Chapter 23 Kidnapped

• The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. Liora stepped inside, her shoulders still shaking. She had wiped her tears with her sleeve, but her red, swollen eyes showed she had been crying for a long time. Her uniform was wrinkled, and she held her cleaning gloves in one hand, twisting them nervously.
• She whispered Kael’s name under her breath—softly, as if reminding herself of that no one cared for her. The doors closed, trapping her in silence. But before she could take a breath, a rough hand covered her mouth. A sharp, bitter smell filled her nose as a cloth pressed hard against her face. She tried to scream Kael’s but the sound was smothered. Her gloves slipped from her hand as she kicked and fought, tears running down her cheeks. Her nails dug into her attacker’s arm, but her strength faded quickly.
• Kael was already stepping into his car at the far end of the lot, fishing through his keys with the kind of careless calm that comes from habit.