The Contracted Stripper

Ryan’s face was stone cold as he held the sharp instrument just inches away from the bald man’s ear. The man’s screams echoed through the dimly lit warehouse, but Ryan showed no emotion, no hesitation.

His hand was steady, his eyes dark and calculating. The scent of blood filled the air as the bald man’s desperation grew.

Luca watched silently, his arms crossed over his chest, ready to step in if Ryan needed him. He knew exactly what Ryan was doing-pushing the man to his breaking point.

Torture was a last resort, but when dealing with someone who wouldn’t speak, it became necessary.

As Ryan’s grip tightened on the bald man’s ear, the man finally broke.”I’ll talk! I’ll talk!” the man screamed, his voice hoarse from the pain.

“The pregnant lady’s name is Iris!”Ryan’s hand froze mid-air, his heart skipping a beat. The name Iris sent a chill down his spine. He had suspected it, but hearing it confirmed shook him to his core.”Iris?”

Ryan repeated, his voice low and dangerous. The bald man nodded frantically, his eyes wide with fear. “Yes! Iris Kendrick!”

Luca exchanged a look with Ryan, both of them frozen in shock. They knew Iris had been missing for months, but they had no idea she had been in captivity all this time.

“You were ordered to kidnap her?” Ryan asked, his voice now cold and composed, though his mind was racing.”Yes,” the man panted, his face pale and drenched in sweat. “Madam Bella… she gave the order. She’s been keeping Iris hidden for months.

We were supposed to take her somewhere far away, but she went into labor yesterday morning. I left to handle something else, and that’s when I tried to-“Ryan cut him off, his grip tightening on the man’s ear. “Where is she now?”

“I-I don’t know exactly! I swear!” the man cried, his voice trembling. “The nurse was there when I left. Bella was informed.

She’s probably already at the location by now.”Ryan’s blood boiled. Bella had orchestrated the entire thing, keeping Iris in captivity all this time.

And now, Iris was in labor, vulnerable, and completely unaware of the danger she and her newborn faced. Ryan took a step back, letting go of the bald man’s ear. “Where’s the location? Tell me, now.”

The man winced in pain, clutching his bloodied hand. “A warehouse on the outskirts… same place we’ve been keeping her… near the docks. It’s well hidden and hard to find unless you know where to look.

“Ryan stepped away, his mind already calculating the next steps. He couldn’t waste any more time. Iris’s life-and the life of her newborn-were in immediate danger.”We have to move,” Ryan said to Luca, his voice urgent.

“We need to get to her before it’s too late.”Luca nodded, his face tense. “I’ll get the car ready.”Before they left, Ryan looked back at the bald man, who was still whimpering in pain, his body trembling.

“If you’re lying, we’ll find you again,” Ryan warned, his voice like ice. “And trust me, next time, I won’t stop with just a few fingers.”The bald man didn’t respond, too consumed by his agony. Luca gave him one final glare before following Ryan out of the warehouse.

As Ryan and Luca sped toward the docks, the tension in the car was palpable. The rain pelted the windshield, making the drive even more treacherous, but Ryan didn’t slow down.

His thoughts were consumed by Iris-how could he not have known she was in danger for so long? Luca glanced over at Ryan, sensing his frustration.

“We’re going to find her,” he said, trying to reassure him. “We’ll get her and the baby out of there.”Ryan’s jaw clenched. “We have to. I should have figured this out sooner. If anything happens to Iris or the baby-”

“It won’t,” Luca interrupted firmly. “We’re getting there in time. We’ll handle Bella.”Ryan’s mind raced through the possibilities.

What was Bella’s endgame? Why go to such lengths to kidnap Iris and keep her hidden during her pregnancy? And who was this buyer the bald man had mentioned? His grip tightened on the steering wheel.

Minutes later, they arrived at the docks. The rain continued to pour as they parked a safe distance away, the outline of a large, run-down warehouse barely visible through the downpour.

Ryan’s eyes scanned the area, searching for any signs of security or other threats.”Looks quiet,” Luca muttered, but both men knew that didn’t mean much.

They stepped out of the car, keeping low and moving quickly toward the warehouse. The building loomed ahead of them, its windows dark and foreboding.

Ryan’s heart raced with every step, knowing that time was running out. As they approached the entrance, Ryan pulled out his gun, motioning for Luca to follow close behind.

He carefully pushed the door open, and the two men slipped inside. The inside of the warehouse was eerily quiet, save for the sound of rain tapping against the roof. Stacks of old shipping containers filled the space, providing plenty of places to hide.

Ryan’s eyes narrowed as he motioned for Luca to split up and search the perimeter. He crept forward, his steps silent on the concrete floor. The only sound was his heartbeat pounding in his ears as he scanned the shadows.

Then, faintly, he heard it-the muffled sound of a baby crying. Ryan’s stomach dropped as he followed the sound, his gun raised. The crying grew louder as he moved deeper into the warehouse, his heart thudding in his chest.

Finally, he reached a small room in the back, the door slightly ajar. He pushed it open, and there, lying on a dirty mattress, was Iris.

She looked frail and exhausted, her face pale as she clutched her newborn to her chest. Her eyes fluttered open as Ryan entered the room, but she was too weak to react.

“Ryan…” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Ryan’s heart clenched at the sight of her. “Iris,” he breathed, rushing to her side.

“I’m here. I’m going to get you out of here.”Iris’s eyes were filled with tears as she looked down at the baby in her arms. “The baby… they were going to take her.”

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Ryan said firmly, gently helping her to her feet. He glanced down at the tiny newborn, his protective instincts kicking in.

They had to move fast. Just as they were about to leave the room, the door slammed shut behind them. Ryan spun around, his gun raised, and there stood Bella, her face twisted in anger.”You think you can just take her?” Bella hissed, her voice filled with venom.

“You have no idea what’s at stake here, Ryan.”Ryan’s eyes narrowed as he kept his gun trained on her.

“What’s at stake? You’re willing to kidnap and sell a child for what? Money? Power?”Bella sneered, her lips curling in a cruel smile. “This is bigger than you could ever imagine.

That baby is worth more than you’ll ever know.”

“You’re insane,” Ryan spat, his voice laced with disgust. Bella’s eyes flashed with anger as she took a step closer. “You don’t understand, Ryan. That child is part of something much bigger. And I won’t let you ruin everything.”

Ryan tightened his grip on the gun, his mind racing. He couldn’t let Bella take Iris or the baby, but he also couldn’t predict what Bella might do next.

“You’ve lost, Bella,” Ryan said coldly. “It’s over.”But Bella’s smile only widened as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small device. “Oh, it’s far from over,” she whispered, her thumb hovering over a button.

Ryan’s heart raced as he realized what she was holding-some kind of detonator. The warehouse was wired to explode. At that moment, everything seemed to slow down. He knew he had seconds to act, but one wrong move could end everything.

His eyes flickered to Iris, who was holding the baby tightly, her face pale with fear.

And then, without warning, Bella pressed the button.

The ground beneath them trembled as a deafening explosion rocked the warehouse, sending debris flying through the air.

The force of the blast knocked Ryan and Iris to the ground, shielding the baby as best they could. Smoke filled the air, making it hard to see or breathe.

Ryan’s ears rang from the explosion, but his mind was focused on one thing-getting Iris and the baby out alive. As he struggled to his feet, coughing through the smoke, he could barely make out Bella’s figure disappearing into the chaos.

She had planned her escape, and now they were running out of time. With the walls collapsing around them, Ryan knew they had only one shot to make it out alive.