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

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

in his mind, fueling darker ambitions. Sophia

especially when leverage came

leer as his fingers danced along the

town, Alex raced beneath shadowed streetlights

stepped into the gloom just as one cocky youth emerged, arrogance etched on his

it over," one demanded

pulling out an orange.

scoffed,

joke," Alex insisted firmly. "This is exactly

young 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 enough to choke

where Sophia is right

youth fumbled desperately for a knife, stabbing

steel-like grip, panic blossoming

his grasp further, menace dripping from his

swear you'll never breathe

kid gasped,

it's just a

hurled him to the

then mail it somewhere out of state," he wheezed, voice ragged with

get paid-that's

recognizing the raw

been played, manipulated by someone else's

breath, Alex threw that man away and swiftly

Lancaster,

felt like eternity until the phone buzzed back, delivering the grim

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

breath hot and

Then-BOOM.

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

A storm

dares interrupt me now?" Charles snarled, spinning to confront

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

Charles's eyes, his sneer fading into something colder,

so it's you, Alex. Always showing up

Alex hissed, eyes narrowed. "After all you've done, you've got

chuckle, Charles aimed his pistol straight at

hero. Move an inch, and your precious Sophia gets a bullet through her skull. You love her enough to beg, don't