Chapter 118 The One Who Stayed

Derek’s POV I arrived at the warehouse just before sunset, the briefcase of money clutched tightly in my hand. The area was quiet, too quiet. Rusted metal structures loomed around me like skeletons, casting long shadows over cracked pavement. My heart thudded against my ribs, a mix of fear and adrenaline rushing through me. As I stepped inside, the thick air hit me like a wall, dust, oil, and something sour I couldn’t name. My eyes adjusted slowly to the dim light filtering through the slats above. Then I saw them. Scarlett was crouched on the floor, her hands still bound, tear-streaked face lifted toward me the second I stepped in. Her eyes widened with disbelief, then pure relief. “Derek!” she cried. One of the kidnappers stood beside her, gun lazily in hand, while the other approached me with a stiff, emotionless face. “Money first,” he barked. I didn’t waste time. I tossed the briefcase down, and it clicked open on impact. Bundles of cash lined the inside, exactly as promised, five