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

It’s usually money.” His voice was oddly calm, almost clinical. “Though no one’s made demands

her shoulder pressed against his. The contact helped her racing heart, grounding her in reality when panic threatened to

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

softened as he looked at her. “I’m sorry, Keira. You shouldn’t be here. This is my

you call up some kidnappers and say, ‘Hey, could you grab me and my assistant tonight? We’ve got nothing better to

smile tugged at his lips despite the gravity of their situation. “There it is. I was worried they’d

“Never.”

1/3

Chapter 161

shouldn’t have sent the

guns those guys were carrying? I would say you saved your people’s lives.” She held up her bound hands. “Can you

He shifted, showing his own restraints, which were frayed where he’d been sawing

Because I’m not planning to die in a warehouse wearing a designer dress or this young, I want

grew serious. “No

softly, noticing fresh blood trickling from his

are.” He sounded like one of those action heroes from a blockbuster film. She could almost picture him tearing off part

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

out of those.” He nodded toward her restraints. “Then we find a

again. Not sure how Alexei planned on doing that unless he turned all ninja on the kidnappers or was the

a better

supposed to have special training for this kind of thing.” Wishing now that she had taken

arrives.” He resumed working his restraints against the metal edge. “I never paid much

not the time for jokes, Alexei.” She shot him a

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

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

you if you weren’t scared.”

of the door. They both froze, eyes fixed on the entrance as the sound of

back,” Keira whispered, fear clawing

leaning close. “Whatever happens, let me do the talking. These men want something,

She had been at the wrong place at the

buy themselves escape time, preventing her from sounding

His 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 be a