I try to scream again, but the hand over my mouth tightens.
Russel sighs softly. “Still fighting me.”
My breathing comes fast and sharp through my nose, panic clawing its way up my throat.
He pulls out his phone, then turns the screen toward me.
At first, it doesn’t register. A dark room, a shaky camera, and then…Mason.
He’s tied to a chair, bruised but alive.
Everything inside me goes rigid, a broken sound forcing its way past the hand over my mouth.
His head lifts slightly.
“Lexy, don’t…”
The video cuts.
“No…!” My scream is muffled, shattered.
Russel watches me carefully, a satisfied smile settling on his face.
“I knew that would get your attention,” he says softly. “You scream and he dies, understand?”
I nod, frantic.
The hand on my mouth loosens. I shake my head violently, tears spilling over.
“What did you do to him?” I try to say, but it comes out broken.
Russel leans in close, his breath hot, the smell of alcohol and cigarettes making me nauseous.
“You don’t ask questions,” he says quietly. “You listen.”
My heart pounds so loud I can barely hear anything else.
“I’m going to have fun with you,” he murmurs, “but first… we need to get rid of that Michael’s Legion bastard you’ve been playing house with.”
My breath catches.
“So you walk back out there… and you end it with him.”
Everything inside me stops.
“No…”
“You tell him it was a mistake,” Russel continues calmly. “That you changed your mind. That you’re leaving for good.”
My chest caves in.
“You don’t cry. You don’t hesitate. You don’t look back.”
I shake harder, my whole body trembling. “He won’t believe me…”
His hand tightens suddenly on my jaw, sharp enough to make me gasp.
“You will make him believe you.”
