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.”

“Did they say

assume. Ransom. It’s usually money.” His voice was oddly calm, almost clinical.

shoulder pressed against his. The contact helped her racing

is real, isn’t it?” she whispered. “We’re actually being held hostage. I can’t

very real.” His eyes softened as he looked at

exactly is this your fault? Did you call up some kidnappers and say, ‘Hey, could you grab me and my assistant tonight? We’ve got nothing better

smile tugged at his lips despite the gravity of their situation. “There it is.

“Never.”

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Chapter 161

sent the bodyguards

“Did you see the guns those guys were carrying? I would say you

own restraints, which were frayed where he’d been sawing them against a sharp edge

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

serious.

said softly, noticing

look worse than they are.” 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 continuing the fight. But she knew his

him, but arguing wouldn’t help. “What’s the plan,

out of those.” He nodded toward her restraints.

that unless he turned all ninja on the kidnappers or was the next MacGyver. “That’s your plan? That’s barely

a

for this kind of thing.” Wishing now

hostage survival. But it mostly involves staying alive until rescue arrives.” He resumed working his restraints against the metal

jokes, Alexei.” She

His voice was low, urgent. “Fear will paralyze you. We need to stay sharp

been so scared in her life. But she promised herself

you if you weren’t scared.”

side of the door. They both froze, eyes fixed on

coming back,” Keira whispered,

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

She had been at the wrong place at the

buy themselves escape time, preventing her from sounding the

eyes flashed with something fierce. “Never that. But they might not see your value. So, stay quiet, stay small, let them think you’re too terrified to