Begging for a Second Chance (Sienna Sloan and Jarred Sterling) novel Chapter 180

Sienna let out a sharp, hollow laugh.

The sound was infinitely more chilling than a hysterical scream.

"You swear? What exactly is your word worth? You swore Celeste would never interfere with your judgment, and look how that turned out. You swore you'd stop lying to me. Have you?"

Her voice shook with uncontrollable rage. "Jarred, do you even know how many times you've played me?

The only reason I've put up with this nightmare is for Grandpa. I didn't want to break his heart the second he woke up.

But now, because of your mess, Owen is going to die! Jarred, if he doesn't make it out of this, I will curse you until my dying breath! I am so completely done with you!"

Spinning on her heel, she lunged for the door.

Jarred's eyes widened in panic. He reached out to grab her, but she violently wrenched her arm free. "Don't touch me!"

The explosive screaming echoed down the corridor, shattering the silence of the massive manor.

Grandpa was the first to arrive.

Flanked by Dr. Clayton, he emerged from the elevator in his wheelchair.

He was still physically frail, but the commanding, hawkish gleam in his eyes had returned in full force.

Right behind him came Eleanor, followed closely by Helena and Celeste.

"What is this psychotic screaming? Are you trying to wake the dead?" Helena snapped instantly, her tone turning purely venomous the second she saw it was Sienna.

Grandpa silenced Helena with a lethal glare before turning sharply to Jarred. "What happened?"

Jarred knew better than to lie. "It's my fault. A syndicate I dismantled took Owen in retaliation."

Swallowing his crushing guilt and mounting panic, he laid out the brutal truth of the situation to the family.

Spotting Grandpa, Sienna looked as though she had found her only lifeline.

She pushed past Jarred, practically sprinting toward the old man, her trembling hands locking onto his sleeve.

"Grandpa, you're the only one who can help me. Owen just got out of brain surgery. The doctors said he needs at least two months of intensive care.

Tears streamed down Sienna's face as she looked at the old man. Her lips trembled as she forced the words out. "Grandpa, please... help me find Owen. He's all I have left."

"I will. I'll deploy our people right now," Grandpa vowed, shooting Jarred a hard, commanding look.

Jarred nodded tightly, stepping away to start making the calls.

Watching Sienna break down, Celeste suddenly spoke up, her voice slicing through the heavy air.

"International cartels aren't like local thugs. When I was studying abroad, my roommate got caught up in something like this.

From what I've heard, those syndicates have zero humanity. Owen has been with them for hours... he's probably already..."

Dead silence swallowed the hallway.

Staring at the utterly fake 'pity' plastered across Celeste's face, Sienna's shoulders violently jerked. Her vision went black, and she swayed dangerously to the side, only staying upright because Dr. Clayton quickly grabbed her arm.

Celeste let out a dramatic, theatrical sigh. "But let's stay positive. There's a good chance he's still breathing. It's just that the black market has its own brutal rules. Torture and brutal interrogations are completely normal for them. As long as he's not dead, we shouldn't lose hope."