Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 512

Chapter 512

Olivia’s POV

My fingers tapped nervously against the back seat as we followed the police convoy through the dark streets. Christian was driving, tense and focused, his knuckles white from how tightly he was gripping the steering wheel. Luke sat beside me, his hand laced with mine, squeezing hard.

None of us spoke. What was there to say? Madeline was out there somewhere with a kidnapper. And all we had was a blinking dot on a phone app.

“Three minutes,” Christian said, breaking the silence. His voice was controlled, but I could hear the strain underneath: “We’re three minutes from the location.”

I looked out the window as the houses passed by. The city had given way to a more remote area. Darker streets. Less traffic. The kind of place where you could scream and no one would hear you.

My stomach twisted.

“She’s going to be okay,” Luke said beside me, as if he could read my thoughts. “Madeline is strong. She’ll be okay. Aurora too.”

I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to believe him.

But Madeline was my cousin. No-she was my sister in every way that mattered except blood. We’d grown up together. Shared secrets and dreams. And now she was out there, possibly in danger, while I sat here helplessly, following flashing red and blue lights through the darkness.

“One minute,” Christian announced.

The convoy began to slow. The patrol lights shut off. The sirens went silent. Everything went quiet.

We, stopped about a block away from the GPS point. Christian killed the engine and we all got out silently. The police were already organizing, moving with military efficiency, whispering orders, checking

weapons.

A commander approached Christian. They spoke in low voices for a few seconds. I saw Christian nod, then the commander signaled and the team started moving.

“We stay back,” Christian said, turning to Luke and me. “They’re securing the perimeter first. Checking for threats. Once they give the all-clear, we move in.”

“But Madeline-” I started.

“She’ll be safer if we let the professionals do their job,” Christian cut in, firm but not unkind. “I know you want to run in there. I do too. But we need to do this right.”

I bit my lip, hating every second of standing still, but knowing he was right.

We watched in silence as the officers spread out, surrounding the house. It was an old place, sitting on a

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large lot, low walls, overgrown gardens. Lights on inside. A car parked out front.

Someone was inside.

Someone was with Madeline.

The minutes dragged by like hours. Every second felt endless. I held Luke’s hand so tightly I was probably hurting him, but he didn’t complain. He just squeezed back, just as hard.

Finally, the commander gave the signal. Clear to approach.

Christian moved immediately, and we followed. Our footsteps were quiet on the pavement, the only sound our heavy breathing cutting through the night.

The front door was ajar. Officers had already gone in, their flashlights slicing through the darkness inside. We entered behind them, my eyes adjusting to the dim light.

The house was simple. Old furniture. A musty smell. Clothes scattered across the living room floor.

“Do you recognize these clothes?” one of the officers asked quietly.

I recognized the blouse instantly. The jeans. My heart slammed against my ribs.

“They’re Madeline’s,” I whispered back.

The officer was already kneeling beside them, picking up the jeans and checking the pockets. His fingers found something, and he pulled it out.

The tracker was useless now.

“Shit,” I muttered, the word slipping out before I could stop myself.

They’d found it. The tracker. Which meant they’d moved Madeline. That they were already gone. That we were too late. That she could be anywhere now and-

Then I heard it.

A scream. Loud. Desperate. Unmistakable.

“No!”

Madeline.

It was Madeline’s voice.

It came from the back of the house. From the garden. And then-

Bang!

The gunshot exploded through the house, so loud it made me jump.

And right after, cutting through the silence that followed, a soft cry that was almost too faint to hear.

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A baby.

Aurora.

My body moved before my brain could catch up. I took a step toward the sound, ready to run, ready to do whatever it took to get to Madeline and Aurora.

But Luke grabbed me. His arms locked around my waist, pulling me back.

“No,” he said firmly in my ear. “Let the police go first.”

“But it’s Madeline!” I yelled, fighting against him. “She needs me!”

“And you

won’t help her if you get shot too,” Luke said, tightening his hold.

I could already hear the police shouting orders. Moving fast through the hallways. Guns being cocked. Preparing to go in.

“Police! Drop the weapon! Hands where we can see them!”

The shouts echoed through the house.

Then silence.

A few seconds of absolute silence that felt like an entire lifetime.

I couldn’t hold myself back anymore. I stepped forward. Then another. Moving toward the open door leading to the backyard. Luke tried to stop me again, but this time I pulled free and ran.

Christian was beside me now, just as unable to wait.

One more step. Then another.

I was ready to see almost anything. I’d been bracing myself the entire drive here. Madeline hurt. Madeline terrified. Madeline being held at gunpoint.

Given everything-everything that had happened, the scream, the gunshot, the baby crying-what else could I expect but the worst?

But I wasn’t prepared for what my eyes found when I finally stepped into that garden.

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