The Kiss that Sparked it All novel Chapter 2368

"Dad must be freaking out at home by now. The chauffeur would've had me back ages ago, and here I am, still missing. I wonder if my sister is worried," she mused, her voice tinged with fear.

Just thinking about her father and sister – the possibility that she might never see her loved ones again – brought tears to her eyes.

"Hey, don't cry," Balfour consoled her with a steady voice. "Doesn't this place remind you of that hill we used to climb as kids? Just stay cool, let's pretend we're just out for a hike! Trust me, we'll make it home!"

They were from wealthy families who usually avoid getting their shoes dirty; being thrown into such a dusty and run-down house was probably their first experience of this kind.

Balfour's calm was contagious, and Victoria found herself drawing strength from it.

"Do you really think we'll be okay?" she asked, a quiver in her voice.

"Trust me!" Balfour reassured her.

Victoria did trust Balfour. He had always been strong and composed. Whenever he was around, she felt a sense of peace.

And it didn't hurt that he was also easy on the eyes.

"Let me figure out how to break out of here," Balfour said.

Victoria's heart jumped to her throat. "Isn't it enough to just wait for your grandfather to come? Why do we need to escape? If we anger them, won't we be putting ourselves in even more danger?"

Balfour understood where she was coming from. He'd considered waiting for a rescue too. But the conversation he'd overheard made it clear that their captors were devoid of morals, and they were in the middle of nowhere.

The man sauntered over with a grin, casually asking one of his guys, "Tell me the truth, do I really look that old?"

His guy, of course, disagreed, "Nah, Boss, you're not old at all. It’s called authority. It's your mature vibe that commands respect!"

The Boss wasn't truly seeking validation; he continued to smile broadly, tapping a baseball bat in his palm as he approached Balfour and Victoria.

"Weren't you excitedly chatting a moment ago? Why the silence now? Are you scared of me?"

The bat swung, and Balfour's face contorted to one side. Victoria held her breath, blind to her surroundings, but acutely aware of the thud of wood on flesh.