Silence answers my efforts.Just the drip of water somewhere in the darkness and my own ragged breathing.The minutes stretch into eternities, marked only by the steady throb of pain and fear.
Then the door slams open with enough force to rattle the walls and shake dust from the ceiling.
Ethan enters first, looking immaculate despite the late hour and the warehouse setting.Behind him come three men in Shadow Hawks cuts, all carrying themselves with the casual violence of people who've hurt others before and will again.
"She's awake," Ethan says, like he's commenting on the weather."Good.I want her conscious for what comes next."
"What comes next?"I ask, hating how my voice shakes.
"Your boyfriend's arrival.The Shadow Hawks' payback.And your education about what happens to women who don't know their place."
"My place?"
"With me.Where you've always belonged."He crouches in front of me, and I can see the madness fully now.No more masks, no more pretense of civility."This isn't me, Evangeline.This is what you made me become."
"Bullshit.You've always been this person.I was just too naive to see it."
His hand lashes out, catching my cheek hard enough to snap my head sideways.Stars explode across my vision, and fresh blood fills my mouth.
"Careful," one of the Hawks says."Boss wants her unmarked when Blackwood gets here.Says the shock value's better."
"She's mine," Ethan snaps."I'll mark her however I want."
"Not until we get what we need from her boyfriend."
The casual discussion of torture and ownership makes my stomach turn.These men see me as property, as leverage, as something to be used and discarded.
They have no idea who they're dealing with.
Before I can respond, there's a commotion outside.Shouting, the sound of a struggle, and then the door opens again.
Hades.
They drag him in, his hands bound behind his back, blood streaming from his nose and a cut above his eye.But his dark eyes are clear, focused, burning with rage barely contained.
Our gazes lock across the room, and I see everything he can't say out loud.Love, fear, determination, apology.
I try to convey the same back.That this isn't his fault.That I'm not afraid.That we'll get through this together.
They throw him into a chair facing me, binding him to it with chains instead of rope.Making sure he can't break free, can't reach me, can only watch whatever they plan to do.
"Angel," he says, his voice rough but steady."Don't look at them.Look at me."
I do.I let his face be my anchor in this nightmare.
"I'm not afraid," I tell him, and I mean it.
One of the Hawks laughs."You should be, sweetheart.You should be terrified."
Ethan circles us like a shark scenting blood."Here's how this works.I ask questions, Blackwood answers.For every answer I don't like, my associates here hurt your woman.Simple, clean, and effective."
"Don't tell them anything," I say quickly."Hades, don't?—"
The backhand comes from my left, catching me off guard.Pain explodes across my face, and I taste more blood.
"See how easy that was?"Ethan says conversationally, circling us like a predator toying with prey."One refusal, one consequence.Simple math, really.So let's try again, and this time think very carefully about your answer.Where do the Saint's Outlaws keep their money?"
"Fuck you," Hades growls, his voice pure gravel and rage.
