Chapter 212
Audrey’s POV:
The shrill ring of my phone jolted me awake.
I fumbled in the darkness, my fingers searching blindly across the
nightstand until they closed around the vibrating device.
“Hello?” My voice was thick with sleep.
“Audrey!” Emma’s panicked voice sent a bolt of adrenaline through
- me.
“I can’t reach Jasper. He’s not answering his phone, and his last
message was cryptic–something about making things right. I’ve tried
everything. I think he’s-”
I sat up straight, instantly alert. “How long has he been unreachable?”
“Twelve hours. That’s never happened, not even when he was in deep
cover.”
A cold weight settled in my stomach. Jasper was many things, but
unreliable wasn’t one of them.
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Chapter 212
“I’m rebooking our flights. We’re leaving today,” I said, already
swinging my legs over the side of the bed.
“Pack only what you need. I’ll meet you at JFK in three hours.”
I hung up and jumped into action, grabbing only my passport and
wallet.
Caspar had left early for a meeting, and Noah would still be asleep for
another hour at least.
My heart clenched as I realized I wouldn’t be able to say goodbye to
either of them.
I hesitated at Noah’s door, my hand on the knob, but stopped myself.
Instead, I scribbled a quick note about an emergency gallery situation
and left it on the kitchen counter.
With one last glance at the quiet hallway leading to Noah’s room, I
slipped out of the house and into the waiting taxi.
The flight to London felt interminable, Emma kept checking her
phone despite the airplane mode, as if Jasper might somehow break
through the technological barriers and reach her.
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Chapter 212
“He knew the risks,” I said quietly as our plane began its descent. “But
that doesn’t mean he accepted them.”
Emma’s knuckles were white as she gripped the armrest.
“If he did something stupid and noble-”
“Then I’ll drag him back by his ears,” I finished with fierce
determination.
After landing, we deliberately took a circuitous route from Heathrow.
Just in case someone was tracking our movements.
The London evening was unseasonably warm as we walked the final
distance to Jasper’s Chelsea apartment. Street lights cast long
shadows, and my heart hammered against my ribs with each step.
“Look,” Emma pointed suddenly, “the lights are on.”
Hope flickered across her face, and she quickened her pace,
By the time we reached the building’s entrance, she was practically
running. Her hands trembled as she fumbled with the key.
“He might still be here,” she whispered, more to herself than to me.
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Chapter 212
The elevator ride to the fifth floor felt endless.
Emma tapped her foot impatiently, her eyes fixed on the numbers
lighting up one by one.
When we reached Jasper’s door, Emma didn’t hesitate. She thrust the
key into the lock and pushed it open.
“Jasper?” Her voice echoed through the apartment. “Jasper, are you
here?”
Silence answered her.
I followed her inside, noting the strange stillness of the place.
Everything was immaculate, as always–Jasper’s military precision evident in every carefully placed item–but something felt off.
The lights were on, but there was no sign of life.
Emma moved through the apartment with increasing desperation,
calling his name.
I headed toward his workspace, a converted second bedroom where he
conducted most of his research.
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Chapter 212
The door was ajar. I pushed it open to find Emma standing frozen in
the middle of the room, staring at something on Jasper’s desk.
“Em?” I approached carefully.
She didn’t respond, her eyes fixed on a small pill bottle and an
envelope beside it.
My heart sank as I picked up the letter.
The handwriting was unmistakably Jasper’s–neat, precise strokes. I
scanned it quickly, the words blurring slightly as their meaning hit
- me.
I’ve negotiated a deal. My freedom for your safety. The antidote is in the
bottle–enough for both of you.
Don’t come after me. This was my choice. Live your lives.
-J
“That bastard actually went and played hero,” I whispered, the paper trembling in my hand.
Emma snatched the letter from me, her eyes racing over the words.
Her face crumpled as the reality sank in.
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Chapter 212
“That selfless idiot,” she choked out before collapsing into the desk
chair, tears streaming down her face.
I reached for her, but she shook her head violently, clutching the
letter to her chest.
“I need to be alone,” she managed between sobs. “Just… give me a
minute.”
I nodded, stepping back to give her space.
Eventually, her crying subsided, replaced by a bone–deep exhaustion.
I helped her to Jasper’s bedroom, where she curled onto his pillow,
breathing in whatever lingered of his scent.
“I’ll wake you if there’s any news,” I promised as her eyelids drooped.
Once Emma’s breathing steadied into sleep, I quietly slipped out of
the room.
I had no intention of sitting around waiting for news.
Jasper wouldn’t have sacrificed himself if our situations were
reversed, and I wasn’t about to let him play the martyr.
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Chapter 212
I made my way to his workspace and headed straight for the corner
cabinet–the one he thought I didn’t know about.
Kneeling down, I felt along the bottom edge until my fingers found
the hidden latch. The false panel slid away silently, revealing a small
arsenal: two handguns with silencers, three passports with different
identities, and a set of lock picks.
“You always were prepared for the worst,” I muttered, checking that
the 9mm was loaded before tucking it into my waistband.
I couldn’t–wouldn’t–let Jasper sacrifice himself for me.
The Organization would have to deal with both of us, or neither. I’d
survived their games for years; I wasn’t about to start losing now.
Just as I was about to head for the door, a sound from the living room
froze me in place–the distinct click of the front door unlocking.”
My body tensed instinctively.
Drawing the gun, I moved silently toward the hallway, keeping close
to the wall. The floor creaked near the entrance, followed by the soft
thud of footsteps.
One person? Maybe two? I couldn’t be sure.
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Chapter 212
I held my breath, finger hovering near the trigger as 1 edged around
the corner.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
