Page 33 of Hunted to the Altar
We entered a small room at the end of the hallway, and Samuel’s men closed the door behind us, leaving us alone. The room was sparsely furnished with a single bed, a chair, and a small table. It felt more like a cell than a sanctuary.
I turned to face him, my arms crossing defensively over my chest. "What the hell is going on, Samuel? You can’t just drag me around without an explanation."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. The movement was uncharacteristically frustrating, and it gave me a glimpse of the man beneath the facade. "They’re back," he said finally, his voice tight. "The men who took you before. They’re working with my enemies now."
The blood drained from my face, and I stumbled back a step, my back hitting the wall. "What?"
Samuel’s gaze softened, just barely, as he stepped closer. "I won’t let them take you again, Nina. Do you understand me? I’ll kill every last one of them if I have to."
His words sent a shiver down my spine. There was no doubt in my mind that he meant every word. And yet, the thought of being caught in the crossfire of his world was just as terrifying as the men he was protecting me from.
"I don’t… I don’t want any of this," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I just want to be free."
Samuel’s hand cupped my cheek, his touch surprisinglygentle. "Freedom doesn’t exist, Nina. Not in the way you think it does. But I’ll keep you safe. Even if it means you hate me for it."
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break. "I’ll never be safe with you."
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might argue. But he stepped back, his gaze hardening once more. "You don’t have a choice."
The finality in his tone sent a chill through me. He wasn’t just a man fighting his enemies. He was a man fighting to keep what he considered his. And whether I liked it or not, that included me.
The hours dragged on, each one heavier than the last. Samuel barely left my side, his presence a constant reminder of the danger that lurked just beyond these walls. He was tense, his sharp gaze scanning every corner, every shadow, as if expecting an attack at any moment.
I tried to keep my distance, to stay out of his way, but it was impossible to ignore the magnetic pull between us. Every glance, every accidental brush of his hand against mine sent my heart racing. It was infuriating, the way my body betrayed me even as my mind screamed to stay away.
When night fell, I sat on the edge of the bed, my knees pulled to my chest as I stared at the door. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional sound of Samuel’s men moving through the halls.
Samuel entered the room without knocking, his presence filling the space like a storm cloud. He crossed his arms as he leaned against the doorframe, his gaze piercing.
"You should try to sleep," he said, his tone softer than I expected.
I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. "Sleep? In this place? With you?"
His lips twitched into something resembling a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "I’m not the one you should be afraid of."
"No," I said, meeting his gaze head-on. "You’re just the one keeping me here."
For a moment, the tension between us crackled like a live wire. Then, without a word, Samuel stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate. He crouched in front of me, his eyes level with mine.
"I know you hate me," he mumbled. "But if you’re going to survive this, you need to trust me."
I searched his face for any sign of deceit, but all I saw was grim determination. It was a terrifying thing, to realize that the man who held me captive might also be the only one capable of keeping me alive.
As he stood, the faintest flicker of something warmer crossed his face. "Goodnight, Mrs. Caputo."
My breath hitched. "Stop calling me that."
He smirked, the arrogance in his expression only fueling my irritation. "Go to sleep, Nina. Tomorrow will be worse."
He closed the door behind him, leaving me alone with the suffocating weight of his words.
That night, sleep came reluctantly, dragging me down into its embrace like a reluctant lover. But it wasn’t the nightmares I expected that greeted me. Instead, vivid and unwelcome warmth coursed through my veins.
In the dream, Samuel stood close, his intense blue eyes locking onto mine with a fire that made my breath hitch. His hand brushed my cheek, his touch softer than I’d imagined he was capable of. My body betrayed me, leaning into him, even as my mind screamed to pull away.
"You’re mine," he murmured, his voice a low, dangerous growl that sent shivers down my spine. His lips hovered, teasing, taunting, until I thought I might lose my mind from the anticipation.
I arched with a moan, trying to entice him.
