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."

for his shirt buttons eagerly but

wickedly across his eyes as he drew his phone, aiming it at Sophia's vulnerable form.

mind, fueling darker

prove profitable, especially when leverage came packaged

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

raced beneath shadowed streetlights toward the coordinates he'd

stepped into the gloom just as one cocky youth

over," one

darkly, pulling out an orange. "This is your

kidding me?" the punk scoffed, confusion creasing his

firmly. "This is

grunt, the young thug shrugged. "Whatever, man. You give

recognized Sophia's

shot out, gripping the punk's throat

me where Sophia is

youth fumbled desperately for

steel-like grip, panic blossoming

his grasp further, menace dripping

now, or I swear

The kid gasped, dropping

just a

Alex hurled him to

the phone, exchange it for some stupid herbal thing, then mail

get paid-that's all I

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

played, manipulated by someone

his breath, Alex threw that

Sophia Lancaster, right

phone buzzed back, delivering the

darkness toward the hotel, ready to unleash hell itself upon anyone who

breath hot and heavy,

Then-BOOM.

with a thunderous crack, wood flying. A shadow burst through the wreckage, tall, fierce, and

A storm had

hell dares interrupt me now?" Charles snarled,

growled Alex, voice like frozen steel, "you must really want

flashed in Charles's eyes, his sneer fading into

Alex. Always showing up at the

you've done, you've got the nerve to lay your filthy hands

sinister chuckle, Charles aimed his pistol straight at

inch, and your precious Sophia gets a bullet through