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

eyes as he drew his phone, aiming it at Sophia's vulnerable form. "Almost forgot-I have

darker ambitions.

when leverage came packaged

fingers danced along the edges of

raced beneath shadowed streetlights toward

just as one cocky

it over," one demanded

out an orange. "This is your precious

kidding me?" the punk scoffed, confusion creasing his arrogant

joke," Alex insisted firmly. "This is exactly

"Whatever, man. You give me

Sophia's phone

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

where Sophia is

fumbled desperately for a knife, stabbing ineffectually

panic blossoming rapidly into

tightened his grasp further, menace dripping

swear you'll never

don't know!" The kid

a gig! Someone hired me

him

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

get paid-that's all

recognizing the raw

played, manipulated by someone else's sinister

his breath, Alex threw that man

Lancaster, right

like eternity until the phone

through the darkness toward the hotel, ready to unleash hell itself

and heavy, eyes glazed with hunger as her

Then-BOOM.

flying. A shadow burst through the wreckage, tall,

thickened. A storm had

now?" Charles snarled,

like frozen

in Charles's eyes, his sneer fading

you, Alex. Always

eyes narrowed. "After all you've done,

a sinister chuckle, Charles aimed

precious Sophia gets a bullet through her skull. You love her enough to

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