The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 396

The man in charge, dressed head to toe in black, spoke in a cold, clipped voice. “It’s just a meal. Give it to him! And if you complain one more time, you’ll regret it.”

He was clearly irritated—nothing got on his nerves more than a chatty kid.

Ethan, sensing he’d pushed his luck, immediately nodded in compliance. “Okay! As long as there’s food and water, I’ll be quiet!”

The thought of a proper meal made Ethan lick his lips in anticipation.

A few of the kidnappers exchanged looks—equal parts exasperated and amused.

The van kept speeding down the highway, the scenery blurring past.

Unlike Ethan, who seemed almost carefree, Aiden and Evan were tense and worried. They had no idea where they were being taken or who these men really were.

Aiden, especially, was the most timid of the bunch. He’d always been the frailest too, and by now, hunger was making his head spin. Still, he clenched his jaw and didn’t utter a word.

Noticing their unease, Noah shot Aiden and Evan a reassuring glance, silently telling them to hang in there.

Catching Noah’s signal, Aiden and Evan managed to relax a little.

After what felt like an eternity, the van finally jerked to a stop. The four kids were hustled out and marched into an abandoned factory.

A sharp, acrid smell hung in the air, making them all uncomfortable.

The kidnappers shoved them into a shadowy corner.

Aiden, voice barely above a whisper, glanced around nervously. “Where are we?”

Noah, ever the calm one, started analyzing. “This place is deserted. There’s no one around for miles, so we’re definitely not in the city. And remember all those bumpy turns? We took mountain roads for about twenty minutes. I’m guessing we’re near Rivertown, on the west side of the city.”

Ethan gaped. “Whoa, Noah, you’re a genius!”

Noah offered a small, confident smile.

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