The Contracted Stripper

Ryan’s heart pounded as they approached the isolated warehouse where Iris had been held hostage for months.

The darkness surrounding the place felt suffocating as if it harbored the countless secrets and horrors Bella had orchestrated.

They had gotten the location from the bald man earlier, leaving him tied up with the police watching over him.

Ryan parked the car a good distance away from the warehouse, Luca by his side. The two men exchanged a knowing glance-this was going to be a delicate mission.

They couldn’t afford to make any mistakes, not with Iris’s life hanging in the balance. Behind them, the police trailed silently, having agreed to follow without using their sirens. The goal was to maintain the element of surprise.”Remember,” Ryan whispered to Luca, “we go in quietly.

We don’t know how many men Bella’s got in there, and we need to get to Iris before anything goes wrong.”Luca nodded, his face tense with determination. Both men pulled out their silenced guns and moved cautiously toward the warehouse.

As they got closer, the dim glow of lights from inside the building flickered through the windows. Shadows shifted along the walls, indicating the presence of guards. They approached the entrance, crouching low behind some crates.

Two guards stood near the door, rifles slung across their shoulders. Ryan motioned to Luca, signaling to take them down quietly. Luca nodded and aimed his gun. With two soft pops, the guards dropped silently to the ground, their bodies hitting the concrete with a soft thud.

Ryan stepped over them, his focus sharp as they entered the warehouse. The place was larger than expected, with rows of crates and old machinery scattered across the floor.

A few more guards patrolled the area, but Ryan and Luca moved quickly, taking them down with precise shots before any alarms could be raised.

As they advanced further inside, they stumbled upon a group of men guarding a small, dimly lit room. Ryan’s heart skipped a beat, knowing that Iris could be just behind that door. There was no time to waste.

With swift precision, Ryan and Luca launched their assault, taking out the guards in a flurry of gunfire. Some fell immediately, while others tried to retaliate, but Luca’s quick reflexes left them no chance.

Once the area was clear, Ryan rushed to the door of the room. His hands trembled as he reached for the handle, praying that Iris was inside and unharmed.

He pushed the door open slowly, his breath catching in his throat. There, tied to a chair in the middle of the room, was Iris. Her hair was matted, her face pale, and her eyes wide with fear. She looked disoriented, her body bruised and weak.

The sight of her in such a state sent a surge of rage through Ryan, but he knew he had to remain calm-for her.

He knelt in front of her, gently placing his hands on her bindings. “Iris, it’s me,” he whispered, his voice soft. “You’re safe now.”Iris’s eyes darted around the room, her mind struggling to comprehend the situation.

She flinched at Ryan’s touch, clearly terrified, her breathing coming in short, panicked gasps.”Who are you?” she croaked, her voice barely a whisper. She looked at him with a mixture of confusion and fear.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Where did you come from? What’s happening?”Ryan paused for a moment, unsure of how much she remembered. “I’m Ryan,” he said softly. “Your husband. I’ve come to take you home.”

At the mention of the word “husband,” Iris’s eyes went wide, and her body tensed. Her mind raced as fragmented memories flashed before her.

None of this made sense-who was this man claiming to be her husband? And why couldn’t she remember him?”No… no, you’re lying,” she muttered, shaking her head violently. Her breaths became more frantic.

“I don’t know you. I don’t remember anything!”Ryan reached for her, his voice full of reassurance. “It’s okay, Iris. You don’t have to remember everything right now. You’ve been through so much, but I’m here to take you away from all this. You’re safe now.”

But Iris’s fear overwhelmed her. Her vision blurred, her head spinning as the reality of the situation became too much to bear. Before Ryan could say another word, Iris collapsed into his arms, her body going limp.”Iris!” Ryan shouted, catching her as she fell unconscious.

His heart pounded as he lifted her gently, cradling her fragile form in his arms. Luca appeared at the doorway, his expression grim. “We need to get her out of here. Now.”Ryan nodded, his mind racing.

There was no time to waste. He carried Iris out of the warehouse, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. The police had secured the perimeter, but Ryan knew Bella wouldn’t be far behind once she realized her plan had failed.

They reached the car, and Luca quickly opened the back door. Ryan laid Iris down carefully, making sure she was as comfortable as possible in her unconscious state. Her breathing was shallow but steady.”I’ll drive,” Ryan said as he climbed into the driver’s seat, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.

“We need to get her to the hospital.”Luca didn’t argue. He jumped into the passenger seat as Ryan slammed his foot on the accelerator, the tires screeching as they sped away from the warehouse.

The police trailed behind them, but Ryan didn’t care about protocol at this point. All that mattered was Iris-and the baby.

The ride to the hospital felt like an eternity. Ryan glanced at Iris through the rearview mirror every few seconds, his stomach in knots. He had found her, but the battle was far from over.

She was still weak, terrified, and confused. And Bella was still out there, a constant threat looming over them.

They arrived at the hospital, and Ryan parked the car haphazardly in front of the emergency entrance.

Without wasting a second, he scooped Iris into his arms again and rushed inside, shouting for help.”Help! She’s unconscious!” Ryan called out, his voice echoing through the sterile halls.

A team of nurses and doctors rushed toward him, quickly taking Iris from his arms and placing her on a stretcher. Ryan followed closely as they wheeled her down the corridor, his heart racing with anxiety.

“We’ll take it from here, sir,” one of the doctors said firmly, stopping Ryan from entering the operating room. “She’s in good hands.”Ryan stood there, helpless, watching as the doors swung shut.

The adrenaline that had kept him going began to fade, leaving him with a crushing weight of worry. He didn’t know how long he stood there, but eventually, Luca appeared by his side.

“She’s strong, Ryan,” Luca said quietly. “She’ll pull through.”Ryan nodded, but his mind was still reeling. “I should’ve found her sooner,” he muttered. “I didn’t even know she was pregnant, Luca.

She went through all of that alone.”Luca placed a hand on Ryan’s shoulder, his voice firm.

“This isn’t your fault. Bella did this. But now we have a chance to make things right. She’s safe now, and that’s all that matters.”Ryan didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on the doors. The minutes ticked by, each one stretching out longer than the last.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the doctor emerged from the room. Ryan’s heart leaped into his throat as he rushed forward.”How is she?” he asked, his voice filled with urgency. The doctor smiled faintly, though his expression remained serious.

“She’s stable. The baby’s healthy, too. They’re both going to be fine, but Iris will need time to recover-physically and mentally. She’s been through a lot.”Ryan let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding.

Relief washed over him, but it was tempered by the weight of everything that had happened. Iris was safe for now, but the fight was far from over.”Can I see her?” Ryan asked, his voice soft. The doctor nodded.

“She’s resting now, but you can sit with her. Just try not to overwhelm her.”Ryan thanked the doctor and made his way to Iris’s room. As he entered, the sight of her lying there, fragile and pale, nearly broke him.

He pulled up a chair next to the bed and sat down, his gaze never leaving her face.”I’m sorry,” he whispered, reaching out to gently brush a strand of hair from her forehead.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get to you sooner.”Iris didn’t stir, but her chest rose and fell steadily.

Ryan stayed by her side, watching over her, his mind filled with thoughts of what lay ahead. Bella had crossed a line-one that couldn’t be forgiven. Ryan knew that this was only the beginning. Bella would come for them again, and next time, he would be ready.