Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 161

Chapter 161

Consciousness returned to Keira in waves, each one bringing with it a fresh surge of pain behind her eyelids. She wasn’t instantly aware. Whatever they had used to knock her out was effective.

The floor beneath her was cold and hard. Her head throbbed. Her mouth felt like it had been stuffed with cotton.

“Alexei,” she mumbled, the events before her blackout rushing back in fragmented pieces.

She forced her eyes open, blinking against the harsh fluorescent light. She was in some kind of storage room, concrete floors, metal shelving stacked with boxes, a single window high on the wall letting in a sliver of moonlight. Her once–beautiful crimson dress was torn at the hem and smeared with dirt.

“Glad to see you rejoining the living.”

Alexei’s voice came from her left. She turned her head to find him propped against the wall near some shelving only a few feet away, his tuxedo jacket gone, white shirt stained with blood from a nasty gash at his temple. His hands were bound like hers, but he seemed alert, his eyes clear despite the injury. His head must be hurting like hell.

“Are you okay?” She shuffled toward him, wincing as her bare feet scraped against the rough concrete. Why had they taken her shoes? Or had they fallen off?

“I’ve been better.” His mouth twisted into a humorless smile. “You?”

“I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.” She looked around the room, searching for exits. One metal door presumably locked. The only high

window, unreachable without something to stand on. She could see the window had bars on it, so even if they could reach the window, they

couldn’t get out. But they could call out for help.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“Some kind of warehouse by the docks, judging by the smell and the shipping containers I glimpsed when they brought us in.” His eyes never

left her face. “You’ve been out for about forty minutes.”

“The men that took us?”

“I injured one. I heard them talking. They dumped us in here and left.”

they

usually money.” His voice was oddly calm, almost clinical. “Though

were side by side, her shoulder pressed against his. The

being held hostage. I

afraid it’s very real.” His eyes softened as he looked at her. “I’m

‘Hey, could you grab me and my assistant tonight? We’ve got

situation. “There it is.

“Never.”

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Chapter 161

shouldn’t have sent

carrying? I would say you saved your people’s lives.” She

restraints, which were frayed where he’d

die in a warehouse wearing a designer dress or this young, I want to be really

expression grew serious.

she said softly, noticing fresh blood trickling

He sounded like one of those action heroes from a blockbuster film. She could almost picture him tearing off part of his shirt to bandage the injury before

the plan, oh, fearless one, once you get free, of

I get you out of those.” He nodded toward her restraints. “Then

on doing that unless he turned all ninja on the kidnappers or was the next MacGyver.

a better

thought royals were supposed to have special training for this kind of thing.” Wishing now that she had taken some sort of

do. Basic hostage survival. But it mostly involves staying alive until rescue arrives.” He resumed working his restraints against the metal edge. “I never paid much attention. I was too busy being a royal pain in

jokes, Alexei.”

“Fear will paralyze you. We need to stay sharp and

you… I’m scared, Alexei.” She had never been so scared in her life. But she promised herself if she got out of this

you if you weren’t scared.” Alexei

sudden noise came from the other side of the door. They both froze, eyes fixed on the entrance as the sound of footsteps

Keira whispered,

quickly, leaning close. “Whatever happens, let me do the talking. These men want something, and they need me alive to get

place at the wrong time. And he was right; they didn’t

time, preventing

that. But they might not see your value. So, stay quiet, stay small, let them think you’re too terrified