Page 72 of Savage Loyalty

The silence stretched between us before he finally turned and walked out. I exhaled slowly, the tension coiling tighter in my chest. The clock was ticking, and failure wasn’t an option.

Delilah was out there. And no matter what it took, I was going to bring her home.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

DELILAH

The cold seeped into my bones as I blinked into the darkness, my head pounding and my wrists aching from the restraints. The sharp metallic clang of chains echoed as I shifted on the hard mattress beneath me. The air was damp and stale, carrying the faint scent of mildew and something far more sinister—blood.

My breathing quickened as reality came crashing down. The Iron Serpents. I wasn’t just another victim. I was a pawn in their twisted game—a way to strike at Ryder and Axel. My child wasn’t even born yet, and already, they were caught in the middle of a war they had no part in.

I fought back tears as I took in my surroundings. The room was bare except for the cot I was chained to, its thin mattress offering little comfort. A single dull, flickering lightbulb hung from the ceiling, casting eerie shadows on the cracked concrete walls. I’d never felt so alone or so terrified.

The sound of heavy boots echoed outside the door, each step sending a jolt of fear through me. The door creaked open, and a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped inside. His face was rugged, his expression one of cruel amusement. He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe, his presence filling the room with menace.

“Awake, huh?” he said, his voice gravelly. “Good. I was starting to think you’d sleep through all the fun we have planned.”

I glared at him, refusing to let him see how scared I was. “What do you want?” I demanded, my voice steadier than I expected.

The man chuckled darkly. “What do I want? Sweetheart, it’s not about what I want. It’s about sending a message. Your baby daddy and your brother… they’re about to learn what happens when you fuck with the Serpents.”

“You’re cowards,” I spat. “Taking me won’t win you this war. It’ll just get you killed faster.”

His smirk faded, replaced by a dangerous glint in his eyes. He stepped closer, and I instinctively pressed back against the wall. “You’ve got a sharp tongue,” he said, grabbing my chin roughly. “But you’ll learn your place soon enough.”

I jerked my head away, my heart racing. “Touch me again, and I swear I’ll make you regret it.”

The man’s eyes darkened, and without warning, his hand shot out, striking me across the face. Pain exploded along my cheekbone, and I gasped, my vision blurring for a moment. “You’re in no position to make threats, sweetheart,” he growled. “You’re nothing but leverage. A tool. And tools don’t talk back.”

Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. My body trembled as fear clawed at me, but I held his gaze, forcing myself to stay defiant. Inside, I was a storm of emotions—terror, anger, and a crushing sense of helplessness. I pressed a hand to my stomach, trying to steady myself, trying to remind myself why I had to endure this.

His laughter was cold and humorless. “You’ve got fight. I’ll give you that. But let’s see how long that lasts.” He reached for his belt, and for a moment, my blood turned to ice. But before he could do anything more, another Serpent appeared in the doorway.

“Enough,” the second man said, his tone sharp. “Boss wants her in one piece.”

The first man sneered but stepped back. “For now,” he muttered, shooting me a final glare before leaving the room. The second man lingered for a moment, his eyes cold and calculating.

“You should hope they find you soon,” he said flatly. “Because if they don’t, we’ll stop needing you alive.”

The door slammed shut, and I was plunged back into the dull light. My body trembled as I fought to keep my emotions in check. I couldn’t break. Not here. Not now.

Memories flooded my mind, unbidden. I saw my father standing in this very house, his voice raised in anger as he argued with my mother. The same walls that had once echoed with their fights now surrounded me in my darkest moment. My father had been ruthless, unforgiving, a man who valued power above all else. And now, I wondered if I’d inherited any of his strength.

I pressed a hand to my stomach, the movement limited by the chains. “We’re going to get out of this,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I promise.”

The hours stretched on, each second an eternity. The Serpents’ voices filtered through the walls, their laughter and taunts reminding me just how precarious my situation was. I knew Ryder would come for me. Axel too. But would they be in time?

The door opened again, and this time, two men entered. One carried a tray of food, the other a length of chain. My pulse quickened as they approached.

“Eat up,” the first man said, dropping the tray onto the cot. “You’ll need your strength.”

“For what?” I asked, my voice defiant.

The second man grinned, his teeth yellowed and uneven. “For whatever happens next.”

They left without another word, and I stared at the tray. The food looked unappetizing, but I forced myself to eat. I couldn’t afford to be weak, not now.

As I chewed, I thought of Ryder. His baby growing inside me. I thought of Axel, his overbearing protectiveness and the way he’d always tried to shield me from this life. They had their flaws, their grudges, but I knew one thing for certain: they’d burn the world down to save me.

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