<h4>Chapter 62: The Performance</h4>


    The sleek ck sports car sliced through the night like a shadow, its engine humming with restrained power as Bianca navigated the winding backroads leading to the abandoned warehouse on the city’s outskirts. Fifteen minutes had felt like an eternity, each mile amplifying Sarai’s nervous fidgeting in the passenger seat. Her fingers drummed against the leather armrest, her sharp green eyes darting to the dashboard clock every few seconds.


    "Rx, darling," Bianca murmured, her voice smooth as silk, one hand steady on the wheel while the other adjusted the rearview mirror. "We’re almost there. Remember, you’re the hero tonight. Channel that inner diva."


    Sarai huffed, crossing her arms over her ck hooded jacket. "Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who has to fake-cry in front of a girl you hate and who’s probably half-traumatized already."


    Bianca’s lips curved into a sly smile, her eyes gleaming under the passing streetlights. "Oh, but you will. And you’ll be brilliant. Just stick to the script."


    As they pulled up to the dimly lit site—an overgrown lot nked by rusted warehouses, the air heavy with the smell of damp earth and distant rain—the headlights caught the outline of the ck SUV parked haphazardly near a chain-link fence. Mel and his burly partner, a nameless thug with a scar across his cheek, leaned against the vehicle, their faces illuminated by the glow of cigarettes. The SUV’s tinted windows hid Eliana from Sarai and Bianca’s view, but Sarai knew she was in there, bound and gagged in the back watching, her world reduced to loneliness and fear.


    Bianca killed the engine and nodded to Sarai. "Showtime. I’ll hang back for a minute—make your entrance count."


    Sarai swallowed hard, stepping out into the cool night air. Her heels crunched on the gravel as she approached, her posture shifting from anxious to authoritative. Mel straightened up, tossing his cigarette to the ground and stamping it out with a boot. His partner eyed her warily, a hand instinctively reaching for the bulge in his jacket.


    "What’s the holdup?" Mel growled, his voice rough like gravel under tires. "We been waitin’ here like sittin’ ducks. That girl’s startin’ to make noise back there."


    Sarai raised a hand, her voice steady despite the pounding in her chest. "Change of ns, boys. I called the cops—anonymous tip. They’re on their way. You two need to scram before they show up and haul your asses in."


    Mel’s eyes flew wide, disbelief crashing over him like cold water. That wasn’t what they had agreed on with Bianca over the phone. His stomach twisted as he shot a panicked look at his partner.


    The man cursed under his breath, frustration boiling over as he started pacing, his boot kicking a loose rock hard enough to tter across the ground. He ran a hand through his hair and snapped, voice low but sharp, "What the hell, woman? You tipped ’em off? We had a deal!"


    Sarai didn’t flinch. Her gaze locked onto him, a dangerous glimmer in her eyes. She leaned in close, her tone a deadly whisper only he could hear.


    "Keep your voice down and just y along. Do you hear me? No matter what happens, you’ll be out of here before the cops even set foot on this ground."


    The man’s jaw tightened, nostrils ring. He looked like he wanted to argue, to spit venom right back at her. But the weight of her stare—and the cold confidence dripping from her words—pinned him in ce. "You better be right about this,dy. If this blows up, it’s on your head."


    Sarai smirked, a sh of arrogance cutting through the tension. "Rx. This will be clean. You just... y your part."


    Inside the SUV, Eliana stirred against her restraints, her eyes peering through the tinted rear window. The zip ties bit into her wrists, and the tape over her mouth muffled her breaths into ragged gasps. Confusion washed over her as she caught glimpses of the unfolding drama—Sarai, her best friend, standing tall and defiant, arguing with the kidnappers. Why was Sarai here? How had she found her? Eliana’s heart raced, a mix of fear and bewilderment surging through her veins.


    Sarai stepped closer, her voice rising dramatically. "You morons really thought you could get away with kidnapping my best friend? Big mistake. Any second now, you’re going to hear those sirens screaming—and when they do, you’ll be wishing you never crossed me!"


    Mel’s partner, catching on, grabbed a nearby crate and hurled it against the warehouse wall with a resounding crash, splintering wood and scattering debris to sell the chaos. Dust billowed into the air, and he shouted, "Shit, man, she’s serious! I hear somethin’—cops? Let’s bounce!"


    Mel nodded frantically, his face twisted in mock terror. "Fine, you win, princess. But this ain’t over!" He lunged toward the SUV’s door as if to check on Eliana onest time, but Sarai blocked him, her stance fierce.


    At that moment, Bianca emerged from the shadows, her fitted ck outfit blending seamlessly with the night. She strode forward with predatory grace, her presencemanding the scene like a queen entering her court. "You heard her," Bianca snarled, her voiceced with venom. "The cops are almost here. One more move, and you’re done. Get in that rust bucket and drive—now!"


    Mel and his partner froze for a split second, their eyes darting between the sisters, then scrambled toward the SUV’s front seats. As Bianca continued her tirade—"You think you can mess with my family? I’ll have you buried in charges so deep you’ll never see daylight!"—Sarai seized the opportunity. She yanked open the rear door, her heart thumping from excitement and thrills of the game as she peered into the back seats.


    Eliana blinked up at her, tears streaking her warm brown skin, her curly hair matted and disheveled. The sight tugged at something unexpected in Sarai—a flicker of genuine pity, quickly buried underyers of calction.


    "Eliana! Oh God, are you okay?" Sarai whispered urgently, her hands trembling as she reached in and pulled Eliana out of the car quickly. Once on the ground, She gently peeled the tape from Eliana’s mouth, wincing at the red mark it left on her lips. Eliana gasped for air, her voice hoarse.


    "S-Sarai? What... how...?"


    "Shh, hold still," Sarai soothed, pulling a small pocket knife from her jacket—Bianca’s idea for authenticity. With careful slices, she cut through the zip ties binding Eliana’s wrists, the stic snapping free. Eliana rubbed her raw skin, her expressive eyes wide with shock.


    Behind them, Mel mmed the SUV door and revved the engine, tires spinning gravel as they peeled out in a cloud of dust. "You’ll all pay for this!" he yelled through the window, his voice fading into the night. The vehicle fishtailed down the road, headlights piercing the darkness before vanishing around a bend.


    Eliana stumbled to her feet, her slender frame unsteady on wobbly legs. She clung to Sarai for support, her sweater torn at the hem, dirt smudged across her soft heart face. "Sarai... Bianca? You... you saved me? But why are you here? How did you know?"


    Bianca joined them, her arm slipping around Eliana’s shoulders in a show of sisterly concern. "We pieced it together, sweetie. Sarai found out about it and called me. We couldn’t let those monsters take you."


    But Eliana’s mind whirled in confusion, fragments of the kidnapping shing back—This was all Jason’s doing. The words those men had let slip—they were waiting for Jason. "How did you know... It doesn’t make sense. Did Jason tell you? Jason... he was involved. He—"


    Sarai’s eyes widened in feigned horror, and she dropped to her knees right there on the gravel, her ck pants scraping against the rough ground. Tears welled up, spilling down her cheeks in glistening trails—partly acted, partly fueled by the adrenaline of the moment. She clutched Eliana’s hands, her voice breaking with emotion. "Eliana, please, listen to me. I beg you—don’t tell anyone about Jason. He was... he was just hurt, desperate. Blinded by his love for you. It was a mistake, a tragic one. He didn’t mean real harm; he was like a lost puppy acting out in pain."


    Eliana stared down at her, torn between gratitude and disbelief. "Sarai, get up. What pain are you talking about? He was the one who cheated on me with you! So why is he in pain? Did you know he was going to do this? He kidnapped me! How can you defend him?"


    Sarai’s sobs grew louder, her grip tightening. "Remember us, Eli? The three of us—best friends since we were kids. Those endless summer nights under the stars, giggling about boys, girls and dreams. The scraped knees from yground adventures, sharing secrets no one else knew. We were unbreakable! If you tell anyone especially your boss Rafael, he’ll kill Jason—literally. Rafael’s not just some guy; he’s got mafia ties that could erase Jason in a heartbeat. Please, for our old friendship, for those memories... keep it quiet. You’re protecting him, protecting us. I can’t lose you both."


    Bianca watched with a subtle nod of approval, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. "She’s right, Eliana. This could end in blood. Please think about it."


    Eliana’s heart ached, her emotional resilience cracking under the weight of Sarai’s pleas. The loyalty she’d always cherished warred with her sense of justice. "I... I don’t know. This is all so confusing. Why would Jason—"


    Before she could finish, the night erupted with the roar of engines. Five sleek, luxury cars—gleaming Audis and Mercedes, their ck paintjobs reflecting the moonlight—skidded into the lot in a synchronized assault, headlights blinding as they formed a semi-circle around the women. Dust swirled like a storm, and Sarai’s breath caught in her throat. How the hell had Rafael’s people found them so fast? She thanked her lucky stars inwardly that Mel had bolted just minutes ago; otherwise, this would have been a bloodbath.


    Doors flew open, and a dozen men in dark suits poured out, their postures tense and professional, hands hovering near concealed weapons. They fanned out, securing the perimeter with military precision. Last to emerge was Rafael Vexley himself, his wheelchair maneuvered down a ramp from the lead car by his loyal secretary, James. Rafael’s face was a mask of controlled fury, his dark eyes scanning the scene until they locked on Eliana.


    "Rafael!" Eliana cried out, her voice cracking with shock and relief. She pulled away from Sarai, her legs finding strength as she stumbled forward.


    Rafael rolled toward her with urgency, James pushing the chair over the uneven gravel. "Eliana!" he called, his voice raw with panic, echoing across the lot. "Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"


    Eliana closed the distance, her hands reaching out. "I’m fine, Rafael. Really. Sarai and Bianca—they saved me. They scared off the kidnappers just in time."


    Before she could borate, Rafael extended his hand, grasping hers firmly. With a gentle but insistent pull, he drew her onto hisp, his arms encircling her in a fierce embrace. The world seemed to still as he buried his face in her curly hair, his body trembling slightly against hers. "Thank God," he whispered, his voice muffled but thick with fear and relief. "I thought I’d lost you."


    Sarai and Bianca exchanged stunned nces, their carefully constructed facades cracking for a moment. Sarai’s green eyes widened in disbelief—Rafael Vexley, the infamous invalid with a dark empire, showing such vulnerability? Bianca’s lips parted in surprise, a flicker of envy crossing her features before she masked it with a polite smile.


    The men around them shifted ufortably, averting their eyes from the intimate scene, but no one dared interrupt. In that moment, amid the drama and betrayal simmering beneath the surface, Eliana melted into Rafael’s hold, her own tears falling freely as the night’s horrors began to fade.


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