Page 6

“ L ast call!” the bartender announces after turning the music down.

“Hmm, one more drink here or your place?” Joel purrs as he gulps down the last of his whiskey.

Giggling, I feel the effects of the copious amounts of alcohol we’ve had tonight. “Yeah, I’ve got some vodka; I think,” I stumble over my words for a moment but the sexy smile he flashes me is almost enough to sober me up.

Holy fuck, I need to call Lexi. It’s happening! God, what if my entire fantasy comes true tonight?! It will then be the best night ever. OMG, manifesting does work. Who knew?

“Perfect! Let’s go,” he says, getting up from his seat at the booth and moves toward the bar to pay the tab.

“One sec. I need to—” Before I can finish my statement, the bartender cuts me off by turning the music back up to an almost deafening volume and all the patrons cheer as they move to the bar to order their last drinks for the night.

I motion to the restroom with a shy smile and Joel nods his understanding before getting the bartender's attention.

I make a beeline to the restrooms at the back of the pub and curse under my breath as I spot the impossibly long line for the restroom. Fucking hell! I really need to pee. I whine to myself as I shift from one foot to the other at the back of the line.

After almost ten minutes, the line has barely moved, and I start getting pissed off as I hear a group of girls talking shit inside.

Argh! Really? Some of us need to actually use the facilities! God, it feels like my back teeth are floating by now!

In a last-ditch attempt to distract myself from the incessant need to pee, I reach for my phone in my bag; determined to call Alex and share the exhilarating turn of events.

I dial her number, my fingertips dancing across the touchscreen.

The anticipation builds with each ringing tone, but my mood deflates like a balloon when her voicemail greets me with its robotic monotone.

Strange. She always answers my calls. Wait, what time is it?

Checking the time on my phone, I notice that it’s almost two in the morning. She should still be up.

Disappointed but undeterred, I resign myself to the fact that my news will have to wait.

Maybe she’s busy? The line inches forward at an agonizing pace, teasing me with the tantalizing proximity of sweet relief.

It feels like hours pass as I shuffle forward, my desperation growing with every passing second.

Finally— after what feels like an eternity —I make it inside the restroom. The air is thick with a mix of floral-scented perfume and fragrant hand soap. The dull roar of drunken conversations and laughter echoes off the tiled walls, creating a symphony of sound that reverberates through the space.

Stepping into a cubicle, I quickly handle my business, momentarily forgetting about the unanswered phone call. But as I exit the stall, my mind jolts back to reality, and sudden unease coils in my gut. With renewed determination, I dig out my phone from the depths of my purse once more.

I swipe across the screen to unlock it, only to see that dreaded symbol—the battery icon glowing red in its last gasps of life. Fuck! Ugh, guess it’ll have to wait.

Saturday, 1:45 AM

I’m not sure how much time passes before the door creaks open again, and Fintan appears in the doorway.

“Ready to play?” he rumbles ominously, advancing toward me.

He loosens the ropes binding my numb limbs.

I attempt to stand, but my arms and legs resist, stiffened from prolonged restraint on the frigid floor.

My heart pounds as I stare wide-eyed at the two masked men. Their calm demeanors chill me to the bone while panic courses through my veins.

“Let me explain our game,” Fintan purrs, sending a shudder down my spine.

He rolls up the rope with practiced ease.

“If you’re good, we’ll give you a head start.

Find the key hidden somewhere in the building and we’ll let you go; But if we catch you…

” He trails off, letting the implication hang in the air.

I gulp. My mouth is impossibly dry. Kieran leans casually against the wall as if this is all perfectly normal.

“Cat got your tongue, little Dove?” Fintan chuckles. I jerk my head toward him, unable to mask the raw terror in my eyes. My legs tremble as I force myself to stand. These men could do anything to me, and I’m utterly at their mercy.

Fuck, how am I supposed to run when I can barely stand?

My heart pounds as Fintan and Kieran circle me, their eyes practically glowing with predatory excitement.

“Don’t worry,” Kieran purrs, his voice dripping with malice.

“Don’t worry. We’ll go slow—at first,” he growls.

“But if you make it too easy for us, we’ll have to make it more interesting, won’t we? ”

I swallow hard, summoning every ounce of courage I possess.

Their gaze rakes over me, assessing my every move like lions sizing up helpless prey.

“Where’s the key?” I try my luck, batting my eyelashes, hoping they might show me some mercy.

My voice comes out as a shaky whisper in my attempt to gain some control in this fucking terrifying situation.

Yeah… That doesn’t sound pathetic at all.

Fintan laughs cruelly, tossing aside the rope coiled in his hands.

“Nice try, little Dove. You’ll have to play our game to find it.

” He steps closer, stroking my cheek. I flinch at his touch but he just chuckles.

“We’re not going to just let you win our fun little game.

The clock is ticking, doll. You better start running,” he says, grabbing my shoulders and pushing me towards the basement door.

“Run, baby. Run!” Kieran growls as I stumble past him toward the dark hallway. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves and focus on the task at hand.

I must find that key.

. With a deep breath, I force myself to steady my nerves and focus on the terrifying task ahead. I try every door, drawer, nook, and cranny I can find. Nothing. The key is nowhere to be seen.

This place is fucking huge! What if I don’t find it? What if I find it, but they catch me before I get to the door?

I turn the corner and freeze. There’s a glint of metal wedged between the wall and door.

My heart pounds as I rush over and pry it free with trembling fingers.

Footsteps echo down the hall, growing louder.

They are closing in on me as I turn to run to the main entrance.

This doesn’t feel like a game anymore. There is no longer a doubt in my mind that I am in real danger.

I bolt for the door, key clenched in my fist. A hand shoots out and seizes my wrist in an iron grip.

“Gotcha,” Kieran says, probably smirking beneath his mask and I cry out as he squeezes, a predatory growl vibrating from his throat as he forces me to my knees.

Fintan looms over me, eyes dark with disappointment.

Terror seizes me. I’m trapped, at their mercy.

Will I make it out of this twisted game alive?

I hold up the key with my free hand, hoping it might buy me some mercy. But they only laugh.

“Oh, sweet, na?ve little Dove,” Kieran tsks.

“You didn’t make it outside, even with the head start we so kindly gave you. You made it too easy for us,” Fintan adds, winking before he grabs the key and dangles it before me mockingly. “Now, we’re going to have some real fun.”

Before I can react, he grabs me and throws me over his shoulder. “No! Please, please, put me down! Let me go! Fuck, I-I promise I won’t tell anyone if you let me leave!” I scream and struggle as he carries me out of the dim hallway and up a flight of stairs.

“I think not, baby. You lost. Now the real fun can begin. Why don’t you be a good girl and shut the fuck up, or I will give you a new meaning to sore loser !

Your pitiful screams and cries for help won’t stop us; we’ll just be more determined to break you,” he growls, his heated voice ghosting over my thigh as it brushes against his mask.

We end up in a room resembling a psychopath’s red room. A large bed dominates the center of the room, and various sex toys, weapons, and restraints litter the walls and furniture.

Oh my God.