After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 455

Isabella had never learned any kind of martial arts. According to Jordan, though, she had more than enough experience in real fights. With an iron pipe gripped tightly in her hand, she figured she could hold out for a while. If she and Ethan could just keep these guys occupied until the police showed up, they’d be safe.

The second she climbed out of the car, Isabella started swinging the pipe. She didn’t have any technique, just wild, reckless determination. For a moment, her frantic swings actually kept the men in black from getting too close.

Ethan didn’t have a weapon at first, but he wasn’t helpless. He copied Isabella, kicking open his door to shove back the men waiting near the window. Once he was out, he could finally use the fighting skills he’d learned. After taking a couple of hard hits, Ethan managed to snatch a pipe from one of the attackers. Now that he had a weapon and knew what he was doing, he fought with a sharp, focused precision that Isabella just didn’t have.

The men in black clearly had some training, and there were a lot of them. They spread out, circling the couple and attacking from all sides. Even though they couldn’t get the upper hand, they kept Isabella and Ethan trapped, making escape impossible.

Before long, a few of the attackers were sprawled out on the ground. Some had been knocked down by Isabella, others by Ethan. Isabella fought like a lioness, wild and relentless, but she was actually way more clear-headed than she looked. Most of her blows found their mark, landing hard on the kidnappers.

She took a few hits herself. The men kept trying to knock the pipe from her hand, knowing that without it, she wouldn’t stand a chance. Her wrist was smashed a few times, sending sharp pain shooting up her arm. She gritted her teeth and refused to let go, switching the pipe from one hand to the other whenever the pain got too much. When the pipe finally did get knocked away, she managed to kick it back up and catch it like she’d done this a hundred times before.

Ethan saw Isabella was starting to lose ground. After shoving away a couple of attackers, he rushed to her side. Now they were both surrounded, backs pressed together, facing the circle of men closing in on them.

“Mr. Adams, I think it’s time for you to give up,” the leader said, his voice as cold as ice. “You’ll save yourself a lot of pain that way. We’re just short on cash and figured you could help us out.”

Rich people always hired bodyguards for a reason. Getting kidnapped meant you might survive, but you’d never walk away unharmed. Some kidnappers let you go after the ransom. Others were so ruthless, they’d kill you anyway. The men facing them now were the worst kind—violent, desperate, and completely without mercy.

“Isabella, don’t be scared. I’ll protect you,” Ethan whispered, his voice low and steady. He felt her trembling and thought she was just afraid. “Just hang on a little longer. The police will be here soon.”

They stood back-to-back, surrounded. Ethan had no idea she was shaking from memories, not just fear. He would never let anyone lay a hand on her. He hadn’t even had the chance to really be with his wife yet. The thought of these men touching her filled him with a rage he could barely contain.