My phone buzzed in my pocket, making me jump.
I sighed, pulled it out, and saw Emilia's name on the screen.
A sharp hiss escaped my lips, followed by a burning anger in my heart. I tossed the phone onto the seat and rested my head against the steering wheel.
Everything seems to be happening so fast, faster than expected. Faster than the speed of light itself.
Then the call came again; this time, I picked it up, and my voice raised in frustration, but paused the moment she mentioned Catherine's name.
I flinched, retrieving the phone from my ears; it was Emilia calling.
"Do as I say, or watch Catherine rot in hell," her voice came subtly.
Emilia…" the word got stuck in my throat. The call ended with a beep.
Fear filled my heart. My hands gripped the wheel firmly. I started the engine and drove home.
I sped through the streets, just like before, my heart racing, my mind filled with fear, chaos, frustration, and sorrow. I slammed my fists against the wheel over and over, trapped in my own panic.
Yes, Emilia was evil and ruthless just like her dad, but then I never saw this aspect of her until after I married her. She deceived me all through the process. She damn lied to me, concealing her evil nature in the dark only to resurface, to control my life.
I'm damn done! I screamed at the top of my lungs as I pulled over into the compound, jumping out of the car and rushing towards the mansion door.
The smell of smoke hit my nostrils the moment I stepped inside. My heart tightened. I had never smelled something like that in my living room before.
And then I saw her.
Sitting on the couch with a glass of wine in hand, her legs crossed against each other. She held a cigarette in the other hand.
I flinched.
"You smoke?"
She ignored my words, taking another drag, then standing on her feet and dropping the cigarette on the plate by the couch arm.
She walked closer towards me, her every step sending disgust down my spine.
Her gaze locked onto mine, indifferent, cold, commanding and full of control.
Her lips curled into a strange smile. My body tensed. The dress she wore was so short up her thighs and almost her whole backside were showing. Her cleavage pushed against the thin straps of her bra.
I stared, confused.
Then, her hand reached for my neck. I tried to push her away, but her sharp look of warning made me froze in place. Her warm breath brushed against my skin.
I remained glued, my every instinct screaming at me to push her away, but then I didn't. I watched as her other hand rubbed over my chest.
Her dad's warning echoed in my head. But I grabbed her arm, stopping her.
"Why…" I tried to ask, but her finger pressed against my lips, silencing me.
Her gaze darkened, no longer playful, but serious. Seductive.
"My men are on that plane, flight 24, right now. They're already in alert. One wrong move from you, and she's gone," she whispered, a cruel smile playing at the corner of her lips.
"Flight 24…" I repeated, my voice trembling.
"Yes, you heard me," she leaned into my ear and whispered again.
My palms trembled. I knew she was dangerous. But I never thought she was this powerful, deadly, with people doing her dirty work.
I couldn't move. Her hands momentarily halted from my body, her eyes darkened with intense fire, such as I had never seen all these years together.
My thoughts spun in circles. The police wouldn't dare touch or do anything to the Jones family. They called the shots in this city. The Moores crossed my mind, but I knew they wouldn't help me either. To them, I'd always be the one to blame. They would even press charges that I masterminded everything.
I exhaled, lost for words. But one thing was clear: I had to keep Catherine safe. If anything happened to her, I wouldn't survive it.
I lifted my gaze to Emilia. She was staring at me silently, her hand still wrapped around my waist.
"What do you want?" I asked.
A sneaky, mocking smile stretched across her face. Then she turned to me and said, "You know what I've always wanted. The one thing that's always been mine."
"Which is?"
"You." Her reply ignited a fresh sense of anger stealing into my heart, but I swallowed it up.
"You know you can't have me again. I don't want you, I don't…" I trailed off as she moved over to her phone.
"Then watch her and the 110 passengers in that plane die," she said coldly…