Rebirth to take revenge
Chapter 86: Gift

Chapter 86: Gift

It was Claire’s number. Alex was overjoyed and immediately pressed the answer button.

"Claire, where are you now?"

"Why aren’t you answering my questions? Are you okay?"

Alex spoke several sentences in a row, but all he heard were noisy sounds coming from the other end of the line. He furrowed his brow and asked, "Claire? Hello, are you okay?"

"Huh, Alex, it seems like you’re very nervous!" A hoarse male voice sounded, and the corner of Cole’s mouth lifted into a mocking smile.

Alex’s heart pounded fiercely, and his hand holding the phone began to sweat.

"Who are you, and what is your purpose?"

"You’re asking about Claire?"

The voice on the other end took a deep breath, trying to keep it steady and cold. "It doesn’t matter who I am. All you need to know is that she’s in my hands now!"

With that, Cole grabbed Claire next to him and threatened, "Say something for him to hear!"

Claire winced in pain as he pulled her, but she restrained herself from crying out and said in a flat voice, "Alex, I’m here."

Hearing Claire’s voice, Alex secretly breathed a sigh of relief and urgently asked, "Don’t hurt her. If there’s anything, come to me."

Cole chuckled and applauded. "What a passionate response. Since that’s the case, I want to know one thing now."

"What is it?"

"Do you love her?"

Hearing Cole’s bizarre question, Alex was stunned for a moment, then angrily laughed. "What do you think? Claire and I are already married. If I don’t love her, do I love you?"

"Hahaha! Good!" Cole’s voice lowered, "If you love her, are you willing to trade your life for hers?"

The phone fell silent after his sentence.

Alex narrowed his eyes and signaled to his subordinate beside him. It was clear that the person on the other end had come for him, and it was also obvious that the purpose of kidnapping Claire was for this reason.

After thinking it through, Alex’s heart actually sank. Just when Cole thought that Alex would refuse, he said, "I agree."

"Where are you? I’ll come find you and release Claire."

Upon hearing his response, a sly smile appeared on Cole’s face as he continued, "Alex, do you think I’m stupid? I know you have a security force with skilled subordinates. You’re not afraid of me. But if I kill Claire, I won’t live either! So, let’s make a deal." Cole said coldly.

Alex frowned and asked, "What deal?"

"It’s simple."

Cole licked his lips and said sinisterly, "I want your military command!"

"Military command?" Alex’s voice rose, realizing something in his heart.

Cole chuckled, "Don’t pretend to be ignorant. I know everything about you. I even know how you got your command. I just want to get what I deserve!"

Upon hearing Cole’s request, not only Alex but even Claire frowned. The military command’s position can be said to be top-notch in the country. It is also the thing that Alex cares about the most. Even though she knew that Alex had feelings for her, she was afraid he would not be willing to exchange her life for his command.

As expected, after Cole finished speaking, there was a long silence on the other end of the phone. Claire lowered her eyes, hiding her complex emotions, and interrupted their conversation, saying, "Cole, don’t waste your efforts. Alex won’t agree to your request."

Claire spoke softly, her eyes slightly red, but she didn’t shed any tears.

"Heh..." Cole snorted coldly. "It’s just a broken command. If Alex really loves you, would he be willing to let it go?"

Cole spoke viciously, "Besides, you’re carrying his child now. What I have in my hands now is his family. If he doesn’t agree, I don’t mind letting him taste the loss of his family and everything else!"

"Fine!" Claire showed no fear on her face, snatched the phone, and hung up directly.

Upon hearing this voice, Alex on the other end of the phone trembled violently and exclaimed anxiously, "Claire! Don’t talk nonsense, calm down!"

However, all he got in response was a beep sound. Alex’s heart suddenly tightened, and he quickly dialed the number again.

"Sorry, the number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable..."

On the other end of the phone, Claire threw her phone to the ground. With a crisp sound, the screen shattered into pieces and went completely dark.

Cole stood still, his gaze cold as he stared at her for a moment. "You wretched woman, I think you’re looking for death! Since you’re not cooperating, I’ll send you to meet the old man behind you!"

Cole pointed his finger behind Claire, his voice sinister. Claire’s heart tightened, and she slowly turned her head to look behind her.

In the darkness, she could vaguely see the body of Old Master Miller discarded in the corner, emitting a foul smell. Cole grinned cruelly and ferociously. "I advise you to cooperate with me."

Upon hearing this, Claire’s pupils shrank, and her blood seemed to freeze in an instant. She clenched her fists tightly, trying to restrain the fear and trembling deep within her heart, and calmly said, "Cole, stop dreaming. Alex is decisive and resolute, and he won’t make the wrong judgment just because of a dead man and a woman."

"With the strength of the military, if he wants to save me, he should have found us by now."

Claire deliberately spoke to Cole, trying to distract his attention. Sure enough, when she mentioned Alex, Cole’s expression changed instantly.

"Claire, stop playing games with me!" Cole said.

Claire shook her head, indicating that she wasn’t.

Seeing that she didn’t seem to be lying, Cole’s expression eased slightly. He then walked towards Claire. With each step he took, Claire subconsciously stepped back. She held a stone in her hand and quietly cut the hemp rope that bound her hands.

Cole didn’t notice and took out a dagger as he approached Claire. He said in a sinister tone, "Alex hasn’t made up his mind yet. It must be because I haven’t given him enough stimulation. If I send him some gifts, will he make up his mind? As for the gift... let’s use one of your fingers."

As Cole spoke, he slowly approached Claire with the dagger in his hand. At this moment, Claire gritted her teeth, raised her arm, and fiercely threw a sharp stone at Cole’s neck.

With a loud bang, Cole felt a tingling sensation in his neck. He reached up to touch it but found no blood. He couldn’t help but sneer and quickly walked towards Claire, saying, "Stupid woman, you overestimate yourself! Since you’re willing to untie the rope, I might as well give your hands to Alex!"

Cole’s eyes were filled with killing intent, and he moved so fast that Claire’s pupils shrank. However, just as his hand was about to grab her, Cole’s eyes suddenly widened.

Suddenly, with a loud bang, the man fell to the ground.

Claire widened her eyes in horror, staring at Cole in front of her. It wasn’t until he fell to the ground that she breathed a sigh of relief.

She was in a small wooden house on the top of a mountain, with no lights around. In the darkness, she didn’t know if the stone she had thrown had hit any vital points. If there was any deviation, it would be her lying on the ground now...

Claire suppressed her fear and turned around to walk quickly to where Old Master Miller’s body lay. From Cole’s movements just now, he was clearly a martial artist. His physical fitness couldn’t be judged by ordinary people. Her attack could probably only knock him out for an hour at most. If she took Old Master Miller’s body with her, she would have no chance to escape.

After some thought, Claire bowed deeply to Old Master Miller’s body and said, "I’m sorry, Old Master, I can only leave you behind. I left clues on the way, and I believe Alex will find this place soon."

After speaking, Claire quickly left the room and ran down the mountain.

At the same time, at the Smith family’s residence.

In the living room, the Smith family members were crouching on the ground, looking at the man in front of them who seemed to have come out of hell with horror on their faces. Alex sat on the sofa, looking at Anna with dangerous eyes, and said coldly, "Who is he? Where is he now?"

"I-I don’t know what you’re talking about..." Anna’s face was pale, and her eyes instinctively avoided his gaze.

Bang!

With a loud noise, the tea table in front of Alex shattered into pieces. He stood up abruptly, his eyes cold and furious as he glared at Anna, saying, "You won’t speak? Fine, then you’ll never have the chance to speak again!"

As he spoke, he grabbed Anna by the neck and lifted her up from the ground.

Anna hadn’t even had time to react before she felt her breath being cut off, her feet dangling in the air. When she lowered her head, she met his murderous gaze.