Max's eyes held a deep sense of guilt, but his jaw remained set in determination. He believed he had made the right choice, no matter how painful it was. He had sacrificed me to save his sister, Emma. The thought sent a stab of pain through my heart.
I felt like I had been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me. Max, the person I trusted most, had betrayed me in the worst possible way. He had sold me into the hands of Rachel, a woman who wanted to harm me, all to save his own sister.
My mind raced back to our escape plan, and I realized that Max's intention all along was to deliver me to Rachel. That's why he had been so insistent on leaving the country, to hand me over to her. I felt a wave of nausea wash over me as the truth sunk in.
Rachel's smile grew wider, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "You're so predictable, Max," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I knew you'd do anything to save your precious sister."
Max's eyes flashed with anger, but he remained silent, his guilt and shame palpable. I, on the other hand, felt a surge of anger and betrayal. How could he do this to me? How could he sacrifice me like this?
"You're no better than Rachel," I spat, my voice trembling with rage. "You're just as manipulative and cruel."
Max's face fell, his eyes filled with regret. But I didn't care. I was beyond consolation. He had broken my trust, and I would never forgive him.
Rachel's hands grasped Max's face, her fingers tracing his jawline as she pulled him in for another kiss. But this time, Max didn't resist. He didn't pull away, didn't struggle. He just stood there, his eyes fixed on Rachel with a cold, hard stare.
The kiss was brief, but it felt like an eternity. Rachel's lips pressed against Max's, her mouth opening slightly as if searching for a response. But Max's lips remained still, unyielding. He didn't reciprocate the kiss, didn't show any sign of passion or desire.
His eyes, however, told a different story. They blazed with anger, with resentment, with a deep-seated hatred for Rachel. But he couldn't act on it, not with the gun still trained on the back of his head. He was trapped, helpless, and he knew it.
Rachel seemed to sense his anger, his resistance. She pulled back, her eyes narrowing slightly as she searched his face. But she didn't say a word. Instead, she simply smiled, a cold, calculating smile that sent shivers down my spine.
"You'll learn to love me, Max," she whispered, her voice dripping with malice. "You'll learn to obey me, to do my bidding. And you'll start by handing over the one thing that matters most to you."
Her eyes flicked to me, and I felt a chill run down my spine. I knew what she was asking, what she wanted Max to do. And I knew that Max would do it, would hand me over to her without hesitation. Because he had already made the choice, had already sacrificed me for his sister's sake.
Max's voice was firm, his eyes locked on Rachel. "First, show me that my sister is safe," he demanded, his jaw clenched in anxiety.
Rachel's smile grew wider, her eyes gleaming with triumph. She seemed to savor the moment, enjoying Max's distress. With a languid gesture, she reached out to one of her men, a hulking figure with a cruel grin.
The man handed her a phone, and Rachel's eyes flicked to the screen. She tapped a few buttons, and then turned the phone towards Max. The screen flickered to life, showing a video of Emma, Max's sister. She was bound and gagged, her eyes wide with fear.
Max's eyes devoured the image, his face pale with worry. But then, Rachel's finger moved, and the video disappeared. The room seemed to hold its breath as Rachel pressed a button on a remote control in her hand.
Instantly, a clicking sound echoed through the plane, and Emma's bondage seemed to release. The video screen flickered back to life, showing Emma being led out of a room, her eyes scanning her surroundings in confusion.
The scene shifted, and we saw Emma being brought towards us, one of Rachel's men gripping her arm. Emma's eyes locked onto Max, her face pale with fear. Max's eyes met hers, his face a mask of relief and guilt.
Rachel's smile grew wider as she gestured to Emma. "As promised, Max. Your sister, safe and sound." Her voice dripped with sarcasm, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Now, it's your turn to hold up your end of the bargain."
Max's eyes locked onto Rachel, his jaw set in determination. "I need two parachutes," he said, his voice firm. "One for me, and one for my sister."
Rachel's smile faltered for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm afraid that's not possible, Max," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness. "You'll have to share a parachute with your sister. It's the only way I can ensure your cooperation."
Max's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. "A deal is a deal, Rachel," he growled. "You agreed to provide me with what I need. I want two parachutes, and I want them now."
Rachel's eyes seemed to gleam with amusement, her lips curling into a smile. "Oh, Max," she said, her voice dripping with condescension. "You're in no position to make demands. But...I'll humor you."
She turned to one of her men, a tall, muscular figure with a cruel grin. "Provide Max with two parachutes," she said, her voice dripping with reluctance. "But make sure they're both properly secured. I wouldn't want anything to...happen...to our dear Max and his sister."
The man nodded, his eyes gleaming with malice. He moved to a nearby compartment, pulling out two parachutes. He handed them to Max, who took them with a nod.
"Thank you, Rachel," Max said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "How thoughtful of you."
Rachel's smile grew wider, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Anytime, Max," she said. "Anytime."