Chapter 136 - The Search Intensifies.

Baldwin's Hideout

The eighth day dawned with a oppressive weight over Blaze's mansion. Once lively vibrant estate, the place was now felt gloomy, matching its master's troubled state. Blaze stood in the grand hall, his piercing eyes fixed at the map spread out on the big oak table. Each dot, circle, and line showed where they had looked, who they had questioned, and what leads they had followed, but Savannah was still nowhere to be found.

His head was spinning with anger, fear, and guilt. The thought of Savannah being hurt or worse made him feel sick inside, but he kept it together. He wasn't going to crack.

Not until she was safe.

Blaze called for a meeting, summoning every resource he had his most trusted lieutenants, field operatives, tech experts, and even high-ranking police officials who owed him favors. The grand hall filled with people, their expressions a mix of concern and determination.

Arthur stood next to Blaze and signaled for silence. Blaze stepped up, his presence commanding the room.

"Eight days," he began, his voice calm but strong. "Eight days she's been missing. Eight days that Rodriguez has dared to play this twisted game. I don't care what it takes, how far we need to go, or who we need to deal with this ends now."

The room went quiet, every ear listening closely. Blaze pointed at the map. "We know who the predator is. Rodriguez messed up by showing his hand, and we'll use that to our advantage. From this moment on, the search expands. Check every city, every port, every safe house he's ever used. want eyes on every potential lead."

He turned to his tech team. "Track his associates, their families, anyone remotely connected to him. If they move, I want to know where and why."

To the field operatives, he said, "I don't care if you've to turn the entire underworld upside down, find Savannah. No excuses, no delays."

As Blaze laid out his plan, his thoughts drifted to Savannah. Was she hurt? Scared? Did she know he was coming for her? A wave of fear hit him, but he pushed it aside with his anger and determination. Fear wouldn't help her, action would.

"She's your top priority," Blaze said, his voice tougher now. "Nothing else matters. You'll work in shifts, you'll work tirelessly, and you'll work together. And when we find Rodriguez, he will regret ever laying a hand on her."

Arthur stepped forward with a tablet. "We've already started tracking communications linked to Rodriguez. We found five possible hideouts he's used before, but they're heavily guarded."

Blaze's eyes sharpened. "It's not about easy or hard. It's about getting results. Send teams to those spots right away. Monitor them around the clock. If there's even a shadow of a lead, act on it."

He turned to the police officials. "You're here because you owe me. I don't care about your superiors, but you're going to give my men unrestricted access to your resources. Every database, every street camera, every patrol-use it."

One of the officers paused. "Sie, this is a huge operation. If-"

Blaze's stare shut him up. "If you mess this up, being in trouble won't be your biggest problem. Just do your job."

When the meeting ended, Blaze's team stood ready. Before sending them off, Blaze added one last thing.

"I've made mistakes before. I've allowed Rodriguez to slip through my fingers, but not this time. Savannah is out there. She's alive. And I will not rest until she's back where she belongs. You've seen what I'm capable of when pushed. Don't let this stretch to nine days."

The room fell silent as everyone headed out to began the expanded search. Blaze stayed behind, staring at the map.

Arthur hung around, keeping an eye on his boss. "Boss, You've been at this non stop for days. You need some rest."

Blaze shook his head. "I can't. Not until she's back." His voice hold a strong and commanding tone. "Rodriguez is going to regret this. I'll make sure he understands what it means to mess with me."

Arthur nodded, getting how determined Blaze was. "We'll find her, Boss."

As Arthur walked away, Blaze was left alone in the big hall. The weight of his promise pressing down on him. His hands clenched into fists as he whispered to himself, "Hold on, Savannah. I'm coming."

Rodriguez's hideout

Savannah sat slumped in the corner if the room, her body weak and her skin deathly pale from days of deprivation. The cold went right through her, and she couldn't muster up the strength to fight it anymore. Her eyes fluttered shut, heavy with tiredness. An iron chain held her one wrist to the wall, its weight a constant reminder of where she was. She hardly moved, barely breathing, too drained to even lift her head.

The door creaked open, and light flooded the room, blinding her for a moment. A guy entered in, his steps echoing off the cold, empty walls. He carried a plate in his hand. With just a single and small piece of bread. Without saying any word, he put the plate down in front of her. Savannah didn't move, keeping her eyes shut like she didn't see him. Her body stayed still, her silence deliberate.

He stood there for a bit, then left, slamming the door behind him. The noise echoed in the room, but Savannah didn't flinch. She heard the faint shuffle of footsteps outside before silence enveloped her again.

Time seemed to drag on—maybe it was minutes, maybe hours; she couldn't tell. In that dark, cold cell, time didn't mean much. Then the door swung open again, and there was no mistaking who it was this time. Rodriguez walked in, his confident steps and smug grin oozing with malice. He sized her up with a cruel smirk.

"I see you're not eating," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He looked at the uneaten bread around her, some of it old and untouched from days before. "Planning to starve yourself to death?"

Savannah forced her eyes open, using every bit of strength she had left. Her voice was just a whisper, but it held a defiant tone. "Can't let you have what you want."

Rodriguez raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. Even in her condition, her spirit intrigued him. He leaned in close, so near she could feel his breath. "Bold talk," he said softly, but there was a threat in his voice. "Even now, when you can barely hold yourself upright."

He chuckled, turning his face as if savoring the moment. Then, out of nowhere, he grabbed a fistful of her hair, jerking her head back sharply. Savannah hissed in pain but kept her face neutral, refusing to show weakness.

"Where did Blaze even find you?" he sneered, tilting her head back to make her look up. "I like the fire in you, but don't push my patience, Savannah."

He squeezed tighter, pulling at her scalp. Savannah bit down on the pain, keeping her voice steady. "Go ahead, do your worst. You'll regret this."

Rodriguez's jaw clenched, but he forced a smile. "Regret?" he echoed. "You still don't believe me, do you? About your precious husband. He'll pay for what he's done."

Savannah's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "And what you're doing now-kidnapping me because you can't touch him? Striking at the easy target?" She held his gaze, her defiance unwavering. "That's the same as being a coward."

Rodriguez's eyes darkened, his grip on her hair hardening. His sneer turned into pure rage, and he swung his other hand. His palm smacked her cheek hard, making a loud, nasty sound. Savannah's head jerked to the side, and she tasted blood as it trickled from the corner of her lip.

The pain was intense, but she didn't make a sound. Instead, she turned her head slowly, giving him a faint, mocking smile. "I guess I'm right," she said softly but firmly.

Rodriguez's jaw tightened, and his hand shook with anger. For a second, he looked like he might hit her again, but he stopped himself. He leaned in close, his breath hot on her face. "You don't know who you're messing with, Savannah," he growled.

"And neither do you," she shot back, her words clear and sharp, lighting a fire under his temper.

He just stared at her, his face unreadable for a moment. Then, with a rough pull, he let go of her hair, making her head drop forward. He stood, straightening his jacket as though regaining his composure.

"You'll gonna break," he said, his voice icy and resolute. "It's just a matter of time. And when you do, your husband will come crawling. Begging for your life."

Savannah stayed quiet, her body shaking but her resolve firm. As the door slammed shut, she let herself shed a single tear. But inside, her determination blazed stronger than ever.

Rodriguez stormed out, his head spinning with rage and triumph. Her defiance made him furious, but he had to admit, he respected her toughness. She was tougher than he thought, way tougher than Veronica had let on.

He walked up and down the dim hall, his footsteps loud on the concrete floor. The flickering lights overhead cast moving shadows, mirroring the turmoil in his mind. He curled his hands into fists, the sting of her words still sharp. Coward—that word ate at him, but he shook it off. He had a plan, and it was bigger than her taunts or her courage.

This wasn't about her. Not entirely.

Rodriguez stopped and leaned against the wall, his jaw clenching as he thought about Veronica. He could still picture her face—bright, wild, full of life when they first met. She had been his whole world back then. But that was before Blaze Baldwin came along.

Blaze. Just saying the name made Rodriguez's blood boil. The perfect, golden guy. The office favorite. The world's favourite. The guy who messed everything up.

It all began with a business deal that went south. Blaze's company beat his in a big takeover, leaving Rodriguez's once-successful business in ruins. He lost millions and his reputation tanked overnight. But it wasn't the money that got to him. It was what happened next.

Veronica had always been driven, attracted to power and success like a moth to a flame. After everything fell apart, she became restless, her eyes wandering to the man she thought represented everything Rodriguez couldn't achieve. She became really fixated on Blaze, thinking he was the key to getting her purpose back. She started plotting, pretending to be friends with his family, just so she could get closer to him.

Rodriguez saw it all happen, feeling helpless and furious. He pleaded with her to stop, but Veronica wouldn't listen. Her obsession just kept getting worse until she lost it completely. One day, she disappeared.

He still can't shake the memory of finding her lifeless body. The official report said it was suicide, when it was clearly a murder and Rodriguez never bought it. He was sure Blaze was behind it somehow—whether he manipulated her, rejected her, or was part of some dark plot, he drove Veronica to the edge.

Rodriguez swore to make Blaze pay.

But Blaze Baldwin was untouchable—powerful and protected. Every move Rodriguez made to take him down was blocked, and every attempt to expose him was ignored. That's when he decided to focus on Savannah instead.

She was the key.

Rodriguez had been stalking her for months, watching from the shadows, learning her habits and weak spots. She was Blaze's one big weakness—the only thing in his perfect life that could be used against him.

Now, as he stood outside the cold room where she sat chained and defiant, Rodriguez felt a bit of satisfaction. He had her, and through her, he'd bring Blaze down.

He'd reveal all the lies, secrets, and dark truths that Blaze had kept hidden from everyone—including Savannah. She didn't really know the guy she married. But Rodriguez was going to make sure she saw him for who he truly was. Once the cracks started showing in their perfect facade, Blaze would show up.

He'd come crawling, desperate to win her back. That's when Rodriguez would make his move.

With a cruel grin, he pushed off the wall and smoothed his jacket. Stepping back into the room, he walked steadily toward her, his determination unwavering. Savannah was just a pawn, but an important one.

"Savannah," he said, his voice calm but laced with menace. "Let's talk about your perfect husband. It's time you learned the truth about your husband."

Author's Note :

Thankyou for reading<3

Have a good day/night <3<3