Chapter 81: The Game Turns
Gabriel’s wrists burned as he pulled against the ropes, his heart pounding against his ribs.
Every fiber of his being burned with rage as he glared at Adrian, who was casually twirling the knife between his fingers, leaning back against the wall as if he had all the time in the world.
"You think this is a game?" Gabriel’s voice was like a hush, sounding dangerous on purpose.
"You let her go, or I swear to God, I’ll kill your father."
Adrian’s smirk only deepened.
"Richard?" He laughed softly, shaking his head.
"You think I care what happens to that bastard? Be my guest. Do whatever you want to him."
Gabriel’s fists clenched tighter against the ropes.
"I mean it, Adrian. You know I can torture him. I’ll make him suffer."
Adrian stepped closer, lowering his voice to a cold whisper.
"Good. Maybe he’ll finally know what it’s like to feel pain. But let me tell you something, Gabriel."
He crouched down to Gabriel’s level, the blade was shining as he waved it slowly between them.
"Hurting him won’t change anything. It won’t save her."
Gabriel’s jaw tensed, his eyes burning with hatred.
"You touch her again, and I won’t stop until you’re in the ground."
A soft sound cut through the tension.
A quiet, broken whimper.
Gabriel’s heart seized as he turned his head. Diane.
Her eyelids fluttered weakly as she shifted in the chair, her breath coming in shallow, slow and tired gasps.
Blood matted the side of her head where Adrian had struck her, but she was awake. She was alive.
"Diane," Gabriel breathed, his voice softened as he twisted against the ropes. "Hey, I’m here. I’m right here."
Diane blinked slowly, her eyes filling with tears as she focused on him.
"Gabriel..." Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry."
Gabriel shook his head fiercely.
"No," he said, he was trying to sound normal despite the ache in his chest.
"You have nothing to apologise for. This isn’t your fault."
Tears spilled down her cheeks, her shoulders trembling. "I...I should’ve listened. I shouldn’t have gone alone."
His expression softened, his entire body ached to reach her, to hold her.
"Diane, none of this is on you. You’re strong. You’re still here. And I’m going to get us out of this."
Adrian watched the scene with a look of pure hate.
"Touching," he drawled, leaning back against the table as if the whole situation were nothing but a twisted form of entertainment.
"You two always did have a flair for the dramatic."
Gabriel barely heard him.
His focus was solely on Diane—on the pain in her eyes and the way her lips trembled with unshed words.
"I love you," she whispered, her tears fell freely now.
His throat tightened with hard emotion.
"I love you too," he promised. "And I swear to you, Diane, I’m getting you out of here."
Adrian’s phone buzzed, breaking the moment.
With a sigh, he pulled it from his pocket and answered, stepping away toward the door.
"Yeah?" His tone shifted from mockery to irritation.
"What do you mean there’s a problem?" He exhaled sharply, pacing a few steps. "Fine. Keep her locked down. I’ll handle it."
He ended the call and turned back to them with an annoyed expression.
"Duty calls," he said, slipping the knife back into his belt. "Don’t go anywhere."
With that, he vanished through the door, locking it behind him.
The second he was gone, Gabriel turned back to Diane, his voice urgent.
"Listen to me. I left my phone in your tent on purpose. Riot will find it. He knows something is wrong."
Diane blinked through the haze of pain, trying to focus. "You...you left your phone?"
Gabriel nodded, pulling against the ropes with desperation.
"Yes. It’s how he’ll track us. Riot’s smart. He won’t stop until he finds us."
A weak, tremulous breath escaped her lips. "Gabriel...I—"
"Hey." His voice softened again. "Stay with me. You’re the strongest person I know, Diane. You fought him before. You can fight him again."
She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, fighting back another wave of tears. "I’m tired."
His heart shattered at the vulnerability in her voice.
"I know," he murmured. "But you’re not alone. I’m here. I’ll always be here."
Minutes passed in heavy silence, broken only by the faint hum of distant voices outside the door.
Gabriel kept his focus sharp, testing the ropes inch by inch, his mind working through any plan that could get them out alive.
Diane stirred again, her tone sounded like it was going to fade any moment.
"Why does he hate us so much?"
Gabriel exhaled a slow breath, the weight of everything crushing against his chest.
"Because we survived him," he said bitterly. "And he can’t stand losing control."
A sharp sound outside the door made them both tense. Footsteps.
Gabriel felt the spark of hope inside him. Riot. It had to be Riot.
"Hold on, Diane," he whispered, forcing calm into his voice. "Help is coming."
And when it did, he would make Adrian pay.
The door creaked open, and for a split second, Gabriel’s heart flew up, expecting Riot.
But the person that stepped inside made his stomach twist with lava.
It was Evelyn.
She walked in slowly...A smirk played at her lips as she glanced between Gabriel and Diane, happiness was dancing in her eyes.
"Well, well," she mused, arms crossing over her chest. "This is quite the pathetic sight."
Gabriel’s jaw clenched, his muscles screaming from straining against the ropes. "Get out," he spat.
Evelyn let out a soft, mocking chuckle.
"Gabriel. Always so angry. So predictable." She stepped closer, crouching just out of his reach.
"You really thought you could outplay Adrian? Outplay me?"
Gabriel didn’t waste words. Instead, he fixed her with a glare sharp enough to cut steel.
Evelyn merely smiled, reaching out to trace a finger along his jaw.
He jerked his head away, his skin crawling at the contact.
"You know," she murmured, shifting her gaze to Diane, "Adrian wanted to kill her right away. But I convinced him to let her suffer a little first."
Diane flinched, but Gabriel snarled. "You’re a bitch."
"No, darling. I’m just practical." She leaned in, whispering against his ear. "And you? You already lost."
With that, she straightened, turned, and walked out, leaving the door locked behind her.
Gabriel exhaled sharply, his chest heaved aggressively.
"She’s wrong," he whispered, looking back at Diane. "We haven’t lost. Not yet."
"How do you know?"
"Because their plan reached me before they even began."