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."

reached for his shirt buttons eagerly but paused

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

sparked in his 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

town, Alex raced beneath shadowed streetlights toward the

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

it over,"

pulling out an orange. "This is your precious

punk scoffed, confusion

insisted firmly. "This is exactly

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

recognized Sophia's

gripping the punk's throat tight enough to choke off

Sophia

the youth fumbled desperately for a knife, stabbing ineffectually

steel-like grip, panic

grasp further, menace dripping from

or I swear you'll never breathe

don't know!" The kid gasped, dropping the

it's just a gig! Someone

hurled him

just take the phone, exchange it for some stupid herbal thing, then mail it somewhere out of state," he wheezed, voice ragged

paid-that's all I

the raw terror in the

been played, manipulated by someone

his breath, Alex threw that

Sophia Lancaster,

until the phone buzzed back, delivering the

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

and heavy, eyes glazed with

Then-BOOM.

wood flying. A shadow burst through the wreckage, tall, fierce, and

air thickened. A storm had

interrupt me now?" Charles snarled, spinning

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

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

it's you, Alex. Always showing up

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

chuckle, Charles aimed his pistol straight at

a bullet through her skull. You love her enough to beg, don't you?