Fated Love: A Tale of Destiny

Chapter 0023: The Edge of Betrayal

The SUV's tires screeched as it turned onto a narrow road, leaving the bustling city lights behind. Claire forced herself to stay still, every muscle in her body coiled like a spring.

She assessed her situation. Handcuffed. Outnumbered. Weaponless. Yet, if she had learned anything from this fight, it was that even in the darkest moments, there was always a way out.

Sebastian sat across from her, watching her like a predator studying prey. His silver cufflinks gleamed under the dim cabin light, his casual posture in stark contrast to the tension crackling in the air.

"You look like you're plotting something," he mused.

Claire lifted her chin, her voice calm. "I don't need to plot. I'll take my chance when it comes."

Sebastian smirked, leaning back. "I admire your confidence. Really, I do. But this time, you're out of options."

She didn't respond. Her mind worked furiously.

The vehicle slowed. Claire shifted slightly, peering out of the tinted window. A private airstrip. A jet sat on the tarmac, its engines humming softly.

Sebastian followed her gaze. "Damian's waiting."

Her stomach tightened. This was bad. If they got her onto that plane, she was as good as gone.

The SUV rolled to a stop. The moment the locks clicked open, two heavily armed men flanked the door.

"Let's go," Sebastian said, stepping out.

Claire hesitated only a fraction of a second before following. The cool night air brushed against her skin as she took in her surroundings. Two guards. One pilot. One enemy at her side.

And no sign of Alexander or Jaxon.

She was alone.

Sebastian placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her toward the plane. "Don't try anything stupid."

Claire faked a soft chuckle. "Since when have I ever been stupid?"

Sebastian arched an eyebrow. "You did fall for Alexander."

Her jaw tightened, but she forced herself to stay calm. "And yet, you're the one dragging me onto a plane. Who's really the fool here?"

Sebastian didn't reply.

As they reached the base of the jet's stairs, the guards stepped forward. One of them held a sleek black tablet, scanning her face before nodding to Sebastian.

"All set," the guard confirmed.

Sebastian gave her a knowing look. "Time to go."

Claire's mind raced. She had one shot.

She exhaled softly. Then—she moved.

A sharp twist of her wrist, a sidestep, and she drove her elbow into the guard's throat. He gagged, stumbling back.

Sebastian cursed. "Damn it—"

Claire lunged, using her momentum to slam her knee into his stomach. He doubled over, but before she could follow through, the second guard grabbed her from behind, yanking her arms back.

Pain lanced through her shoulders.

Sebastian recovered quickly, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "You never learn, do you?"

Claire glared at him. "I learn just fine. You're the one who underestimates me."

Sebastian sighed, then pulled something from his coat pocket—a syringe.

Claire stiffened. No.

Before she could react, he stepped forward and pressed the needle into her arm. A sharp sting. Cold liquid surged through her veins.

Her vision blurred. Her knees buckled.

Sebastian caught her before she fell. "Sleep tight, love."

The last thing she heard was the hum of the jet's engines.

And then, darkness.

Caged in the Sky

The first thing Claire felt was the cold.

A slow, creeping chill settled into her bones, numbing her fingers and toes. Her mind was sluggish, her thoughts like tangled threads refusing to unravel.

Then—a sharp jolt of turbulence.

Her eyes snapped open.

She was strapped into a leather seat, the soft hum of engines filling the dimly lit cabin. A small window beside her revealed nothing but endless darkness, broken only by the faint glow of city lights thousands of feet below.

She was on the plane.

Claire took a slow, deep breath, forcing herself to push past the lingering haze of the sedative. Think. Assess. Plan.

Her wrists—bound together with a sleek pair of reinforced cuffs. Not the standard zip ties. They had learned from their mistakes.

Her ankles—secured with a belt-like restraint.

And across from her, lounging comfortably in a wide seat, was Sebastian.

He was flipping through a file, utterly at ease, as if they weren't flying toward what could be her worst nightmare.

At the sound of her movement, he glanced up. A smirk curved his lips. "Ah, you're awake. I was beginning to worry I'd given you too much."

Claire didn't respond. She tested her restraints subtly, noting their strength. Too tight to slip through. Too strong to break.

Sebastian chuckled. "Don't bother. Those cuffs are military-grade. Even you aren't getting out of them."

Claire met his gaze evenly. "Where are you taking me?"

Sebastian tilted his head. "Now, that would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it?"

Her fingers curled into fists. "What does Damian want with me?"

Sebastian's smirk faded slightly. He set the file down and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You know, Claire, I've always liked you. You're sharp, determined. You never know when to quit."

"Flattery won't save you when I get free," she shot back.

His eyes gleamed with amusement. "See? That's exactly what I mean."

Claire kept her expression unreadable, but inside, her mind raced. If Sebastian was this calm, it meant he believed he had the upper hand.

That meant she had to find the cracks.

She glanced around the cabin, scanning for potential weapons. The jet was luxurious—leather seating, polished wooden accents, a minibar stocked with expensive liquor.

Nothing useful.

Then her gaze flicked to the cockpit door. A single pilot.

If she could get free, she could take control of the plane.

Sebastian followed her gaze and sighed dramatically. "You're already planning something, aren't you?"

Claire forced a small smirk. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

He leaned back again. "I would, actually. But let's save that for later. For now, get comfortable. It's a long flight."

She exhaled quietly, allowing her body to relax against the seat. Fine. Let him think she was defeated.

Because the second she got her chance, she was going to burn his plans to the ground.

High Stakes

The jet cruised smoothly at 30,000 feet, the hum of the engines steady and unyielding. Claire kept her breathing measured, her gaze fixed on the reflection in the window.

Sebastian had gone back to his file, but she could feel his watchful presence. He was relaxed—but not careless.

I need to create an opening.

She tested her restraints again. Military-grade cuffs, reinforced. Breaking them with brute force was impossible, but maybe—just maybe—there was another way.

She shifted her weight subtly, letting her fingers trail down the side of the chair, searching for anything—a screw, a weak point, a sharp edge.

Nothing.

Damn it.

Sebastian let out a low chuckle. "Still scheming?"

Claire didn't look at him. "Just wondering how someone as arrogant as you hasn't been taken down yet."

He smirked. "Arrogance is only a weakness when it's unwarranted."

"Tell that to every dead man who thought they were untouchable."

Sebastian's smirk widened. "Touché."

The plane dipped slightly, and Claire's stomach clenched—not from fear, but from the shift in altitude. This is my moment.

She let her head loll slightly to the side, her breathing slowing. Then, she slumped forward, her body going limp.

Sebastian frowned. "Oh no, don't tell me you're—"

Her breathing turned shallow.

She counted the seconds. One… two… three…

The seatbelt clicked.

She felt him move closer.

Perfect.

In one explosive motion, Claire surged forward, slamming her bound hands into Sebastian's face. His head snapped back with a sharp curse, and she used the momentary distraction to kick at his legs, sending him sprawling.

She wasted no time. Move. Now.

She scrambled toward the cockpit door, twisting her hands as she ran. If she could just—

An arm wrapped around her waist, jerking her back.

Sebastian was fast. Too fast.

"Nice try," he muttered, pinning her against the cabin wall.

Claire struggled, but his grip was ironclad.

"Damn it, Claire," he said, his voice somewhere between frustration and amusement. "Can't you just behave for once?"

Her knee shot up—hard.

Sebastian let out a strangled grunt and loosened his grip just enough for her to twist free.

She spun, raising her bound hands to strike—

A gun clicked.

She froze.

Sebastian was breathing heavily, but his gun was steady, aimed directly at her chest.

"Enough." His voice was calm, but there was steel underneath. "Sit. Down."

Claire held his gaze, every muscle in her body screaming to move. To fight.

But she wasn't stupid.

Not yet.

Slowly, she lowered herself back into the seat, her pulse hammering.

Sebastian exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "You never make things easy, do you?"

Claire smiled coldly. "Where would the fun be in that?"

His lips quirked, but the gun didn't waver.

Fine. She'd lost this round.

But the game wasn't over.

Not even close.

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(To be Continue...)