Page 27 of Stripe for the Picking (Paranormal Dating Agency #92)

TWENTY-THREE

WREN

W ren strode briskly into the command center beside Rylan the following morning, her stomach a tangled knot of excitement and dread.

The air was electric with tension, the faint hum of the arena's systems vibrating through the polished floors.

The final day of the Protocol Trials was finally here, and the stakes had never been higher.

She glanced at Rylan, his jaw set with that familiar determined edge and his broad shoulders radiating quiet confidence.

He was in full alpha mode today, his presence commanding every inch of the space.

She loved that about him—how he could alternate from the thoughtful, affectionate man who'd proposed to her under the stars to this unstoppable force of nature. It was utterly intoxicating.

"Ready for our victory lap?" Rylan asked, his voice low but laced with a teasing warmth that made her heart race.

Wren smirked, though her nerves were frayed. "Oh, I'm ready. But let's not get too cocky yet. The Council has probably cooked up something truly sinister for this round."

Rylan chuckled, his blue eyes gleaming with mischief. "Sinister or not, we've got this in the bag. We're unstoppable together."

He stopped beside her command station, turning to face her fully.

His gaze swept over her, and for a moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the world.

Then, without hesitation, he leaned in and kissed her—brief but searing, a silent recognition of everything they'd built together.

Wren's body heated with desire, and she didn't pull away, savoring the feel of his lips on hers.

"Go knock 'em dead, tiger," she breathed against his lips.

Rylan pulled back slightly, and his lips curved into that dazzling smile that always left her breathless. "You know I will."

He then reluctantly turned and headed toward the arena entrance, his strides long and purposeful.

Wren watched him go, her gaze lingering on the powerful lines of his back until he disappeared from view.

She then took a deep breath and settled into her chair, pulling up the final round's simulation map and specifications.

Her stomach dropped.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," she muttered, her small hands moving over the holographic interface.

The course layout was a nightmare—a labyrinth of shifting platforms, collapsing bridges and cliffs, and rogue programs designed to throw competitors off their game at almost every turn.

But that wasn't the worst part. At certain checkpoints, the Council had programmed the simulation to cut off comms between partners and disable the ability to manipulate the arena.

It was a blatant attempt to cripple their advantage, and it was infuriating.

She clenched her fists. "This is such bullshit," she muttered under her breath.

"What's wrong?" Rylan asked through her comms earpiece, his voice calm but alert.

She leaned forward, her tone sharp. "They're cutting off comms and disabling my controls at specific checkpoints. It's like they're deliberately trying to sabotage us."

There was a pause, then Rylan's low rumble of frustration. "Technically, it's not against the rules. The Council has the authority to design the Trials however they see fit."

"That doesn't make it right," Wren snapped, her frustration bubbling over. "What's the point of having partners if they're just going to strip away half of our advantage?"

"It's their way of making it fairer, I guess," Rylan replied, his voice steady. "But they can't take away our mate bond. That's ours, and that's going to be our secret weapon today."

Wren's anger simmered down slightly at his words. He was right. Their mate connection was deeper than any tech or comms system. It was unbreakable and undeniable.

"Fine," she said, exhaling slowly. "But if they think this is going to stop us, they're in for a rude awakening."

"That's my beautiful mate," Rylan said, pride lacing his tone. "Let's show them what we're made of."

Wren's lips curved into a determined smile. "Alright, Commander. Stay sharp."

She focused on the holographic map, her mind racing as she calculated the best strategy to navigate the chaos.

The countdown timer ticked down, the tension in the room building with each passing second.

Wren's pulse quickened, her body thrumming with anticipation.

This was it. The moment they've worked toward for the past week.

When the bell finally rang, Rylan was off like a shot, his movements fluid and precise.

Wren guided him through the first leg of the course, her commands sharp and her directions efficient.

They were in perfect sync, their bond humming with shared purpose.

But as they approached the first checkpoint, Wren's stomach tightened.

"Comms are going dark in three… two… one," she warned, her voice calm and steady despite the knot of anxiety in her chest.

The comms went silent, and Wren's world narrowed to the faint thread of their mate bond.

She closed her eyes, focusing on the subtle shifts in his emotions—his focus, his determination, and his trust in her.

It was strange, navigating him through the course without words, but it worked.

Every movement and every decision was guided by their unspoken connection.

When their comms came back online, Rylan's voice was filled with admiration. "That was perfection. You're perfection."

Wren grinned, her heart swelling from his praise. "You were right. We've got this."

Her confidence grew as they continued, her senses hyper-focused on Rylan's progress.

But as they neared the second checkpoint, she noticed something odd—Arvox was nowhere to be seen.

The observation deck was crowded with Council members and spectators, but the Prime Minister's absence was conspicuous.

A flicker of unease sparked in her chest, but she pushed it aside.

One problem at a time.

Rylan's voice broke through her thoughts. "You ready for the next leg where they take away our comms and your controls?"

"Always," she replied, her tone firm. "But just remember—even if they strip away our comms and controls, they can't strip away us."

"Couldn't have said it better myself," Rylan said, his voice warm with affection. "See you on the other side, beautiful."

Wren smiled, her gaze fixed on the holographic map as Rylan charged toward the checkpoint. Whatever the Council or anyone else threw at them, they could handle it together. And when this was over, they'd have more than just a victory to celebrate?—

Wren's breath hitched and her heart lurched into her throat as a large rough hand suddenly pressed over her mouth.

She felt like she was suffocating, and the scent of leather and something metallic assaulted her senses.

She froze, her mind racing faster than her instincts could catch up.

Before she could react, another arm wrapped around her waist, yanking her violently out of her command station chair.

Her chair tipped back, and her legs scrambled for balance, but the man holding her was unnervingly strong, his grip unrelenting.

The world blurred as she was dragged backward, her eyes darting wildly to the other man who had taken her seat.

He was already typing furiously, hacking into her console with an efficiency that made her stomach churn.

Her mind screamed at her to fight, to scream, to do something, but the arm around her waist tightened, and the man holding her leaned down to whisper in her ear, his voice a low, menacing growl.

"Don't make a sound and don't move, or this will get messy."

Wren's heart pounded like a drum, but she told herself to stay still, her mind scrambling for a plan.

She glanced around the command center, but the partitions separating the stations kept the other competitors' partners oblivious to what was happening.

Their focus was on the arena and on their own competitors.

So unfortunately, Wren was on her own right now.

The man holding her jerked her toward a hidden door at the back of the command center, and she stumbled, her heels catching on the polished floor.

She nearly fell, but the man yanked her upright with a gruff curse, his fingers digging into her arm.

The door led to a dimly lit maintenance tunnel she hadn't even known existed.

The tunnel walls were lined with pipes and wires, the air thick with the scent of ozone and rust. The sound of their footsteps echoed eerily as the man dragged her deeper into the labyrinth.

"Where are you taking me?" she demanded, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to sound strong.

The man restraining her—tall, broad-shouldered, and wearing black tactical gear—didn't answer. Instead, he tightened his grip, forcing her to move faster. The other man, the one who had hacked and disabled her console, walked behind them, his head on a swivel as if expecting trouble.

They soon reached a set of metal stairs, and the man still gripping her arms tight behind her back pushed her up the steps, making her trip and stumble.

Despite her growing panic and frustration at being manhandled, she tried to keep telling herself that Rylan will notice she's missing soon and will come find her.

He'll come looking for me even if it means risking his victory in the Trials.

She focused on their mate bond, trying to send him a mental message, a plea for help. I'm in trouble. Find me.

The door at the top of the stairs opened to the main level of Defense Nexus, and Wren's heart sank as she realized they were heading for the rear entrance.

The men moved quickly and stealthily to avoid detection, their pace relentless.

Wren's legs burned, but she made herself keep up, her mind spinning with plausible scenarios and outcomes.

The rear entrance led to a small parking lot, where a black SUV idled, its engine purring ominously.

The man behind her shoved her toward the vehicle, and she stumbled again, her knees hitting the pavement.

Pain shot through her legs, but before she could recover, he grabbed her again, hauling her into the backseat.

Her wrists were yanked behind her back, and she felt the cold bite of zip ties as they secured her hands.

The door slammed shut, and Wren's breath came in sharp, panicked bursts. She twisted in her seat, then her eyes locked onto the figure in the passenger seat. Her blood instantly ran cold.

"Arvox," she spat, her voice shaking with a mix of fear and fury. "What the hell are you doing? Where are you taking me?"

Arvox turned his head slowly, his ice-blue eyes cold and calculating. He smirked, his expression dripping with smug superiority. "Somewhere far away from here, my dear. Somewhere your precious fiancée won't find you."

Wren's stomach lurched. "Rylan will come for me. You're underestimating him."

Arvox chuckled, a low, humorless sound that sent shivers through her.

"Oh, I doubt he'll have the time. Defense Nexus is about to be under attack.

My special operatives are en route as we speak.

Rylan will have his hands full defending his precious facility.

By the time he realizes you're missing, we'll be long gone. "

Wren glanced out the back window and saw a convoy of black vans speeding toward Defense Nexus. This wasn't just a kidnapping—it was a full-scale attack. She turned back to Arvox, her voice sharp with accusation. "Why are you doing this? What do you want?"

Arvox's smirk widened, and he leaned back in his seat, his posture relaxed, as if they were having a casual conversation.

"Well, first off, I found out about your little meeting with the Council leader yesterday.

My sources are quite reliable, you see. Trying to expose me?

To have me arrested? That's not very nice, Wren.

I'm the most powerful man on Nova Aurora.

Did you really think you could outsmart me? "

Wren scoffed, her fear momentarily overshadowed by disbelief. "Delusional much? There are plenty of people more powerful than you."

Arvox's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, his mask of calm slipped, revealing a glimpse of the cold fury simmering beneath. "You're pretty brave for someone in your position. But don't worry—Rylan will have a choice to make soon. Cooperate with my plans or lose you forever."

Wren's blood ran ice cold. "What plans?"

Arvox's smirk returned, but he didn't answer. The SUV sped through the city, the landscape blurring outside the window. Wren focused on her breathing, trying to steady her racing heart. Rylan, please. Find me. She sent the thought through their bond, praying it would reach him.

The drive felt like an eternity, but eventually, the city gave way to the Ice Mountains, their jagged peaks looming in the distance.

The air grew colder, and Wren shivered, her arms still bound behind her back.

The SUV finally stopped in front of an abandoned building, its windows darkened and its walls crumbling.

The men dragged her out of the vehicle, their grips unrelenting. Wren stumbled continuously as they forced her toward the building.

"What are you going to do with me?" she demanded, her voice laced with defiance.

Arvox stepped out of the SUV, his polished shoes crunching on the gravel. He walked up to her, his icy gaze boring into hers. "For now, you're leverage. But if Rylan doesn't cooperate… well, let's just say you won't live to see tomorrow."

Wren's stomach twisted violently, but she made herself meet his gaze, her eyes blazing with fierce determination. "You're making a mistake, Arvox. Rylan will come for me. And when he does, you're finished."

Arvox laughed, a cold, hollow sound that echoed in the stillness of the mountain air. "We'll see about that."