Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
I swallow hard, trying to work moisture into my mouth. “Hello?” I call, voice trembling.
The figure stirs, turning toward me. A wash of faint light from a narrow gap overhead slides across her face, and I gasp. It’s Sophia—my brother Dean’s wife. Her hair is matted and she appears pissed off. Shock slams into me, stealing my breath. What is she doing here? Does Dean know she’s missing?
But of course, I’ve been so lost in my own infiltration of Club Greed, the kidnapping… there’s no telling how long she’s been trapped here. My chest constricts at the realization that we’re both caught in this twisted scheme, whatever it is.
“Isabel?” Sophia’s voice cracks, raw with anger. She blinks as though she can’t quite believe what she’s seeing.
Tears prick my eyes, and I edge closer on my knees, ignoring the screaming protest of my joints. “Sophia,” I whisper. “God, are you okay?”
She tries to nod but ends up shaking her head, tears brimming. “They took me… hours ago. It’s all a blur.” Her voice trembles with relief, but also rage. “I-I thought I was alone.”
My stomach twists with sympathy, fear, and a fierce anger on her behalf. “We’re together now,” I say, fighting to keep my own voice steady. “We’ll find a way out, I promise.”
She inches forward, as far as her bindings allow, pressing closer to the makeshift cage’s bars. I see bruises on her arms, which only kindles my rage further. These monsters have been hurting her. “Do you know who they are?” she asks, voice barely above a whisper.
I swallow, flashes of the club swirling through my mind. “Morris Rolfe is one of them,” I say grimly. “He’s working with… someone else. They mentioned Lazarus Delgado. They said something about shipping me… shipping us. Something about revenge on Dean.” My voice cracks on my brother’s name.
Sophia’s face pales. “Lazarus Delgado,” she repeats. “There was some confrontation months ago, and Dean’s men took out Lazarus’s brother, I think. It was self-defense or something… But oh God, Lazarus must want revenge.”
A tremor runs down my spine. So, Lazarus Delgado wants to make Dean suffer. And apparently, kidnapping me and Sophia fits into that twisted plan.
I try to shift again, testing the plastic binding. It’s no good; every pull just tightens the zip ties. My wrists burn where the edges dig into my skin. “We have to stay strong,” I murmur. “Lincoln and Dean will find us.”
Sophia musters a tight smile. “I know Dean. He’s unstoppable when it comes to family. If he’s alive, if he knows I’m missing… he’ll move mountains.” She draws a shuddering breath, tears slipping down her cheeks. “And Lincoln, too, right? He’s ex-military. I’ve seen him do the impossible.”
My throat clogs with emotion. The mere mention of Lincoln conjures a rush of longing and fear. He has to be looking for me, I tell myself. He wouldn’t let me vanish without a fight. I cling to that hope like a lifeline.
Sophia and I share a fragile, desperate moment of quiet, tears blurring my vision. The container’s oppressive heat makes every breath feel like inhaling warm salt air. The steady lap of water against metal—somewhere outside—reaches my ears, confirming we’re likely near the docks. A wave of dizziness washes over me, but I steel myself. I can’t afford to faint now.
Suddenly, the door at the far end of the container clangs open, and a flood of harsh light spills in. I stiffen, heart pounding like a drum. Several figures step inside—Morris I recognize instantly, with his tailored suit and arrogant posture. Trey’s there too, along with Vera wearing that coldly smug expression. Then I see a new man, tall and broad-shouldered, clad in a crisp, expensive suit. His presence radiates power, a dangerous aura that crackles around him. Lazarus Delgado.
My stomach plummets. The man orchestrating everything. The man who wants revenge on Dean for murdering his brother. Lazarus sweeps a glance around the container, lips curving in a smirk when he sees Sophia and me. He steps closer, black dress shoes clanking on the metal floor.
“Well, well,” Lazarus says, voice low and accented with a hint of Italian. “Dean Maddox’s wife and sister, both in one place. Convenient.”
Fury simmers in my chest, but fear paralyzes my tongue. I force myself to breathe, to look him in the eye. “You won’t get away with this,” I manage, though my voice quivers.
He arches a brow, amusement dancing in his dark eyes. “Won’t I?” He gestures, and Vera leaps forward, unlatching a smaller gate that forms the caged partition. The men behind him push me roughly inside it—where Sophia already sits, ready for a fight. My knees slam against the floor. “There,” Lazarus says with a dismissive wave, “together, just as your family should be.”
Sophia scoots closer, tears spilling fresh at this blatant show of captivity. I press my side to hers, offering what little comfort I can in this horrifying moment. “Why don’t you let me out of this cage, Lazarus, and let’s really settle this.”