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."

shirt buttons eagerly but

idea flashed wickedly across his eyes as he drew his phone, aiming it at Sophia's vulnerable form. "Almost forgot-I have to save

his mind, fueling darker ambitions.

could prove profitable, especially when leverage

deepened to a leer as his fingers danced along the edges of Sophia's blouse, undoing buttons

beneath shadowed streetlights toward the coordinates he'd been

the gloom just as one cocky youth

over,"

pulling out an orange.

the punk scoffed, confusion creasing

insisted firmly. "This is

shrugged. "Whatever, man. You

recognized Sophia's

his hand shot out, gripping the punk's throat tight enough to choke off his

me where Sophia is

for a knife, stabbing

steel-like grip, panic

further, menace dripping from his

I swear

The kid gasped, dropping

a gig! Someone hired

him to the

thing, then mail it somewhere out of

paid-that's all I

coldly, recognizing the raw terror

by someone

threw that man

Sophia Lancaster, right

until the phone buzzed back, delivering

veins as he raced through the darkness toward the hotel, ready to unleash hell itself

his breath hot and heavy, eyes

Then-BOOM.

flying. A shadow burst through the wreckage,

thickened. A

the hell dares interrupt me now?" Charles snarled, spinning to

Alex, voice like frozen

Charles's eyes, his sneer fading into

Always showing up at the

"After all you've done, you've got the nerve

aimed his pistol

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

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