Chapter 321
Hearing that, the tightly wound knot of tension in Sienna’s chest finally loosened a fraction.
“It’s late,” Thea said softly, glancing at the brightening sky. “Let’s get you home to rest. We’ll figure out our next move after we’ve both had some sleep p>
Sienna nodded and fell into step beside her.
But days of relentless stress and the sheer exhaustion of pulling an all-nighter suddenly caught up with her.
The moment she took a step, her brain felt starved of oxygen, and a violent wave of dizziness washed over her.
Her vision pitched into darkness. Her body swayed dangerously, completely losing its center of gravity.
Thea gasped in alarm, instinctively reaching out to catch her.
But a pair of strong hands beat her to it, steadying Sienna with a firm grip.
A familiar, crisp scent tinged with a subtle, cool cologne enveloped her senses completely.
Sienna fought to steady her erratic breathing and slowly forced her eyes open.
As her vision cleared, she found herself staring into a pair of impossibly deep, dark eyes.
Jarred Sterling stood there, his posture rigid and commanding.
Yet his usually aloof and arrogant features were now etched with unconcealed panic and lingering dread.
His intense gaze was locked onto Sienna’s pale, haggard face, refusing to look away for even a second.
Right behind him, Maloney arrived in a rush.
His brow was heavily furrowed, his eyes filled with worry as he looked at her.
Regaining her bearings, Sienna immediately raised her hands to shove the man away.
Feeling her resistance, Jarred’s gaze grew visibly darker.
The arm wrapped around her waist tightened like a vice.
“Jarred! Let go of me!” Sienna hissed, struggling against him with a frigid, unyielding tone.
Ignoring her protests, Jarred effortlessly swept her up into his arms and turned toward the car parked by the curb.
Thea rushed forward to block his path, her brows knitted in disapproval. “Mr. Sterling, please don’t force her.
Ms. Sloan clearly doesn’t want you touching her. This is highly inappropriate p>
Jarred acted as if she hadn’t spoken, his strides remaining purposeful and completely unbothered.
Maloney quickly stepped up, grabbing Jarred’s arm. “Jarred, don’t be reckless. Put her down first p>
Jarred yanked his arm out of Maloney’s grasp without even glancing his way.
His entire demeanor was cold and absolute, carrying an authority that brooked no argument.
He shot a chilling look at both of them and delivered a single command. “I need to speak with her. Alone p>
With that, he carried the woman in his arms straight toward the black sedan parked nearby.
Cradled against his chest, Sienna could feel his body heat and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
She was intimately familiar with his body. She could map every muscle and contour with her eyes closed.
But right now, being held by this man only made her stomach churn with disgust.
“I have nothing to say to you. Put me down!” Sienna snapped, her words dripping with icy hostility.
Completely unfazed, Jarred opened the rear door and gently set her inside the vehicle.
Sienna immediately braced her arms, trying to scramble back out.
But Jarred was much faster.
He ducked into the car beside her, and a second later, the sharp click of the locks echoed through the cabin.
Sienna’s hand froze mid-air.
Realizing escape was futile, she abandoned the pointless struggle.
She turned her face away, refusing: to look at him, and stubbornly slid closer to the window to put as much physical distance between them as possible.
Jarred stared at her rigid, defensive profile, taking in her bloodless lips and the dark circles under hereyes,
A suffocating ache bloomed in his chest, sharp and relentless.
Suppressing his mounting anxiety, he took a deep breath. Stripping his usual cold authority, be spoke in a profoundly gentle voice