MY BLOOD DRIPS SLOWLY onto the floor. A soft thud fills my ears as each drop lands one after the other. Pain echoes inside me, pulsating in a rhythm that has me writhing.
She’s out there, without me, and that thought terrifies me to my core. Because I can’t protect her when my wrists are draped in chains, the silver burning me over and over as I heal only for the skin to blister instantly.
Thrashing against them, I let out a deafening roar, my body vibrating with unleashed fury as I tug and pull. Blood is oozing out of me from the multiple stab wounds and cuts the silver has caused since they so kindly left the blades they stabbed me with embedded in my skin to prevent any healing.
When the slab of cement the chains are attached to lifts a little, I use all my strength, savagely pulling until it lifts another inch. The metal door bangs open, slamming against the brick work so hard parts of it crumble on impact.
Icy dread fills my veins when Kian’s stormy eyes latch onto me, a slow, wicked smile taking over his face.
‘Fratello.’ He smiles, holding his hands out wide as he enters the room, walking unhurriedly toward me. Kian and I are similar in many ways. Same height, same broad shoulders, and same long arms. Same dark hair and black eyes, but with the way he eyes me, a dangerous glint to his gaze, and a sadistic smirk on his lips, you can tell we are very different. ‘I hear you’ve been looking for me.’
Spitting out the blood from my mouth, I glower at him.
‘I didn’t come for you.’
Pouting, he gives me a sad look, even though he is the definition of a sociopath. ‘That hurts my feelings.’
‘Where is she?’ I ask through clenched teeth. ‘Where is Raya?’
‘Your little friend is fine,’ my brother replies with a tilt of his lips. He points to the roof. ‘Safe and sound, right up there.’
My chest is heaving as I stare up at the ceiling, wishing for it to crack open and show me a glimpse of her, to reassure me she is safe, even though I can feel that she is physically unharmed.
‘Give us Cora, and we will be on our way. This doesn’t need to turn into a big thing.’
‘No can do.’ Kian smiles, flashing his fangs, rubbing his hands together. ‘Cora belongs to me.’
‘No,’ I growl. ‘She doesn’t.’
His gaze slides to mine. ‘Oh, but she does. I own her.’
‘You don’t care for her. You don’t care for anyone but yourself.’
‘I said I own her, not that I care for her.’
Inhaling sharply, I swallow down the anger rising inside my chest, trying not to let it get the better of me. The way he cares so little about anyone but himself makes me sick to my stomach.
‘Let me go,’ I growl.
‘But where’s the fun in that?’
‘What do you want with me?’ I bark, yanking on the chains with savage brutality, watching in satisfaction as one of the bolts come undone, pinging across the room.
Kian’s eyes follow it as it soars across the room.
‘Can’t I see my brother without having an agenda?’ He arches a brow, a smirk curving his lips.
‘Perhaps if you didn’t have me beaten and chained.’
He smiles. The cold, cunning smile that makes him look dead on the inside. Perhaps, he is.
‘You know I can’t pass up the chance to ruffle your perfect little feathers.’
‘Let. Raya. Go.’ I demand, my voice thick with command.
His smile widens. ‘You sound like Father when you speak like that.’
‘I’m not joking, Kian. I will kill you if you touch a hair on her head.’
‘I like my odds.’ His lips tilt as he steps closer to me, assessing my eyes. ‘I’m curious about these, though. Will this strengthen you if her life is in danger? Could you outweigh a more powerful opponent if put to the test?’
Baring my teeth at him, I growl furiously. He chuckles darkly, stepping back, his black hair falling over his eyes, cloaking them.
‘We shall see,’ he says before melting into the shadows, leaving me with nothing but my own angry screams.