Page 44

“And her family?” I continue, my voice tight with obsessive fury at the thought of interference. “Her sister calls regularly. We need to be careful.”

“Hydessa will be our biggest concern,” Ruin agrees coldly. “We'll keep Seanna compliant during their calls. She'll learn quickly—defiance won't help her here.”

“She'll fight us at first,” I remark, a dark smile curving beneath my mask.

Ruin chuckles softly, the sound all the more sinister due to the modulator. “Of course she will. The fight in her is what makes her so fucking irresistible. She’ll understand soon enough that she’s ours. Forever.”

We lock gazes, the intensity of our shared obsession crackling like electricity in the air between us. The partnership we've forged through years of friendship is unbreakable, united now in our singular goal—Seanna Darling. She’s our storm—unpredictable, fierce, completely unapologetic. She has no idea of the things we’ll do now that we have her.

“We need to go,” I finally say, my voice low and decisive. “The place is ready, secure. No one will find her there.”

Ruin nods in agreement, watching as I shift Seanna gently, ensuring her comfort even in her unconscious state. We move swiftly, and I lead us out, glancing back briefly to confirm our flawless extraction. Once in the car, the drive passes quickly, each mile bringing us closer to our fortress—isolated, hidden from prying eyes.

My mind spins relentlessly with visions of how she'll react upon awakening. The rage, the fire, the struggle—I crave it all, deeply and obsessively. Each thought makes my heart race, desire intensifying until I'm painfully hard beneath my tactical gear. The thought of her fighting against us—against me—sets my nerves ablaze with possessive hunger. I crave her ferocity, the savage rebellion in her spirit. It's intoxicating.

This isn't about breaking her—not exactly. It's about keeping her safe, protecting her even from herself. I know she'll resist, she'll rage, and I relish it. Because her fight, her wild darkness, it's the drug I crave most. And now that I have her, I won't let go. Ever.

I look toward Ruin again, sensing the dangerous edge to his anticipation. “Soon,” I assure quietly, my voice chilling even through modulation. “She’ll understand she belongs with us.”

“Forever,” Ruin repeats fervently, glancing at Seanna's peaceful face one more time. "There's no going back now. Not for her, not for us."

She belongs to us now. Completely. Irrevocably. The world can burn for all I care, as long as she remains ours.

“I wouldn't have it any other way.”

Chapter 20

Seanna

Themomentconsciousnessslamsback into me, rage ignites, hot and furious. I jerk violently, snarling in frustration as thick, unforgiving chains bite painfully into my wrists and ankles, anchored securely to the heavy wrought-iron bed frame beneath me. The bed itself is lavish yet oppressive—black silk sheets cool against my skin, plush velvet pillows in dark jewel tones—emeralds, rubies and sapphires—offering deceptive comfort. The luxury mocks me cruelly as I'm bound like some captured animal.

I force myself to breathe, my eyes scanning my surroundings meticulously. The room is windowless, cloaked entirely in deep shades of burgundy and charcoal—almost exactly matching my preferred style. Against one wall, a large dresser carved from rich mahogany stands imposingly, polished to a dark, reflective sheen, its surface bare except for a single, dim lamp casting faint, eerie illumination across the room. A tall, intricately designed wardrobe looms menacingly nearby, solid and dark like a sentinel guarding its secrets. Even the plush, black leather armchair tucked into the far corner adds to the room’s oppressive elegance.

Clever assholes. Clearly, they've paid attention. That realization fuels my anger even more.

My gaze finally locks onto the shadowed figure slouched casually in the armchair. He blends seamlessly with his surroundings, nearly invisible save for the subtle reflective gleam of his glasses over his tactical mask. For a moment, he's so still I think he might be asleep. But then his head tilts slightly, assessing me silently like a coiled snake ready to strike.

"And which asshole are you?" I spit venomously, tugging uselessly against the restraints again, aching to get my hands around his throat.

He chuckles softly, a distorted, darkly amused sound that sends unwelcome, traitorous shivers crawling down my spine. I hate him instantly, hate the way his presence pulls at something twisted and primal inside me, blurring the line between pure hatred and an unsettling spark of lust.

"Ruin," he confirms, voice distorted by his mask yet resonating deep and disturbingly intimate.

"How are your ribs? Hope I cracked a few," I snarl back sharply, clinging fiercely to my defiance.

He leans forward slightly, moving with deliberate, predatory calm. "I'll live," he murmurs smoothly, utterly unbothered. "Though I'd gladly accept as many strikes as necessary if it means keeping you safe."

"Safe?" I scoff incredulously, rage flashing brighter in my eyes. "You ruined everything. You ruined my investigation. I didn't ask for your protection. Didn't want it. So don't pretend you're doing me any fucking favors."

He shifts again. "We warned you, Seanna. You refused to listen and wouldn't stop pushing toward Reyes, despite the warnings. This outcome is your own doing."

I sneer openly, lifting my chin defiantly. "Oh, please. You think chaining me up in some gothic horror fantasy is going to intimidate me into submission? You’re even more pathetic than I thought. Speaking of—are you ever gonna show your fucking face, or are you too chickenshit to let me see exactly who I’m dealing with?"

"We have our reasons," he replies evenly, maddeningly unfazed by my aggression.

"Coward," I hiss, twisting violently again, feeling the unforgiving bite of the restraints against skin. "Only cowards hide behind masks."

"Careful, little storm," he warns softly, danger curling in the deceptive gentleness of his tone. "Push me too far and you might not like the consequences."