Page 121 of Shattered In Darkness

The door kicks open so hard it hits the wall. I don’t flinch. Not this time. I square my shoulders and meet the monster head-on.

Marcus.

He enters with a slow demeanor. That inhuman calm, the kind only men like him master.

Marcus surveys the cage like he’s shopping for furniture. His gaze brushes over the cot, the cracked sink, the battered chair. He sets his sights on me last.

He sits in my chair without asking, filling the space so completely it’s like he brought the outside world in here to smother me. He crosses his legs, leans back, and grins.

Showtime.

I roll my eyes. “Didn’t think you were bored enough to come visit your favorite asset yourself.” I force the words through cut lips, add a lilt, make it sound like a joke.

He smiles, barely. Not impressed. “Favorite? You overestimate your value, Lola. You’re just the only one who needs this much maintenance.” He rubs his thumb and forefinger together. “Trouble. Always trouble.”

“Trouble keeps you young,” I shoot back, bracing my fists at my sides. “Or is this really about me? Thought maybe you’d have your guard do the babysitting. But here you are. Alone.”

He glances at the guard and shrugs. “I like to handle my investments personally when they pose a risk.”

“Let me guess. You’re worried. You’re losing grip. Brody’s lighting matches in your empire and you’re too old to keep up.” That does it. His eyes narrow, just a fraction, but it’s there. A hairline fracture in the perfect mask. I press. “You wouldn’t be down here unless you were scared. Or did Brody embarrass you again? Maybe he’s already outplaying your entire crew.”

Marcus doesn’t bite. He lifts one eyebrow. “You’re not as clever as you think. Distraction won’t work on me.”

I lean forward, plant my feet. “Distraction? You mean like putting me in a fucking cell while you hope the world forgets Brody exists?”

He laughs harshly. “Brody. Brody. Brody. That’s all you think about, isn’t it?”

I let him see my disgust, let my lip curl. “If I’m thinking, congratulations. You failed again. Newsflash: locking me up won’t fix your fuck-ups.”

He rolls his sleeves. “You want to know what is happening to your little pet project?”

I swallow, but don’t look away. “I want to know where you’re holding him. Or did you have to put him in a different room because you’re afraid he’ll come for me?”

Marcus loves every second of this. I can see it in the way he lets my words melt into the air. Like a cat with a mouse, testing the edge of my panic. He stands, circles. Steps so intentional they puncture the silence.

“I’m not afraid of Brody. But you should be,” he murmurs, voice dropping to a near-whisper. “He’s being moved north. Far north. Remote. No heat, no help. No one finds that place. Not even him. He disappears, like he should have years ago.”

A tremor runs through me. I clamp down on it. Don’t show him. Don’t.

Marcus comes closer, looming. “You want details? He’ll be straitjacketed in the woods, left for the snow. No more witnesses. No more threats. No more Brody.”

The blue bulb flickers. I imagine Brody; hands bound, eyes wild with hate, fighting the dark alone. Sickness washes over me in waves.

“Do it yourself, then,” I spit. “If you want something erased so badly, finish the job with your own hands. Stop hiding behind your pet goons.”

He leans in, so close I can taste his aftershave and the bitter rot of his breath. “Careful, Lola. You don’t get to dictate terms.”

I push him, my hands flat on his chest. “You’re a coward. You only come after the people I care about because even you know you’ll never really have me. You can break my bones and sell my name but you’ll die knowing you never owned me.”

He laughs. A real laugh, loud, then⁠—

His hand whips out. The smack hits me across the face, so hard my ears ring, my lips split. I hit the floor, knees scraping, breath gone. Before I can rise, his boot finds my chest, pinning me to filthy tile. Pressure makes my ribs want to crack. My lungs spasm, desperate for air.

Marcus bends close. “You still love him. Even after everything. Foolish girl.”

I claw at his ankle as black dots fill my vision. “Go… to… hell,” I rasp.

He barely shifts. “You’ll never see him again. But that’s not what should scare you.” He presses harder. “Your mistake was thinking you could keep anything from me.”