The Almighty Dominance

Alex sat cross-legged in the dark silence, eyes shut tight, chasing calm.

The piercing shriek of his phone shattered the stillness.

He glanced over reluctantly, recognizing Sophia's number flashing insistently on the screen.

His stomach twisted; every conversation they'd had lately ended in bitter arguments. He decided to ignore it, letting the incessant ring echo through the

room.

But the phone wouldn't stop, vibrating angrily for five relentless minutes.

With an aggravated sigh, he picked it up.

"What the hell took you so long, asshole?" barked a voice clearly not Sophia's-a rough, hostile voice dripping venom.

Alex's brow furrowed. "Who the hell is this?"

"Your worst goddamn nightmare," growled the stranger.

"Listen carefully. You've got something valuable-an ingredient for the elixir. Hand

it over, or Sophia's going to have the worst night of her life."

"Charles?" Alex questioned, voice edged with suspicion, though the unfamiliar growl threw him off.

"I don't know any Charles," snapped the caller impatiently. "Give me what I want, or she's dead. Simple as that."

"Fine," Alex said coldly. "Where do you want the exchange?"

"I'll send you the coordinates. Screw this up, and she pays the price." The call disconnected abruptly.

Without another word, Alex grabbed his keys and stormed from the clinic to his car, heart pounding fiercely in his chest.

Whoever waited at the rendezvous point would pay dearly.

Meanwhile, sprawled limply on the hotel bed, Sophia fought to regain

consciousness, her limbs like lead and head spinning painfully.

Charles loomed over her, eyes glinting with cruel delight as he admired her helpless beauty.

"I have to say, Sophia, you're something special," Charles sneered, his voice thick with twisted admiration.

"I've tasted plenty, but none as delicious as you. You wasted your time with Alex- that weakling could never appreciate you. But after tonight, you'll belong to me completely."

hands reached for his shirt

phone, aiming

mind, fueling darker

when leverage came packaged so

leer as his fingers danced along the edges of Sophia's blouse, undoing

shadowed streetlights

bleak bridge, he stepped into the gloom just as one cocky youth emerged,

it over,"

darkly, pulling out an orange. "This

the punk scoffed,

"This is exactly

baffled grunt, the young thug shrugged. "Whatever, man. You give me that, I

Sophia's phone

gripping the punk's

Sophia is

fumbled desperately for a knife, stabbing

panic blossoming

further, menace dripping from his

now, or I swear you'll never

The kid

it's just a gig! Someone hired me

hurled him

phone, exchange it for some stupid herbal thing, then mail it somewhere out of

paid-that's

coldly, recognizing the raw terror in the boy's wide

played, manipulated by

that man away and swiftly dialed another

Sophia Lancaster,

until the phone buzzed back,

he raced through the darkness toward the hotel, ready to unleash hell itself upon anyone who stood in his

like a madman, his breath hot and heavy, eyes glazed with hunger as her body lay

Then-BOOM.

inward with a thunderous crack, wood flying. A shadow burst through the wreckage,

A storm

hell dares interrupt me now?"

like frozen steel, "you must really want to

his sneer fading into

it's you, Alex. Always

fool," Alex hissed, eyes narrowed. "After all you've done, you've got the nerve to lay your filthy hands on

aimed his pistol straight at Sophia's

your precious Sophia gets a bullet through her skull. You love