Leah moved like a shadow through the dimly lit hallway of Avelaine Resort, trailing the figure she'd spotted slipping into the darkened service corridor. Every step was calculated, quiet, her breath steady.
But the man ahead was too purposeful. He moved with a calm that felt deliberate.
A trap.
The thought snapped into her mind just as he paused and turned.
Three more men appeared from the corners of the corridor. Silent. Armed. Ready.
Leah didn't hesitate.
Her knee connected with the closest one's ribs before he could even lunge, her elbow slamming into another's jaw with a bone-jarring crunch. A third came at her from behind—she ducked, flipped him over her shoulder, and landed a clean strike to his throat. Their grunts echoed off the walls as chaos broke loose.
But there were too many.
From the shadows, a sharp hiss.
Before she could turn, a sharp sting hit her neck—a syringe. Her vision blurred. Her limbs grew heavy.
No.
Her knees buckled.
As the world dimmed, her half-lidded eyes caught a blurry silhouette stepping closer. Markov. Crouching beside her.
A gloved hand gently caressed her cheek.
"So fierce… even while falling," he murmured with an eerie calm.
---
Daniel's POV
The ocean wind whispered through the open balcony of Daniel's suite, high above the main deck of the cruise ship. Inside, the room was cast in shadows, save for the low glow of a single lamp.
Glass shattered.
Daniel stood by the bar, his hand bloodied from crushing the tumbler he'd held.
His secretary,
Daniel stood by the bar, his hand bloodied from crushing the tumbler he'd held.
His secretary, Elijah, remained still despite the tension radiating from his boss.
"She's been taken," Elijah said carefully. "Markov's private dock is being prepared. They're moving fast. Miss Davies… she's in his custody."
Daniel didn't speak.
He turned, eyes burning with a controlled fury.
His tailored coat flared behind him as he strode from the suite, Elijah following closely.
"Prepare the Hawk team," Daniel said, voice like ice. "No one touches her and walks away."
Markov's Estate – Unknown Location
The bedroom was disturbingly pristine.
Grey and white walls. Matte black fixtures. Clean lines. Minimalist art hung in perfect symmetry. A room designed for elegance, but the atmosphere felt… sterile. Cold.
Leah lay on a king-sized bed, her wrists and ankles cuffed to its corners with soft yet unyielding restraints.
Silk sheets.
A faint scent of lavender.
She stirred.
Her eyes blinked open slowly, disoriented.
Unfamiliar ceiling. Luxurious surroundings.
But something felt wrong.
Her limbs.
She tugged.
Cuffed.
Panic didn't rise—but calculation did. Her gaze scanned the room for exits, cameras, weaknesses.
Leah blinked rapidly, trying to process the sterile brightness of the room.
And then came sound of the footsteps.
The door slid open with a soft hiss.
Low. Steady. Predatory.
Markov.
His crisp black suit contrasted sharply with the sterile hues around him. His hair, slicked back, glistened faintly under the overhead lighting. A slow, deliberate smile spread across his face as he saw her awake.
"Sleeping beauty finally awakens," he said, voice as smooth as silk and twice as dangerous.
Leah's eyes narrowed. "Let me go, Markov."
He chuckled, slow and low, crouching beside the bed.
"Do you know what I love about you, Leah Davies?" he murmured, brushing a finger gently along her jawline, causing her to flinch.
"You don't beg. You bite."
She turned her face away sharply, disgust in her eyes.
"That look," he whispered, almost reverently. "That fire... You had it even on that dance floor. The moment I saw you in that maroon gown, I knew—none of the others mattered anymore. You? You're a masterpiece."
He stood, adjusting his cuffs with precise grace.
"You must be wondering what happens next." He turned halfway, gaze flickering back to her. "Let's just say… I don't intend to break you. No, I want to see how far your strength can stretch before it snaps."
He started to walk toward the door, then paused.
"Oh, and Leah…" He glanced over his shoulder, eyes glinting. "Tonight, you'll be dressed for dinner. I have a guest coming. You know him well."
The door slid shut behind him with a soft hiss.
Leah stared at it, heart steady, mind already working a hundred miles per hour.
Guest…?
No.
Her jaw clenched.