Page 82 of Sage Haven
His hand clamped down on my shoulder, his fingers digging in just enough to root me in place.
Not enough to hurt.
His breath was warm against my ear.
And ice cold in his words, “I’m really sorry about this, Sage.”
Panic hit me like a tidal wave.
I wrenched against his grip, but it was too late.
I felt the sting.
Something sharp pressed against the side of my neck.
A needle.
The sting blossomed into heat, spreading fast.
Faster than I could fight.
I stumbled, the world tilting on its axis as dizziness slammed into me like a punch. The colors bled together and the bass turned to static, warping into a low, throbbing hum.
I opened my mouth to scream, but nothing came out.
The floor rose to meet me and then the darkness swallowed me whole.
18
REICH
The House of Musicwas a predator’s paradise.
A shadowed labyrinth of blind corners, half-hidden exits, and flickering lights that seemed designed to disorient. The walls pulsed with bass-heavy music, vibrating with the chaos of bodies pressed tight in the crush of the crowd. Smoke curled in the air, cloaking everything in a thin haze, and the scent of sweat and spilled liquor clung to every surface.
The security team?Useless. Hired for appearances, trained to look the other way.
It was the kind of place where people disappeared without a sound.
Where women like Sage could be swallowed whole before anyone even realized they were missing.
And right now, it was crawling with men just like our target for the night, Lucas Renner.
I moved through the west side of the venue, my hood low over my brow, shoulders loose but ready.
It wasn’t hard to blend in.
In a place like this, people were too busy chasing their next high to notice the predator hunting in their midst.
Across the floor, Castor was already in position. I caught a flash of his blonde hair beneath the shifting strobes, hissharp gaze cutting through the crowd like a razor. He scanned everything—threats, exits and obstacles. Mapping the room in real time.
The earpiece crackled softly, as I instructed, “Take the far left. I’ll handle the right. Report back if anything stands out.”
“Copy that.” Castor’s voice was light. Too casual, as always. And then, true to form, he gave a lazy salute before melting into the crowd.
I barely registered his antics. My focus was already zeroed in.
I’d found my target.
