Ryan and Skr sat in the restaurant, strategizing their next move. Ryan was frantic with worry, and Skr tried to remain calm to support him.


    “We need to figure out where they took Iris and Mrs. Jessica,” Skr said, tapping her fingers on the table.”I know. I’ve got my father’s men looking into it, but we need to find more leads,” Ryan said, frustration evident in his voice.


    Skr’s phone buzzed, and she quickly checked it. “I’ve got a contact who might know something. He’s got connections with some undergroundworks. I’ll set up a meeting.”


    “Do it. We need every lead we can get,” Ryan said, his mind racing Later that evening, Ryan and Skr met Skr’s contact, a man named Marcus, in a dimly lit bar.


    “I hear you’re looking for someone,” Marcus said, his voice low and gruff.”Two people, actually. A woman and her daughter. They were abducted,” Skr exined, showing him photos of Iris and Mrs. Jessica.


    Marcus studied the photos and nodded. “I might know something, but it won’te cheap.”


    “Name your price,” Ryan said urgently.”Ten grand,” Marcus replied without hesitation. Ryan didn’t flinch. “Done. Just tell us what you know.”Marcus pocketed the money Ryan handed him and leaned in. “There’s a ce on the outskirts of town. An old factory that’s been abandoned for years. The word is, it’s been used for some shady business recently. Might be worth checking out.”


    “Thank you,” Ryan said, standing up. “We’ll check it out.”


    “Be careful,” Marcus warned. “It’s not a safe ce.”


    Ryan and Skr drove to the old factory, their hearts pounding with anticipation and fear. They parked a distance away and approached cautiously, their shlights cutting through the darkness.”This ce is creepy,” Skr whispered.


    “Stay close,” Ryan replied, leading the way. They reached the factory and found an entrance that had been forced open. They slipped inside, moving quietly through the shadows. The ce was eerily silent, the only sound being their footsteps echoing off the walls


    . Ryan spotted a door that seemed out of ce, its lock recently broken. “Over here,” he whispered to Skr. They carefully opened the door and stepped into a small room.


    There, tied to a chair and barely conscious, was an old woman.” Hello he said, rushing to her side.


    Ryan quickly untied her, checking for injuries. ” can you hear me, ma’am? My name is Ryan. We’re here to take you home.


    “The woman’s eyes fluttered open, relief washing over her face. Thank God.”


    “We need to get you out of here,” Ryan said, lifting her gently. “Can you walk?” The woman nodded weakly. “Yes, I think so.”


    As they made their way out of the factory, They looked around to see if there was someone else but the ce was empty.


    Ryan rushed to the office, his phone call with Luca reying in his mind. “Ryan, it’s urgent. Investors are here to discuss potential partnerships. You need to get here immediately,” Luca had said, his voice tense.


    He had asked Skr to take the woman they found to the police station so she could be united with her family, he wished it was Mrs Jessica.


    Ryan’s thoughts were a whirlwind as he sped through the city. He couldn’t shake the image of Iris’s frightened face at the docks, the unknown threats looming over her and Mrs. Jessica.


    Arriving at the office, he took a deep breath, trying topose himself. As he entered the waiting room, he saw three men sitting with an air of impatience.


    They stood up as he approached.”Good morning, gentlemen,” Ryan greeted them, extending his hand.


    They exchanged pleasantries before moving into the conference room.


    Ryan’s mind was partially present as the meeting began. The men introduced themselves and began discussing their proposal.


    He nodded along, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Iris.”Mr. Kendrick, do you understand?” A voice jolted him back to reality.”Yes, yes, I understand. I’m sorry, please go on,” Ryan said, trying to focus


    . One of the investors, a tall man with sharp features, continued, “Well, Mr. Kendrick, we see thispany as a prime opportunity for partnership. We believe this venture will be profitable for both parties. We look forward to your review of our proposal.”Luca, sensing Ryan’s distraction, quickly interjected, “Thank you for your proposal. We’ll review it and get back to you shortly.


    “Ryan stood up, forcing a smile, and saw the investors out. “Mr. Kendrick, I hope everything is okay with you?” one of the investors, dressed in ck with a ck hat, asked.”Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you,” Ryan replied with a light smile.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    After the investors had left, Luca turned to Ryan. “Buddy, I’ve known you for years, and I’ve never seen you in such a mood. You were absent-minded throughout the meeting. What’s going on?”Ryan sighed as they stepped into the elevator.


    “A lot is happening, Lu. A whole lot,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “Iris is missing, after her mother went missing. And Be is at my house, pregnant with my child.”Luca’s eyes widened in shock. “What?!!!”


    “It’s a mess, Lu. I don’t know where to start,” Ryan said, his voice breaking.”Start from the beginning. What happened to Iris and Mrs. Jessica?” Luca asked, his concern evident.


    Ryan took a deep breath and began to exin. “Iris and I were getting close, despite everything.


    But after an argument with Be, Iris ran out, and then she disappeared. I got a text from her phone saying she needed help, but I couldn’t find her.


    Later, I found out that Mrs. Jessica was abducted from the hospital.”Luca listened intently.


    You had all this going on, and you didn’t say anything or tell me about it? Come on, dude,” Luca said, his voice filled with concern


    .”I wasn’t thinking straight, man,” Ryan replied, looking exhausted.”Well, you should have informed me. Still no word from Iris or her mom?” Luca asked, leaning against the desk.”Nothing.


    “Have you involved the police?”


    “Yes, but they’re not making much progress. I have some private investigators on it, too. And then there’s Be, who’s pregnant and staying at my ce,” Ryan added, frustration creeping into his voice. Luca shook his head.


    “Man, you’ve got a lot on your te. But you can’t let it affect your work like this. These investors are crucial for thepany’s future.”


    “I know, I know,” Ryan said, leaning against the elevator wall. “I just can’t stop thinking about Iris. I have to find her, Lu.”


    “We will,” Luca said firmly. “But you need to keep it together here, too. Thepany needs you.”


    I’m very worried. I don’t know how Iris is. Her mom is still recovering from her operation. I feel terrible. I caused all this. If I didn’t marry her, all this wouldn’t have happened.


    I got married to her and couldn’t protect her,” Ryanmented bitterly.


    “It’s not your fault, man. Don’t be too hard on yourself. We will find a way out of this. We will get Iris back,” Luca assured him.”How? I don’t even know where to begin. The abductors left no trace or clue,” Ryan said, frustration evident in his voice.


    “There must be something we could find somehow… Be strong, man, for Iris,” Luca said, giving him a tap on the shoulder.”I’m still surprised how Be managed to navigate her way into your life.


    Pregnancyes with a huge responsibility, but with all this happening at the same time, I can’t say I understand what you’re going through, but it’s a lot,” Luca said, observing Ryan’s pale and disorganized appearance.


    “So what’s the n now?” Luca asked.”I don’t know yet. I can’t even go home. Be keeps nagging, and my mom wants me to get married to her. Dad has found out about my contract marriage with Iris,” Ryan said.


    “How?” Luca asked in shock.”I don’t know. He just said that I couldn’t deceive him and he had his eyes everywhere.”


    “Oh boy,” Luca said, shaking his head.”I need to get going. I have to stop at the police station to know if there are any updates,” Ryan said.”I’ming with you,” Luca offered.”Alright, man,” Ryan said as he nodded.


    As they both stepped out of the elevator, Ryan’s phone buzzed. He nced at the screen and saw an unknown number. He hesitated before answering.”Hello?”


    “Mr. Kendrick, we have your wife,” the voice on the other end said, sending a chill down Ryan’s spine. “If you want to see her alive,e to the old warehouse on the east side. Alone.”The call ended abruptly, leaving Ryan with a sinking feeling.


    He turned to Luca, his face pale. “They have Iris. They want me toe alone.”Luca’s expression turned serious. “We need to think this through. It could be a trap.”


    “I don’t care. I have to go,” Ryan said, determination in his eyes.”Fine, but I’ming with you. We’ll figure out a n,” Luca insisted.


    Ryan and Luca drove to the old warehouse, tension thick in the air. They parked a distance away and approached cautiously, their eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger.


    Ryan’s heart pounded as they neared the entrance. He pushed the door open and stepped inside, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. The sound of footsteps echoed through the space.


    “Iris?” Ryan called out, his voice echoing.”Over here,” a voice replied, a shadowy figure standing behind her.”Let her go,” Ryan demanded, stepping forward.


    “Not so fast,” the figure said, revealing a gun. “We need to discuss terms first.”Ryan’s mind raced as he tried to think of a way to save Iris without getting them both killed. “What do you want?”


    “Money, of course,” the figure said with a sneer. “But more than that, I want to see you suffer. You and your family.