Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 131

"Either you tell me where the videos are," Annie said, "or I'll start cutting away pieces of you until you do. And trust me, Jim, I have all the time in the world."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Jim stammered, voice trembling, eyes darting around the darkly lit warehouse as though searching for an escape that wasn't there.

Annie leaned to one side, and a cold smile curled up her lips. "It seems you still don't understand the gravity of your situation," she said, her tone ice-cold. Her heel came down hard on his foot, the sharp pointed heel digging into the tender flesh.

Jim let out a guttural cry, thrashing in the chair, but she gave no shit. Her weight pressed hard onto his foot, and her eyes remained cold.

"Where are the videos?" she demanded again, her voice sharper, colder.

"I don't..." Jim's words were cut off by another sharp cry as Annie began twisting her heel. "I still don't understand what you're talking about. What videos?" he gasped, his face pale and glistening with sweat.

Annie's patience, as thin as a razor's blade, snapped. Her palm landed on his face with a sharp crack resounding through the warehouse. "Do not test me, Jim!" she hissed, flashing anger in her eyes.

Her mind raced; she needed to finish this on time, because she had to return before Alexander noticed her absence. Taking a deep breath, she let her expression soften, her features changed into an almost angelic innocence, as she put away the small knife and lifted her heel off his throbbing foot.

"Jim," she said, now her voice was smooth as silk, oozing with fake kindness; her hand reached out, her fingers cupping his bruised face gently; her thumb stroked the side of his cheek.

to do this the messy way," she whispered, her tone almost seductive. Her fingers trailed down to his jawline, and her eyes bored into his, faking understanding. "Hand me the videos. Both the originals and the duplicates. Do that, and/ I let you go. No pain, no mess. Win-win, Jim. Doesn't

his lips quivering. For a moment, Annie thought she'd finally gotten through to him. But then his lips pressed into a thin, defiant

what you're talking about," he said, his voice

burst of fury, she struck him across the face again, harder this time. The slap echoed in the warehouse, and Jim's head

1

with rage. Another slap landed,

head hanging low, his breaths shallow and

exertion and anger. Her patience was gone, her mask of composure shattered. Turning toward the warehouse door, she

with him." The men nodded, one stepping forward to carry out her order, and Annie turned her back from the scene, her mind already working on what next to

was since day one

Chapter 131

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trembling and holding on to each

the voice on the other end becoming distant as panic gripped her heart. Her head security

time and try to defuse as many bombs as possible before the police arrive." The words echoed in her ears, very far away, as