Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 264

Chapter 264: Dunking
Xander let out another tired sigh and leaned back against the couch. “She ignored me all through breakfast this morning. Then, before she left, she told me she would not tolerate being under the same roof as a man who is being tortured in our home.”

Asher let out a deep sigh and rubbed his jaw. “So, she gave you an ultimatum?”

Xander nodded.

Asher studied him for a second before asking, “And what are you going to do about it?”

Xander’s jaw tightened slightly. “She will have to understand.” His voice was calm but firm. “This isn’t about what I want. It’s about national security. It’s my duty.”

Asher nodded slowly, swirling his glass of scotch before taking a sip. “And if she doesn’t understand?”

Xander was silent for a moment. Then, he met Asher’s gaze and said, “She has to.” There was no other way out of this since he couldn’t give up his mission.

Asher smirked slightly and lifted his glass. “Good luck with that.”

Xander exhaled and finally took his drink, downing half of it in one go. The burn in his throat was nothing compared to the weight pressing on his shoulders.

A few moments passed in silence before Asher stood up and dusted imaginary lint off his shirt. “Alright,” he said, rolling his shoulders. “Now, where is our little guest?”

Xander raised a brow.

“It’s my turn to get answers out of him,” Asher added, cracking his knuckles. “Let’s see how long he lasts with me.”

Xander smirked faintly, standing to his feet. “This way.”

—

Daniel Firth’s bruised and battered body hung limply against the metal chair he was bound to. His face was a swollen mess, blood trickling from his split lip, and yet—he remained stubbornly silent.

The moment Xander and Asher stepped inside, the tension in the room thickened. Liam and the other enforcers immediately straightened and acknowledged Asher’s presence with slight nods.

Asher took a slow, calculating look at Daniel and let out a low whistle. “Damn, you look like you’ve been through hell.” He crouched slightly, lifting Daniel’s chin with two fingers. He turned Daniel’s face from side to side, inspecting the injuries with an amused smirk. “And yet, you still won’t talk?”

Daniel glared at him through half-lidded eyes, his breathing ragged.

Shaking his head in mock admiration, Asher turned to Xander. “Tough guy.”

Xander chuckled, crossing his arms. “I’ll give him that.”

With a sigh, Asher straightened and turned to Liam. “Get me a chair. Looks like I’ll be here for a while.”

One of the men hurried to fetch a chair, while Asher casually rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and unstrapped his wristwatch, setting it aside.

Xander observed him with mild amusement. “You’re really making yourself comfortable.”

Asher smirked. “Well, unlike you, I believe in taking my time.”

Xander scoffed. “You’re choosing a harsher approach than mine. Between the two of us, who’s more wicked?”

Asher shrugged as he finished rolling his sleeves. “Depends on the situation,” he mused. Then he added, “But right now? I’m wearing the crown. You’ve got a family now, Xander. You won’t be as ruthless as you used to be.”

Xander’s smirk faded slightly. He didn’t argue because deep down, he knew Asher wasn’t wrong. Having Aurora in his life had changed him. But what Asher didn’t know was that if anyone so much as breathed the wrong way around his wife or child, he would become something far worse than the man he used to be.

A few minutes later, the chair Asher requested was placed in front of him, and shortly after, the special tools he had asked for were brought in.

Asher finally settled in his seat, stretching out his legs comfortably. He studied Daniel for a moment before starting, his voice almost conversational. “Let’s start easy. What’s your full name?”

Daniel’s lips parted slightly. “You… already know that.” His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

Asher nodded. “I do. But I need you to say it out loud.”

Daniel hesitated before rasping out, “Daniel Firth.”

“Good.” Asher leaned back. “See? This isn’t so hard.”

He continued with a few more personal questions—age, background, military experience. Daniel answered them all with forced cooperation, his head bobbing slightly as exhaustion weighed on him.

Then Asher’s tone shifted, turning sharp. “Now, let’s talk about the important stuff. Who sent you?”

Daniel remained silent.

Asher smirked. “Don’t lie to me, Daniel. I’ve already got your file. I know more about you than you think.” His eyes darkened. “If you try to bullshit me, I’ll know.”

Daniel let out a slow breath, then, to Asher’s mild amusement, a smirk curled his swollen lips. “Then why haven’t you figured out who’s behind me?”

Xander scoffed from the side. “You’re going to regret saying that.”

Asher, however, chuckled. “I like him,” he mused. “He’s got guts.”

Daniel spat blood onto the floor. “Go to hell.”

Asher stood up slowly, undoing three buttons of his shirt. He stretched his neck from side to side, rolling his shoulders. Then, he tilted his head at Daniel and asked, “How long can you hold your breath underwater?”

Daniel’s smirk faltered. His muscles stiffened slightly, and his eyes flickered with the first signs of fear.

Asher grinned. “Oh, don’t look at me like that. You started this.”

One of the enforcers wheeled in a large metal drum and set it next to Daniel. Moments later, another lackey arrived, carrying large jugs of water. Without hesitation, they began filling the drum.

Asher took this moment to step aside with Xander. He lowered his voice. “I don’t think he’s going to crack today. He’s been trained too well.”

Xander placed his hands on his waist and exhaled through his nose. “So what do you suggest?”

“Buy yourself more time.” Asher met his gaze. “You need to figure out a way to keep him here longer without making your wife walk out on you.”

Xander clenched his jaw. He didn’t have a choice.

A few minutes later, everything was in place.

Daniel was untied from the chair and forcibly restrained. His wrists and ankles were bound as he was hoisted up by thick chains attached to the ceiling, his body dangling upside down.

Asher stepped forward, his voice sharp. “Dunk him.”

With a swift motion, the men lowered Daniel’s body into the freezing water, submerging him completely.

Thirty seconds passed.

Asher casually checked his watch before giving the order. “Bring him up.”

Daniel was yanked from the water, gasping violently for air. He coughed, his chest heaving as water streamed down his face.

Asher smirked. “How was it? Do you feel like talking now?”

Daniel’s glare was filled with pure hatred. “You… son of a—”

Asher held up a hand. “Ah, ah. Save your energy.” Then, turning to Xander, he joked, “He’s doing pretty well. Must have aced this test when he was training for Arsenal.”

Xander smirked. “Sounds like it. ”

Asher snapped his fingers. “Alright. Let’s go for a full minute this time.”

Daniel barely had time to react before he was plunged back into the water.

Sixty seconds felt like an eternity.

When Daniel was finally lifted out, his face was red, his eyes bloodshot. He coughed and wheezed, struggling to catch his breath.

“You’re a bastard,” he spat weakly.

Asher’s gaze darkened. “And we’re just getting started.”

For the next round, Asher took things to another level. His methods were cruel, relentless. He played with Daniel’s mind, broke his body, and shattered his arrogance.

By the time he was done, Daniel was unconscious.

Xander sighed. “Not much progress.”

Just then, the basement door creaked open. Liam who had stepped out for a moment, entered hurriedly, glancing at Xander.

“Sir,” Liam announced. “Ma’am is back.”

Xander checked his watch, his brows furrowing. Time had flown by faster than he expected.

Asher groaned. “Damn. Bad timing.”

Xander shook his head. “We need to get out of here. Now.”

Asher nodded.

Turning to Liam, Xander issued his next order. “Clean this up. Make sure no one else comes down here.”

Liam bowed his head. “Understood.”

Without another word, Xander and Asher exited the basement, leaving behind the mess they had made.