Page 39 of Fear

Before she could react, a hand struck her face—hard. The impact sent her stumbling, a sharp burst of pain exploding through her skull. She tasted blood.

The room tilted as she caught herself, blinking hard, her cheekbone throbbing. A sharp sting ran down her lip, warm liquid dripping down her chin. She lifted a shaking hand to her mouth, touching the blood.

Slowly, she looked up. Markus stood there, his knuckles still clenched, a smug grin on his face. Her stomach coiled with disgust.

Jason sighed, shaking his head. “I didn’t want it to come to this, Sofia.”

His eyes darkened, voice dropping into something lethal. “But you’re mine. You don’t get to say no.”

Her breath hitched.

“You’re going to stay here. You’re going to do your job. And if you fight me—” He leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper. “I can do so much worse.”

Sofia’s nails dug into her palms. She had to get out of here, because Jason Rodes wasn’t just trying to keep her. He was trying to own her, and she would rather die than let that happen.

A sharp jerk on her arm pulled her forward, the pain from her split lip and throbbing cheekbone barely registering over the sheer terror pooling in her stomach.

They were going to lock her away. She dug her heels into the ground, trying to resist, but Markus just laughed, tightening his grip, dragging her down a narrow hallway.

“I’d save my energy if I were you, sweetheart,” he sneered, glancing over his shoulder. “Ain’t nobody coming to save you.”

But he was wrong, because Goliath was out there. Somewhere, her mate. her wolf, and if there was one thing she knew about that man—it was that he would burn the fucking world down before he let anyone keep her, but what if he didn’t find her?

What if Jason was too careful, too smart, too many steps ahead? Or worse—what if Goliath did find her, but he walked straight into a trap?

Her stomach twisted; she couldn’t let that happen. Markus yanked open a metal door, shoving her inside.

Sofia stumbled forward, catching herself just before she hit the cold, unforgiving floor.

The room was small—no windows, just four cement walls and a single, flickering overhead light. There was a cot against the far wall, thin and worn, barely more than a slab of fabric. A rusted metal bucket sat in the corner—her toilet, apparently.

A prison cell, that’s what this was. A cage.

She turned, glaring at Markus. “What, no chains? Or do you prefer when the women you kidnap actually fight back?”

Markus’ grin widened. “I like it better when they scream.”

Revulsion coiled in her stomach.

Jason’s voice echoed behind him. “She’s not to be touched.”

Markus rolled his eyes, shoving the door shut with a loud metallic clang. Then—the lock turned.

Sofia whirled, gripping the bars, shaking them. “Jason, you can’t fucking do this!”

Jason only smiled, his hands in his pockets, cool and utterly in control.

“I can,” he said. “And I will.”

Then he turned, walking away, leaving her trapped.

Her breath came fast and shallow, her heart slamming against her ribs as she spun in a slow circle, taking in every inch of the space. No vents, no loose panels, no way out. She forced herself to breathe. Don’t panic. Don’t let them see you scared.

But as she sank onto the cot, her body aching, her mind racing, one thought pounded over and over in her skull.

What if Goliath doesn’t find me? And worse—what if he does?

Because if Goliath came for her, if he stormed through these gates in his blind rage, Jason would be ready, and she couldn’t lose him. Not now, not ever.

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