<b>Without </b>warning, they <b>were </b>forced into <b>a </b>close embrace, leaving both Owen and Aria momentarily <b>stunned</b>,
<b>Owen’s </b>warm breath brushed past Aria’s ear, and she realized she could actually hear a heartbeat that wasn’thers- it was pounding from ev
Aria pressed her lips together, then pushed him away. “My hair’s caught, stop moving.”
<b>“</b><b>Okay</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>Owen forced down the wild pounding in his chest, trying to steady himself. Something was definitely off with him <b>tonight</b>.
Her hair had gotten tangled around the button of his coat.
Aria spent a good ten seconds trying to untangle it before she lost patience, grabbing her hair and getting ready to yank it free.
But just as she moved, her fist was caught in his hand. Warmth spread from his palm to hers.
“Let me,” Owen said gently.
A flicker of something strange crossed Aria’s mind, but she let go. “Fine.”
Owen quickly freed her hair. Aria stepped out of the car, instantly sensing <b>a </b>threatening presence in the air.
Owen followed, leaning close to her ear. “They’reing.”
They strolled to the trunk and pretended to rummage for something. The next moment<b>, </b>the cold barrel of <b>a </b>gun pressed against them.
“Hands up. Don’t move,” a man barked.
They’d never met Hudson before, but both recognized him instantly. A shlight beam shed across their faces<b>, </b>making them squint.
“It’s them, Hudson,” Isaias said.
Hudson nodded. “Search them.”
Owen switched to Erennian. “How much do you want?”
Hudson’s lips curled into a cold sneer. “You two are worth ten billion dors, you know.” His gazended on Aria. “Search her–especially her.<b>” </b>
Owen stepped in front of Aria. “Search me if you must, but not her.”
Hudson shoved the muzzle of his gun against Owen’s temple. He spat, “Move, or I’ll blow your head off.”
Owen didn’t budge.
Aria bent down, pulled out the two knives she’d hidden, and tossed them to the ground. “Try anything and I guarantee you’ll walk away <b>with </b>nothing. You’ve tracked me all the way here, risking everything to sneak into Huthailia. Are you really ready to walk away empty–handed?”
One of the men picked up the knives and looked to Hudson for guidance.
Hudson lowered his weapon, his smile dark. “Guess I underestimated you two. Didn’t expect <b>to </b>see such true love. Take them.”
As they were marched along, Aria suddenly felt Owen’s hand grip hers, heat surging through her palm<b>. </b>
She tried to pull away, but he held on, his gaze steady and unreadable. He was still ying the role.
But they were supposed to be “lovers,” not a real couple–was this really necessary?
She didn’t fight it any further.
Chapter <b>206 </b>
They were led at the front, deliberately avoiding the <b>traps </b>sel along the way <b>Twenty </b>minutester they amber at the s
<b>Hand </b>over your <b>phones</b>.
<b>Owen </b>and Aria surrendered their phones. The man in the yellow bandana immediately started working on them “Hudson, give me hall a <b>transfer </b>their assets.”
Meanwhile<b>, </b>at the police station<b>, </b>Allen stood with a radio in hand, eyes glued to the screens as three tech specialists sat at attention
“<b>It’s </b>started<b>,</b><b>” </b>someone muttered as the tter of keyboards filled the room.
Fryderyk’s voice crackled over the radio. “Strike team in position. Weapons checked.”
“Snipers ready.”
<b>In </b><b>a </b>clearing, <b>a </b>young man loungedzily atop a stone b. “We’re ready <i>too</i>.”
Allen let out a small breath of relief, then turned to the tech team. “Catching them is only part of the mission. The real key is identifying who’s receiving the money.”