The moment Damian warned Amara over the phone that Eric wasn't the one driving, her heart skipped. She turned to Mia, panic rising in her chest.
"Mia... Damian said that's not Eric," Amara whispered, her voice shaking.
"What?!" Mia gasped, her eyes widening. She quickly looked at the driver's reflection in the mirror. But before they could scream or react, the man driving suddenly pulled out a small spray bottle.
"Sleep, ladies," he muttered coldly.
He pressed the nozzle, releasing a harsh chemical mist into the car. Amara and Mia both coughed violently, their hands covering their noses, but the strong, bitter scent filled their lungs before they could escape.
"No-! Stop!" Amara tried to scream, but her voice cracked as her eyes rolled back.
Mia grabbed Amara's arm, trying to shake her, but soon she too felt her body weakening. The world spun, the voices became distant, and within seconds, both women went limp in their seats.
The driver smirked. "Easy catch," he muttered, speeding off down a deserted road.
---
When Amara opened her eyes again, everything hurt. Her head throbbed like someone had slammed a hammer against it, and her cheek burned from sharp slaps. She tried to move, but ropes dug into her wrists and ankles. Her body felt heavy, and when she blinked to clear her vision, she realized she was inside an uncompleted building.
Concrete walls surrounded her, windows without glass, and the sound of water crashing below made her heart freeze. She tilted her head-just a few meters away, a broken part of the building opened into a drop straight down into a violent ocean.
Mia was beside her, tied as well, her face swollen from beatings. Tears streaked down Mia's cheeks. "Amara! Wake up! Please, wake up!" she sobbed, struggling against the ropes.
Amara groaned, her head rolling to the side. "Mia..."
"You're bleeding," Mia whispered. "They hit you too much. You even hit your head on the wall. I thought-I thought you wouldn't wake up..."
Amara touched her head, feeling the wetness of blood. Her vision blurred again, but she forced herself to stay awake. She had to fight-for her life, for her children inside her.
"Shut up!" one of the thugs barked, kicking Mia's side so hard she screamed in pain.
Another thug, their leader, answered a phone call. His voice echoed in the unfinished hall. "Boss, we got them. Both of them. The secretary and her little friend."
It was Serena on the other end. Her voice hissed through the phone. "I told you not to leave any trace! Make sure they don't walk out of that building alive. If anyone suspects, we're all finished."
The thug grinned, staring down at Amara's bruised body. "Don't worry. No one will ever find them."
But before the leader could continue, the sound of police sirens cut through the air.
"Shit!" he cursed. "They found us already!"
He ended the call quickly, fear flickering in his eyes. Serena's last words echoed in his mind, but the plan was already ruined.
---
Moments later, the building shook with heavy boots. Damian burst in with officers behind him, his eyes searching frantically.
"Amara! Mia!" Damian shouted, his voice breaking.
Amara lifted her head weakly, tears streaming down her face. "Damian..." she whispered.
"Drop your weapons!" the lead officer ordered, his gun raised.
But the thugs were desperate. Two of them immediately dragged Amara and Mia closer to the open edge. The ocean roared below, waves smashing violently against rocks. Any wrong step and they would be gone forever.
"Stay back, or they die!" the thug leader screamed, pressing a knife to Amara's throat.
Damian froze, his heart pounding. His body trembled with rage and fear. "Please-don't hurt her. She's pregnant!" His voice cracked as he took a slow step forward.
"Pregnant?" the leader sneered. "Then it'll be two for the price of one."
"NO!" Damian roared, but the police officer beside him pulled him back.
"Sir, stay calm, don't rush," the officer whispered urgently.
But Damian's blood was boiling. Seeing Amara's swollen face, the ropes cutting into her wrists, the blood dripping from her head-it broke him apart. He wanted to tear the men limb from limb.
"Please... don't..." Amara whispered, her voice weak, but her eyes locked on Damian. She needed him strong.
---
The standoff stretched tense and deadly. Then suddenly, one of the thugs panicked. He shoved Mia closer to the edge, making her scream.
"Stop! Please! We'll give you what you want!" Damian begged. His hands were trembling, his knees weak, but his eyes never left Amara.
But before anyone could calm the situation, a loud gunshot cracked through the air.
Mia screamed, "Noooo!"
Damian's heart stopped. "Amara!" he shouted in horror.
The thugs jerked violently, chaos erupting. In the struggle, Amara's weak body was pushed dangerously close to the edge. Mia screamed her name, pulling against the ropes, trying to hold her back.
The police rushed forward, exchanging fire with the thugs. Bullets echoed in the empty walls, sparks flying off concrete. The thug leader dragged Amara tighter, but the officers pressed closer.
"Let her go!" Damian shouted, stepping forward despite the officer's warning. His eyes burned with rage. "If you touch her again, I'll kill you with my bare hands!"
The leader spat, "Then watch her fall!"
And with one swift push, he shoved both women toward the broken edge.
"MIAAAA! AMARAAA!" Damian screamed, his voice tearing through the chaos.
---
For a moment, everything slowed.
Amara felt the wind whip her face, her stomach twisting as her body tilted toward the open air. The roar of the ocean below grew louder, merciless, ready to swallow her whole. She thought of Damian, of their unborn children. She thought of love, of promises, of the life she might never see again.
"No... please..." her voice broke as darkness pulled at her.
Damian lunged forward, his heart exploding with terror. But before he could reach her, a deafening splash echoed outside the building.
The police and Damian rushed to the opening, staring down in horror. The violent waves churned below, crashing against rocks. There was no sign of Amara or Mia.
"Noooo!" Damian fell to his knees, his scream echoing through the night.
The officers shouted, calling backup, divers, and rescue teams. Flashlights lit the waves as men prepared to search the waters.
Damian's hands shook as he clutched the edge of the broken wall, his heart shattered. "Amara... no... please, God... don't take her from me. Not her... not our babies."
His vision blurred with tears, rage mixing with despair. He stood up abruptly, turning toward the thug leader who was pinned down by officers. His fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white.
"You'll pay for this," Damian snarled, his voice shaking with fury. "Even if I have to hunt you myself, you'll regret ever touching her!"
The thug spat blood, smirking. "She's gone. Accept it."
Damian's eyes darkened. It took everything in him not to tear the man apart right there. But his heart was too heavy with grief, his mind locked on one thing-finding Amara.
"Search the ocean!" he ordered the officers. "Don't stop until you find them. Dead or alive-I need her back."
His voice cracked on the last word. He was a man broken, yet burning with desperate hope.
---