Make sure you red the message at the end of this chapter and comment!

Elle's POV
I could feel his meaty fingers dig into my neck as his temples pulsated with pure range. My oxygen supply had started to deteriorate as he slowly choked me. Things were getting blurry and botched with darkness and I felt myself start to slip into unconsciousness, but before I could, I felt his fingers being jerked away.

"What are you doing? Are you trying to kill her?" The other man hissed aggressively as he threw Pierre off me.

"Get off me!" Pierre shot back, as they both stumbled back into the floor. I did everything I could to catch my breath as the two remained at a stand still.

I don't think I'd ever been that close to death before.

Stefan's POV
"Fill me in." Mariano spoke, as soon as we entered my office.

There was a man on the far end that I had recognized from other flights I had made through the airlines. His name was John March. He was the head of the security detail. He was also known for his incredible attention to detail and privacy.

The note that Mrs. Potts had handed me was now sitting on the table. It had read:

The security cameras traced Ms. Mallerie from the check in desk towards the gate she was meant to enter before there was an incident. It looks like she may have accidentally bumped someone with her bag, and as she turned around to apologize, another man approached her from behind.

They stood like that from a few moments without Elle turning around, before they both walked past her gate and towards the back entrance. We believe he may have held some sort of weapon to her, or threatened her with something.

"It's good to see you again, John." I nodded towards him as he nodded back. "Has there been an update since this?" I asked, gesturing towards the note on the table.

"It's good to see you too, sir. My men have since reviewed the surveillance from the back entrance and we were able to pull a license plate. It looks like this vehicle was unregistered, meaning it was most likely stolen then switched with fake plates. There are only a few trails that could be taken through the back exit of the airport."

"I trust that you've kept this quiet?" I asked, as Lumiere glanced over my shoulder at the surveillance photo of the man that was behind Elle. Another surveillance camera had pick up an image of the side of his face that was almost unrecognizable.

Almost.

I could hear Lumiere's breath hitch.

"Yes, ofcourse. No police have been informed, only my surveillance team and I know of this. I decided you most likely wanted to put your own men out there before the uniforms make it public."

"Yes. No one must know that she was even at that airport." I nodded.

"I'm guessing Stefan hadn't told you when he arranged the flight, that Elle has a large bounty on her head right now. Her, dead or alive, is currently worth 1.3 million dollars." Mrs. Potts spoke to John.

Both Mariano and Lumiere cut in at the same time. "What what?" They asked in unison.

"The projectiles from the bullet, Mariano, showed that the shot was meant for Elle and not me. The Russians have put a bounty on her head." I explained to my Italian friend. His eyes grew wide.

"The Russians do everything personally. What have you done to piss them off?" Mariano asked. His faced had paled tremendously since the start of this conversation.

"We've always been rivals, but my family had recently created connections that have brought us a great deal of money. I believe this is their way of showing me they can still get to me." I explained. I glanced up at all the faces that nodded back, except for Mrs. Potts. Only she knew what was really going on.

Before I could continue, I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. As I pulled it out, the caller ID read unlisted. I swiped to answer. "Hello?" I asked into the line.

"Hello, Stefan." The man on the other end answered. I quickly put the line on speaker.

"Who is this?" I demanded. I had expected a different voice than the one that was talking. This one was icier and cold. John quickly got to recording the call.

"That doesn't matter. What does matter is that I have something of yours here." He replied. I could hear a few coughs in the back. "I'm willing to make a deal here. We want you in exchange for your precious little play thing."

I could feel my hands grip the edge of the table so tightly, it had begun splinter under the pressure. My heart beat had began to beat sporadically.

"I will text you the address of the place we'll meet within an hours time. If you are even a minute late, she dies." The man instructed.

"Tell him to come alone." A voice in the back said. It was so muffled, I could barely make it out through the coughing.

"Come alone." The man added. Before they could hang the line, I heard a voice that I distinctly remembered.

"Stefan, they're French!" Elle called into the line, before I heard the sound of a slap and the line ending.

The end of the table snapped within my grip as pieces of wood tumbled to the floor. "Did you get that?" I gritted to to John, as he pulled the recorded wire from the machine he had hooked up.

"Yes. I'll play the message back." He nodded. We both listened through until we reached that muffled sentence again. "Isolate that." I ordered.

"Tell him to come alone." A man in the background spoke. I had now recognized his voice almost clearly. I glanced back at Lumiere, but he was no longer in the room. He must has slipped out during the call.

"Do you recognize that voice?" Mrs. Potts asked, as she glanced at me. I shook my head no, but I did in fact know that voice...

And so did Lumiere.

Elle's POV (27 minutes after the call)

I gently massage the now swollen cheek from where Pierre had slapped me, with my tongue. I could only hope Stefan had heard me in time before Pierre had hung up.

We were all now in the living room as both Pierre and the other man checked their watches impatiently. Before either of them could say anything, the door bell rung.

Pierre glanced at his partner who had now pulled out his weapon and pointed it at me. "Get the door Pierre, and bring him in here." The man instructed. Pierre disappeared through the kitchen and moments later, the door was swung open.

"Who the hell are you?" Pierre asked loudly, but before that could be answered, we heard a loud thump. Both me, and Pierre's partner looked towards the kitchen hallways expectedly, as a man emerged from the darkened corridor.

"What the fuck." Pierre's partner whispered under his breath, as he kept the gun pointed at me.

"It's been a long time, Gaston." Lumiere spoke, as he entered the living room.

"Likewise... brother." Gaston replied, slowly lowering the weapon.

-----------------------------
Y'all thought shit was getting real then? You better prepare yourselves because mama loves her plot twists.

This book is unfortunately coming to an end... but feel free to check out another piece of work from my fairytale story retellings!

She'll Bring Honor To Us All: (this one is posted)
Agent 27, otherwise known as "The Dagger," has been dormant within the deep forests of Montana, living out a life of peace and solitude under the U.S. Governments witness protection system.

When an old enemy resurfaces as a threat to the United States of America, Commander McGary issued the activation of this agent to help in a terrorist attack. But then there were three things he didn't account for...

1.) The Dagger is a female

2.) The Dagger has secrets buried so deep, even a man of his status may not have the clearance level to obtain

3.) The Dagger is drop dead gorgeous