Page 17 of Promises in the Dark

“Hello, Doc,” I whispered fiercely into her ear, my voice a low, menacing growl.

I didn’t give a shit about her feelings. I grabbed her by the shoulders, spun her around, and slammed her back against the wall, the knife pressing harder into her neck. She tensed, and I could feel her body stiffen, instincts telling her to run or fight. But she knew better—resisting me would just make things worse.

I moved my face right up against hers, looking directly into her eyes with a cold, expressionless stare.

“You’re going to do as I say,” I hissed, the threat hanging in the air. She didn’t need me to spell it out. She knew.

“Harper, open the damn door!”

The asshole outside was getting louder, his rage boiling over as he pounded on the door like a goddamn maniac.

Red didn’t even flinch. She’d clearly heard this shit a million times before. Her face stayed blank, completely unfazed, eyes glued to me like the bastard outside didn’t exist.

“You’re gonna tell that prick to fuck off,” I said in a harsh whisper. “I don’t care how you do it, but make sure he leaves.”

The guy outside wasn’t done yet. His voice got louder, his threats starting to escalate.

“Open this door, or I swear I’ll break it down! You can’t hide from me forever!”

My finger tightening around the handle of the penknife, I gave the blade a slight nudge against her throat.

“After that, you’ll escort me to the nearest exit and vouch for me if the situation requires you to do so.”

This was not a request, but an ultimatum.

Red’s eyes widened like a scared little rabbit. The weight of my demands pressed down on her, the gravity of the situation sinking deep into her bones.

“If you yell or try to stop me, well...” I let the words hang in the air. She knew what I meant.

A twisted satisfaction ran through me as she nodded, scared out of her mind. The knife stayed pressed to her neck, grazing her skin just enough to keep her on edge. My grip didn’t waver. She needed to understand who was in charge.

“I... I’ll tell him,” she stammered, barely able to meet my eyes. “I’ll make sure he leaves.”

“Good girl,” I replied low and gravelly.

I loosened my hold on the knife, giving her a moment to breathe, but the darkness still clung to me. I wasn’t about to let up. I’d do whatever it took to get out of here.

She reached for the door, but I grabbed her wrist, stopping her. For a brief second, I felt an urge to wipe the tearsfrom her face, to touch her skin. But I pushed that shit down, hard. No time for that. I couldn’t let my guard down. Not now.

I pressed a finger to her lips, silencing whatever she was about to say.

“Make it fast,” I told her calmly, but with a deadly undertone. “I don’t have time to waste.”

This wasn’t some emotional moment. It was a power play, pure and simple. I had control, and I wasn’t about to let her forget it.

Red’s gaze met mine, resignation mirrored in her eyes. She knew there was no way out. No choice but to do what I said. She swallowed hard, opened the door, and light spilled into the room. I stayed hidden, my senses sharp, ready for whatever came next.

This was the moment I thrived on—the predator in me waiting, claws out, ready to strike if needed.

Chapter 6

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Red paused for a beat, her shaky hand reaching for the knob. Taking a deep breath, she yanked open the door, revealing that asshole standing on the other side. His mug was all twisted and grumpy, but he quickly tried to compose himself when he laid eyes on Red.

“Harper, I’m sorry,” the prick blurted out. “I didn’t mean for things to escalate like this. Can we please talk?”

Red took a step back, keeping her voice steady even though she was clearly holding it together by a thread.

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