Page 62 of Bound to the Guard

Damien’s menacing growl fills the room. “Watch your mouth, Doc. Or I’ll make sure you never speak again.”

The Doctor pales, but he doesn’t back down. “Do your worst. I won’t betray my life’s work.”

“You’re not untouchable here, Doctor. Your connections won’t protect you anymore. Here’s the thing, Doc.” Caleb grabs one of his fingers and snaps it backward, raising his voice to be heard over the man’s scream. “We don’t care about your friends in high places. We don’t care about your twisted vision for the future. All we care about is getting the information we need, and I’ll cut off every single one of your fingers to get it.”

The Doctor’s chest heaves as he stares down at his finger, sweat trickling down his temple. Finally, he realizes he’s trapped. That there’s no way out, just like there was no escape for his victims.

“Okay.” He takes a shaky breath, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “Okay, I’ll tell you what you want to know. Just don’t…My hands are precious tools. Don’t touch my hands.”

Caleb dips his chin in agreement. “Your hands will be safe.”

As the Doctor begins to speak, a sense of grim satisfaction settles in my chest.

Milo pulls out his phone to take notes, sharp questions prodding the Doctor when he falters.

He gives names and payment schedules, along with the labs where he sources his ingredients.

When he winds down, Milo purses his lips. “Everything he gave us was on his computers. We don’t need him.”

“Wait!” The Doctor fights his restraints. “Please, you have to understand. I can help you. I can be useful.”

Milo puts his phone away. “You shouldn’t have kept such excellent records if you wanted to sell that line.”

“You can’t do this!” He kicks the floor, but the bolts that attach the chair to the floor keep him in place. “I’m a human being with rights!”

His words transport me back to the cold, sterile lab. How many times did I beg for mercy, just like this? How many times did I promise to do anything, if only he would stop the pain?

The Doctor had never listened. He had never shown an ounce of compassion or remorse. Now, as he grovels for his own life, anger burns through my veins.

“Why would we spare you?” My body trembles. “After everything you’ve done?”

The room falls silent, all attention turning to me. I fight back the fear that threatens to overwhelm me. I’ve spent so long being afraid, so long letting others control my fate.

But not anymore.

“I’m the reason they found you.” I grow stronger with each word. “I used what I knew about the lab to track you down. I remembered every detail, every horrible thing you did to me. And I used it against you.”

The Doctor’s mouth goes slack with shock. “07825, listen?—”

“I am not a number!” A bitter laugh escapes my lips. “How many times did I beg you to let me go? How many times did I plead for my freedom? But you never listened. You never cared.”

Heart pounding, I take a step closer. “So why should anyone listen to you now?”

The Doctor opens his mouth, but no words come out. He looks to Damien and Caleb, hoping for some kind of intervention.

They remain silent, their expressions unyielding.

A strange sense of power washes over me. For so long, I’ve been at the mercy of others, my fate decided by those who saw me as nothing more than a commodity to be bought and sold.

Now, as I stand here facing the man who once held my life in his hands, I’m no longer that scared, broken boy from the lab. I’m a survivor. No one can take that from me.

I grow steadier as I continue. “You said I was your favorite, but you treated me like I was nothing. You took everything from me. My freedom, my dignity, my sense of self. And for what? Your twisted experiments? Your sick idea of progress? I never needed you to fix me.”

The Doctor flinches at my words, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. But there’s nowhere for him to go.

Damien steps forward, his hand resting on my shoulder. The warmth of his touch grounds me, reminding me that I’m not alone. I have people who care about me, who will fight for me.

“Today, you will answer for your crimes.” Damien’s eyes take on the same chill as his twins. “You will never hurt another Omega again.”

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