She stepped inside, a playful smirk tugging at her lips, her eyes flicking over the room like she was assessing the damage. She wore that same unnerving calmness, the one that made my blood run cold. But her presence, the way she walked in here like she belonged, only added to the disquiet crawling up his spine.
My jaw tightened. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Lilith stopped a few feet away, her lips curling into a smile. “Oh, don’t look at me like that, Ash,” she said, her voice syrupy sweet. “You didn’t think I’d let you have all the fun, did you? I know you’re desperate, but I’m not so easily dismissed. And you’re in over your head now, aren’t you?”
I stared at her, my gaze hardening. “What the hell are you talking about? Why do you keep following me? Why are you so obsessed with this?”
She tilted her head to the side, her dark eyes glinting with something unreadable. “I’m not following you,” she said, her voice quiet now. “I’m just… fascinated by the drama unfolding. It’s a lot more interesting than sitting around, waiting for the next big thing to happen. Besides, if you’re looking for your little pet,”—she purred the words like they were some sick, twisted game—“I could be of help. I’m not heartless, you know.”
“You’re not heartless?” I scoffed, fury building in my chest. “You’re a psychopath, Lilith. You’ve always been. You don’t care about Dove, about anyone. So why the hell are you here?”
Lilith’s smile only widened, the edges of it taking on analmost manic edge. “I never said I cared, Ash. But there’s something about this—something about her—that makes it all so deliciously intriguing.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “Don’t think too hard about it. It’s just… fun. And I think you could use a little excitement. Things have been so boring without you.”
My hands clenched into fists, my mind still racing, but Lilith’s words cut through my thoughts like a blade. I wasn’t sure whether to strangle her or laugh. I knew she didn’t have any answers, knew she was just toying with me, but that didn’t stop the sick feeling creeping up my throat.
Before I could say anything, Christina broke the silence, her voice shaking. “Ashton… what’s going on? Is she helping or not?”
I didn’t answer her, my gaze fixed on Lilith, my jaw clenched tight. There were too many questions and not enough answers. But one thing was certain. Dove was out there, and I was going to find her, no matter who I had to break to do it. Even if it meant playing Lilith’s twisted little game.
33
DOVE
My head throbbed as I slowly regained consciousness, the darkness around me pressing down like a suffocating weight. The air was thick and cold, tasting of metal and dampness, and the smell of mold and decay clung to my skin.
My hands were bound tightly behind me, wrists raw from the friction, and my legs were shackled, cold stone pressing against the back of my thighs. Every part of my body ached, and yet, the deep, gnawing fear in my gut was the worst of it.
My breathing came in shallow, frantic bursts as my eyes strained to make sense of the shadows. They flickered, shifting in the dim light from a lone, flickering bulb hanging from the ceiling.
The room was small, oppressive; the walls closing in like a tomb. I could barely make out the faint outlines of cold, gray stone, the kind of stone that seemed to absorb all warmth, all life.
And then, I heard it.
The soft sound of footsteps echoed through the room—heavy, deliberate. Each step was slow, calculated, like the footsteps of someone who knew they were in complete control.
Bentley James.
I didn’t need to see him to know it was him. I could feel him, the darkness around me thickening as his presence grew closer.
My breath hitched as I tried to twist my body away, but the ropes kept me trapped, the metal shackles digging deeper into my flesh as I fought against them.
My heart raced as I tried to breathe, tried to steady myself, but the panic was rising, clawing at my throat.
The footsteps stopped.
From the shadows, a figure emerged, tall and imposing, his presence suffocating. Bentley James. I could barely see him clearly, just a silhouette, but I could feel the malice radiating off him. He was all angles—tall, broad, with dark, sharp eyes that pierced the darkness. The cold, cruel smile on his lips sent a tremor down my spine. He was a predator, and I was his prey.
“I see you’re awake,” Bentley’s voice slithered through the silence, low and smooth, like something that shouldn’t belong to a man but to a thing far darker, far more dangerous. His voice alone made my skin crawl.
My pulse raced as I twisted my body further away from him, my throat dry, heart pounding. My thoughts scrambled, racing for an escape that wasn’t there.
He chuckled, a dark, sickening sound that made my stomach turn. “You’re wondering how long I’ve been waiting, aren’t you? How long I’ve been biding my time for this moment.” He stepped closer, his shadow consuming me, and I could feel the temperature drop even more, the coldness seeping into my bones. His voice dropped even lower, mocking, cruel. “Eight years, Dove. Eight long years.”
My breath hitched. Eight years? It felt like a lifetime ago,when my world was ripped apart. When everything I knew was taken from me. My parents, murdered. And now, here I was, bound and helpless. It didn’t make sense.
“You remember them, don’t you?” Bentley’s voice was a slow, torturous tease, dragging each word out like a knife slicing through her chest. “How could you forget? After all, I made sure it was… special. A welcome home gift.”
His laugh echoed in the room, sending a chill down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold. The darkness closed in tighter, pressing against me, suffocating me.
