Page 27 of Not This Soon

Elias's eyes met hers, and for a moment, Rachel felt a chill run down her spine. There was something in those eyes, something cold and calculating.

"I don't believe that's any of your concern, Ranger," he said, his voice smooth as silk.

Rachel's grip tightened on her gun. "I'm making it my concern."

The room fell silent, the only sound the hum of the servers and Earl's ragged breathing. Rachel could feel the weight of Elias's gaze on her, assessing, calculating.

She met his stare head-on, refusing to back down. She had faced men like this before, men who thought they were above the law. She wouldn't let him intimidate her.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way," she said, her voice calm and steady. "But one way or another, you're coming with me."

Elias's lips twitched, a ghost of a smile. He reached out, straightening Earl's collar with a gentle tug. Earl flinched at the contact, his eyes wide with fear.

"There's no need for dramatics, Ranger," Elias said, his tone light, almost amused. "This is all just a simple misunderstanding."

Rachel scowled, her patience wearing thin. She took another step forward, her boot clicking against the hard floor. "I'll be the judge of that. Now, let's go. I have some questions for you."

Elias sighed, as if the whole situation was a mere inconvenience. He brushed an invisible speck of dust from his sleeve, his cufflinks glinting in the harsh fluorescent light.

"If you insist." He gestured towards the door, a mocking invitation.

Rachel didn't take her eyes off him as she reached for her handcuffs.

"I do hope this won't take long," he said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "I have a very busy schedule, you understand."

Earl's face glistened with sweat, his eyes darting between Rachel and Elias. "This... this is all a misunderstanding," he stammered, his voice shaky. "I was just helping Mr. Grant prepare for a play. You know, rehearsing lines, getting into character."

Rachel's gaze remained fixed on Elias, her jaw clenched. She stepped closer to Earl, her boots echoing on the polished concrete floor. "A play? With a gun to your head?" Her words were sharp, cutting through the tense air.

Elias nodded, his expression a mask of calm composure. "Indeed. A modern retelling of a classic, with a bit of a twist." His lips curled into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Earl here was kind enough to assist me in perfecting my performance."

Earl's trembling hands, the beads of sweat on his brow, the way his eyes flickered to Elias before answering—it all pointed to a man dominated by another. The terror was palpable.

She leaned in, her face inches from Elias'. Her words were a low growl, a challenge. "You expect me to believe that you were rehearsing a play in a server room with a loaded gun?"

Elias met her gaze unflinchingly, his blue eyes like chips of ice. "Believe what you will, Ranger Blackwood. The truth is often stranger than fiction."

Rachel's mind raced, analyzing every microexpression, every twitch of Elias's face. She had interrogated countless suspects, had learned to read the subtle tells that betrayed a lie. And right now, every fiber of her being was telling her that Elias Grantwas a deeply dangerous man. He had Earl wrapped around his finger.

The thugs by the door weren’t receptionists. It all smelled of organized crime, and she was beginning to wonder what she’d accidentally stepped foot into.

Elias was still watching her casually as she approached with the handcuffs. “Face the wall!” she demanded.

"Rachel?" Ethan's voice called from the entrance room.

“I'm alright, Ethan," Rachel called back, her eyes never leaving Elias. She watched as the man turned around compliantly, his hands coming up in surrender. Beneath the sharp lighting of the room, his finely tailored suit was as dark as midnight, accentuating the imposing figure he cut.

She advanced carefully. As she drew closer, she could see the faint lines creasing his forehead, the barely perceptible grit of his teeth. The only signs that he was feeling any pressure at all.

With a swift movement, Rachel had his wrists bound with the steel cuffs. The click of the locked restraints echoed ominously in the silent room.

"All right," she lowered her weapon but kept a tight grip on it nonetheless. "Let's take a walk."

She dragged Elias away from the weeping Earl. Spittle dribbled down the IT man’s lips, staining his shirt. Elias didn’t even glance back.

As Rachel reached the reception area, she glanced towards where the three hulking thugs hunched like chastised schoolboys in the corner, not quite wanting to meet Elias’ scorching gaze.

Ethan remained with his gun trained on the three bulky men that were still frozen in their places. He gave her a quick nod and kept his position by the door.

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