Page 26 of Savage Angels

She presses a gun into my spine, and as she drags me away, all I can think about is how desperately I need to protect those I love. But for now, I am trapped at the mercy of a madwoman who claims to be my savior.

“Please,” I whisper, my voice cracking with fear and desperation. “Just let me go…”

“Never,” Stella replies, her grip on me unrelenting as we disappear into the crowd of people near where we were spending the day.

Thoughts of escape run through my mind, but with Stella having a gun, I don’t want to put anyone in danger.

Chapter Ten

KAT

Present

The stench of rotting garbage and stale cigarette smoke assaults my nostrils as I blink my eyes open, trying to adjust to the dim light. The room is filthy, a dingy hole that barely resembles a habitable space. The walls are stained with grime and peeling paint, and the only furniture is a single rickety wooden chair with Stella sitting on it, watching me.

“Awake now, princess?” Stella asks, her cold eyes locked onto mine. “About time you faced reality.”

“Reality?” I spit, my heart thudding in my chest. “You’re fucking delusional, Stella.”

“Me? Delusional?” She laughs, a bitter sound that sends chills down my spine. “I’m the one trying to save your sorry ass.”

“Save me?” I hiss, desperately scanning the room for anything I can use to escape. A broken windowpane catches my attention but is too small to squeeze through. “From what, exactly?”

“From them,” Stella replies cryptically, her gaze unwavering. “Your precious Grinders ain’t what they seem, Kat.”

“Shut up,” I snarl, refusing to let her words get under my skin. “You don’t know anything about them.”

“Wrong.” Stella leans in closer, her eyes daring me to challenge her. “I’ve been watchin’ you all for years, sweetheart. I know more than you think.”

“Stalking people doesn’t make you an expert, Stella,” I retort, my pulse racing as I try to figure out a way to break free from my restraints. My wrists are bound tightly behind my back with a coarse rope that digs into my skin, and my head throbs from being pistol-whipped into unconsciousness. I need to get away from this lunatic before she does something even more drastic.

“Call it what you want.” Stella shrugs, her expression chillingly calm. “But I’ve seen the danger you’re in, and I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Your fucked-up obsession doesn’t give you the right to kidnap me,” I spit out, struggling against the ropes as quietly as possible.

“Sometimes people need to be saved from themselves,” she replies smugly, leaning back in her chair and watching me with predatory eyes. “It’s my job to open your eyes, Kat. Whether you like it or not.”

“Go to hell,” I mutter, my heart pounding as I feel the rope around my wrists loosen ever so slightly.

“Been there, done that,” Stella quips, a twisted grin spreading across her face. “Now, let’s see if we can make you see the light.”

As she stands up, I brace myself for whatever twisted lesson she has planned. But one thing is certain—I am not going down without a fight.

Stella’s eyes flicker with a volatile mix of emotions, her gaze boring into me like a drill. I have never felt so vulnerable, but I cannot afford to show fear. I have to keep my wits about me if I am going to escape.

“Y’know, Kat,” she says casually, the sudden calm in her voice more unsettling than her previous outbursts. “I did you a favor once. Killed that bastard, Gareth Goodman, for you and Will Van Ryken. Gave him a drug overdose in the hospital. Made it look like suicide.”

My stomach churns at her words, bile rising in my throat. “You sick fuck,” I say, unable to contain my disgust.

I need to stay focused on finding a way out of this hellhole, but the thought of Stella murdering someone in cold blood fills me with rage.

“Aw, don’t be like that,” Stella coos mockingly. “You should be grateful. He was a threat to you, after all.” Her voice is as smooth as silk, trying to lull me into a false sense of security, but her expression darkens. “And now I’m the only one who can protect you.”

“Protect me?” I snort, adrenaline coursing through my veins. “From what? My shadow?”

“From people who want to hurt you, sweetheart. People like Gareth, who would’ve been all too happy to see you suffer.” There is a twisted sincerity in her words, sending shivers down my spine.

As she speaks, I catalog every item in the filthy room, searching for anything that might help me break free. My attention settles on a rusty pipe in the corner, just within reach of my bound feet. If I could somehow maneuver it toward me, maybe I could use it to cut through the ropes.

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