Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

Chapter 182

These days, kidnappers were getting ridiculous-not only did they want money, now they wanted to force you into impossible choices.

"So, who are you going to ransom?" Gideon asked quietly.

Magnus gripped his phone, refusing to answer.

"Elise is so fragile she must be terrified. Isadora's tougher, she can hang on longer. Let's get Elise out first, then we'll go back for Isadora," Gideon pressed.

Magnus's jaw clenched, his face like stone. “Neither of them is going to get hurt. I won't allow it."

"Magnus, the kidnappers are making the rules. If you don't pick, you could lose them both. Don't hesitate-choose Elise!" Gideon urged.

Memories of Isadora's past kidnapping flashed through Magnus's mind. He hadn't believed her then-and he'd nearly lost her because of it. He swore he'd never let go of her again.

But then there was Elise...

For a moment, Magnus found himself paralyzed, unable to choose.

"I'll give them five million," he said at last, his voice low and hard. "I want both women back. I'll arrange security to be stationed nearby, ready to intervene."

Without so much as a flicker of emotion, Gideon sent an audio recording from his phone to a number he'd prepared.

***

The next morning.

back

drop-off, Magnus's phone buzzed with a new message: the location

around this area—now, with the

spun the car around, heading for the new

"If you can save them both, do it. But if it comes down to it,

the base of a rocky

to drive up. The two men abandoned the car

***

strips of cloth. Each woman was dragged by

nerves stretched to the breaking point—just as the kidnappers emerged, hauling their hostages

marred by a jagged scar, sneered. "Mr. Wainwright, both your

men holding Elise and Isadora captive. He tossed the heavy bag across the ground, each word deliberate. "There's five million here. Let them

in the

"We only want two million.

vein pulsed at Magnus's temple. "You're insane to cross me like this. Let them go, and

made the kidnappers falter for

now. If you don't, both of them go

shouted, "Pick Elise! The woman in the dark green dress-Magnus, say something!

had slipped off, leaving her looking heartbreakingly fragile,

scared... please save

her, Isadora's mouth was still sealed tight, unable