Chapter 123
\nMarked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 123<\/p>\n
er 123 Only One Gets to Live<\/p>\n
Jake\u2019s POV:<\/p>\n
The office door slammed open, and Jorge stormed inside.<\/p>\n
\u201cJake! Did you hear? Peggie\u2019s been kidnapped!\u201d<\/p>\n
I clenched my jaw and glared at him. \u201cDeanna\u2019s been kidnapped too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jorge\u2019s face paled. \u201cWe need to pay the ransom to save Peggie! You know her heart surgery wasn\u2019t long ago. She can\u2019t handle stress like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
I leaned back in my chair and shut my eyes. \u201cThe rogues said 20 million for one. Just one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? If it\u2019s 20 million each, why not 40 million for both?\u201d Jorge\u2019s voice rose, almost desperate.<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked,\u201d I muttered. \u201cThey refused. They only want 20 million. How ridiculous. They didn\u2019t just want my money. They wanted to make me choose.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen who are you going to pick?\u201d Jorge asked.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeggie\u2019s fragile,\u201d he continued. \u201cShe\u2019s probably terrified right now. Deanna\u2019s stronger\u2013she can handle this. Let\u2019s get Peggie out, then go back for Deanna.\u201d<\/p>\n
I glared at him. \u201cI couldn\u2019t let anything happen to either of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJake, listen to me. This is their demand,\u201d he argued. \u201cIf you don\u2019t choose, they might kill both. Don\u2019t take that risk! Pick Peggie!\u201d<\/p>\n
His words tore through me like a knife. I thought about the last time Deanna was kidnapped.<\/p>\n
Back then, I didn\u2019t believe her. I let her slip away.<\/p>\n
This time, I swore I wouldn\u2019t make the same mistake. I wouldn\u2019t let go of her again.<\/p>\n
But then there is Peggie \u2026<\/p>\n
For the first time in my life, I couldn\u2019t decide.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll give them 50 million,\u201d I said finally, my voice low but firm. \u201cI\u2019ll save them both. And I\u2019ll<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
have my guards stationed nearby for backup.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next morning, Jorge and I left with a huge bag of cash.<\/p>\n
Following the rogue\u2019s instructions, we drove deep into the mountains outside the city.<\/p>\n
When we reached the meeting point, my phone buzzed\u2013another message. They changed to a new location.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose scumbags!\u201d I cursed under my breath.<\/p>\n
I had stationed guards all around this area. Now, with this sudden change, the entire plan was ruined.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t waste time!\u201d Jorge turned the car around immediately, following the new address.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kidnappers aren\u2019t stupid. If we can save both, we do it. But if not, make sure Peggie gets out alive! You hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n
The car finally stopped at the base of a steep mountain trail.<\/p>\n
We had no choice but to climb. Step by step, we made our way up until the rocky path opened to a cliff at the top.<\/p>\n
As we neared the top of the mountain, I caught a faint trace of Deanna\u2019s fragrance in the cold air.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Olson,\u201d a voice came from the shadows, \u201cyou\u2019re right on time.\u201d<\/p>\n
The kidnappers stepped out, dragging two women with them, stopping at the edge of the cliff.<\/p>\n
My face darkened. I glared at them and threw the duffel bag toward their feet.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s 50 million in cash. Let them go.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the men\u2019s eyes gleamed with greed as he stared at the money. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. The greed in his eyes couldn\u2019t be more obvious.<\/p>\n
But then he looked up again. \u201cMr. Olson,\u201d he sneered, \u201cwe only asked for 20 million. You tell us. Who do we release?\u201d<\/p>\n
The veins in my temple throbbed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou got a death wish, huh? You really think you can kidnap my woman and walk away alive?\u201d I roared. \u201cLet them both go, and I\u2019ll forget this ever happened!\u201d<\/p>\n
2\/3<\/p>\n
The kidnapper hesitated for a second but then shook his head stubbornly.<\/p>\n
\u201cToo much money and we\u2019ll never get out of here. You pick one. If you don\u2019t, I\u2019ll throw them both off this cliff.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPick Peggie!\u201d Jorge suddenly shouted, his voice cracking. He pointed toward her frantically.<\/p>\n
\u201cJake, say something! Don\u2019t you see how scared she is?\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Peggie. Somehow, the gag over her mouth had fallen off. She was sobbing uncontrollably, gasping for breath between cries.<\/p>\n
\u201cJake! I\u2019m scared! Please save me!\u201d<\/p>\n
Then my eyes shifted to Deanna. She wasn\u2019t crying. She just stood there, calm, steady, and heartbreakingly quiet.<\/p>\n
That look\u2013it tore through me like a blade. My chest tightened, every breath burning in my throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cJake!\u201d Jorge shouted again. \u201cQuick! Peggie\u2019s about to pass out! You\u2019re the only one who can save her!\u201d<\/p>\n
I clenched my jaw so hard it hurt. For a long moment, no words would come out. Then I finally forced a hoarse sound from my throat. \u201cDea\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPeggie\u2019s pregnant!\u201d Jorge yelled suddenly.<\/p>\n
My whole body froze. My eyes shot toward him, disbelief flooding me.<\/p>\n
Jorge looked down, voice dropping to a whisper only I could hear. \u201cShe\u2019s carrying your baby.\u201d<\/p>\n
The kidnappers grew impatient. Their tone turned sharp and threatening. \u201cWe\u2019re done waiting, Mr. Olson. If you don\u2019t pick now, both women die.\u201d<\/p>\n
They shoved the two women closer to the cliff\u2019s edge. Rocks crumbled and tumbled down into the darkness below.<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t bear to look at Deanna. My throat burned as I forced the words out, heavy and broken. \u201cI choose Peggie.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-2206","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/icuow.top\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/2206","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/icuow.top\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/icuow.top\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/icuow.top\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}