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 buttons

his phone, aiming it at Sophia's vulnerable form. "Almost forgot-I

sparked in his mind, fueling darker ambitions. Sophia had money—he'd lost

profitable, especially when leverage came packaged so

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

Alex raced beneath shadowed streetlights toward

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

it over," one demanded

darkly, pulling out an orange.

kidding me?" the punk scoffed, confusion creasing his

"This is

thug shrugged. "Whatever, man. You give me that, I give you this

Sophia's phone

lightning speed, his hand shot out, gripping the punk's throat tight

me where Sophia is

fumbled desperately for

steel-like grip, panic

tightened his grasp further, menace dripping from his

or I swear you'll

kid gasped, dropping the

swear, it's just a

hurled him to the

some stupid herbal thing, then mail it somewhere out of state," he

get paid-that's all I

recognizing the raw terror in

by someone

threw that man

Lancaster,

until the phone buzzed back, delivering

toward the hotel, ready to unleash hell itself

breath hot and heavy, eyes glazed

Then-BOOM.

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

thickened. A storm had

now?" Charles snarled, spinning to confront

frozen steel, "you must really want to

sneer fading

Always showing up at the worst

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

Charles aimed his pistol

Move an inch, and your precious Sophia gets a bullet through her skull.