Chapter 147: He’ll come for us.
Elena almost burst into tears when she heard Elias’s reassuring voice. She believed he would come and rescue them. But she was terrified the kidnappers would find them before he arrived.
"Elias..." Before she could say another word, a man suddenly burst through the bushes and landed right in front of them.
"There they are."
"Ah!" Leo screamed, shrinking behind Elena.
Startled, Elena dropped the phone.
The kidnapper’s lips curled into a sinister smile. "So, this is where you’ve been hiding."
He bent down and reached for Leo.
"Don’t touch him," Elena screamed.
In one swift motion, she snatched a thick branch from the ground and swung it with all her strength.
Crack
The branch shattered against the man’s shoulder. Caught off guard, he staggered backward.
Elena seized the opportunity. She shoved him hard in the chest.
"Leo, run."
Grabbing Leo’s hand, she bolted through the woods.
"You little—"
The man yanked a knife from his belt and charged after them.
"Stop. I’ll kill you."
Elena ran blindly through the trees. Suddenly, Leo’s foot caught on a protruding root. He fell forward.
"Uh..."
The sudden pull dragged Elena down with him. Pain shot through her knees as they hit the ground. She scrambled back to her feet and pulled Leo up.
"Quick. He is coming."
But it was too late. The kidnapper caught up within seconds. He stepped in front of them, blocking their escape.
A smug grin spread across his scarred face.
"I found them," his shout echoed through the forest. "Over here."
Heavy footsteps thundered closer.
Elena instinctively stepped backward, shielding Leo behind her. Fear tightened around her chest.
"Aunt..." Leo’s small voice trembled. "Are they going to take me away?"
"No." Elena forced herself to stay calm, though terror churned inside her. "They can’t. Your uncle is coming. He’ll be here soon."
She wasn’t even sure whether she believed those words anymore. What if the kidnappers took Leo before Elias arrived?
’No.’
A fierce determination blazed inside her.
Even if it cost her life, she would protect this child. She squeezed Leo’s hand.
"He’ll come for us."
She turned and sprinted in another direction.
"Catch them."
Two more men burst out from between the trees. They surrounded Elena and Leo in an instant.
Elena spun around, desperate to find another escape.
The knife-wielding man stepped directly into her path.
They were trapped.
The scar-faced man slowly approached. "I gave you a chance." His voice was icy. "You should’ve handed over the boy. You made the wrong choice."
His eyes darkened with murderous intent. "Now you’ll die here. And we’ll take the boy."
He lunged. The knife flashed through the air.
Instinctively, Elena raised her arm to shield herself.
Slash
The blade sliced across her forearm.
"Ah." A cry of pain escaped her lips.
Warm blood immediately soaked through her sleeve.
Leo’s face turned white. His mouth opened, but no sound came out. He was frozen in terror.
Ignoring the burning pain, Elena clutched her injured arm and glared defiantly at the kidnappers.
"Hold her." The scar-faced man barked the order.
One man grabbed Elena from behind, pinning both her arms. Another seized Leo and dragged him away.
"Leo." Elena struggled violently.
Leo burst into tears. "Aunt, save me."
He reached toward her, kicking and struggling with all his might.
But the man simply dragged him farther away.
"Let him go," Elena shouted desperately. "You want money? I’ll give you as much as you want. Just let him go."
The scar-faced man laughed. "Money?"
He twirled the knife lazily between his fingers. "The boy is worth far more than money. As long as we have him, we’ll get anything we want."
He slowly lifted the knife. The cold blade rested against Elena’s cheek.
"And someone paid us extra to ruin this pretty face."
Elena’s breathing became ragged. Her thoughts scattered. She didn’t know who wanted to ruin her face or who the mastermind behind this attack was.
Only one name remained in her mind.
Elias...
’Where are you?’
The man slowly traced the flat side of the knife along her cheek. "What a waste. A beautiful woman like you shouldn’t die so soon."
His smile turned filthy. "Spend the night with me. And maybe I’ll let you live."
The other two burst into crude laughter.
"That’s right. Keep us entertained, and we’ll spare your life."
Revulsion churned in Elena’s stomach. She struggled furiously.
"If either of you lays a finger on me, my husband will skin you alive."
Her eyes blazed with fury.
The three men exchanged amused glances. Then they laughed even harder.
"Your husband isn’t here." The scar-faced man smirked. "He doesn’t even know where you are. Nobody is coming to save you."
He flicked his fingers toward the man holding Leo. "Take the boy. Leave the woman to me."
He reached toward Elena.
"Keep your filthy hands off me," she screamed.
Just before his fingers could touch her, a deep rhythmic roar echoed across the woods.
Thump... Thump... Thump...
The sound grew louder by the second. The leaves overhead began to tremble. Wind swept through the forest.
Everyone instinctively looked up.
A helicopter burst into view above the treetops. Its spinning rotor blades whipped the air into a violent storm.
Branches bent.
Leaves flew everywhere.
"What the hell?" The kidnappers stared upward in disbelief. "What is a helicopter doing here?"
Elena looked up. Surprise and disbelief flooded all over her face. She knew Elias would come. But she had never imagined he would descend from the sky itself.
A triumphant smile spread across her lips.
"I told you." She looked straight at the scar-faced man. "My husband would come. He is here now. And none of you are leaving these woods alive."
Fear finally appeared in their eyes. Before they could react, black-clad men rappelled down thick ropes from the hovering helicopter.
One after another. Their movements were swift, disciplined, and deadly.
"Fuck." The scar-faced man cursed. "Kill them."
He pulled out a pistol and opened fire. The other kidnappers immediately joined in.
Gunfire exploded through the forest.
Bullets tore through branches, sending bark and splinters flying.
The rescue team scattered behind cover with practiced precision. One man rolled behind a boulder and returned fire. Another slid behind a fallen log before firing three rapid shots.
The deafening exchange echoed through the woods. Smoke drifted between the trees.
Birds burst from the branches in frightened flocks.
Leo dropped into a crouch, covering both ears tightly. He was shaking uncontrollably.
Elena crawled toward him despite the pain in her wounded arm. She wrapped both arms around him and pulled him behind the thick trunk of a large tree.
Leo buried his face against her shoulder.
"It’s okay," Elena whispered, though her own heart was pounding wildly. "Your uncle sent them. They’ll save us."