ALISA:
The bass thumped loudly as Zane pulled me into the club, urging me to loosen up and enjoy the chaos around us. I felt exposed under the flashing lights, like I was a trophy on display. "Stay close to me, Alisa! You've never seen anything like this," he warned, but there was a sharp edge to his voice, like he was trying to prove a point.
Feeling overwhelmed, I took a step back but bumped right into someone. A guy almost as tall as Zane, with dirty blond hair. He had a cocky grin plastered across his face, and I felt a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold air in the club. "Well, well, what do we have here?" he purred, his eyes scanning me like I was some puzzle he wanted to solve.
"Back off," I said, trying to sound tough. But the cold sweat on my palms gave me away. Zane's protective barrier was only a few steps away; he noticed and took my hand, squeezing it lightly, a warning to remember to play along. But I could see the tension in his jaw tighten, a muscle twitching as if he wanted to pounce.
The guy chuckled, fully aware of the threat Zane posed. "You don't have to worry about him, sweetheart. He's not your protector here. He's just a little boy playing dress-up." My heart raced. Did this guy really not know how dangerous this was? Zane was already on edge, stepping closer to me, his presence overwhelming.
"You want to challenge me, Lucas?" Zane's voice was low, threatening, and my stomach dropped. I didn't realize then that this was the kind of monster Zane was hunting—his rival, a predator lurking just as dangerous as I thought Zane was. "Zane, stop," I pleaded more like a whisper, but I could feel the heat rising between him and the Lucas guy, like the air thickening with unspoken words. Zane shot me a glare that felt both protective and possessive.
"You don't get to talk to her. She's mine! Let's go, Alisa!" The way he growled made my skin crawl, a mix of anger and something darker. "Seems like she's got a taste for trouble," Lucas mocked, looking straight at me. I felt cornered, pinned down by his gaze as if he could see through my defenses. "You can't save her from everything. She might even enjoy the thrill." "Shut the hell up, Lucas!" Zane shouted, clenching his fists.
"Babe! It's okay, tonight is about you and me having fun without your job and guns, you promised!" I smiled,placing my hands lightly to his chest acting like a good little girlfriend he wanted me to pretend to be, and I almost vomited.
But the way Lucas cocked his head in response made me question everything. I hated how Zane seemed to think I was just his possession, but at the same time, looking at Lucas made my stomach twist more; something was way off here. That was it. I felt like I was suffocating. "Baby, can I go to the bathroom?" I burst out, feeling the shame rise in my cheeks from all the girly comments I had to fake.
His girlfriend, my ass!
He made me hot and steamy in my own kitchen, and now he acts like I'm a tool in his twisted games. He came close; his presence made me wet between my legs—damn girl hormones. "Go!But hurry back!" He ushered into my hair, trying to make himself look like a protective boyfriend.
A beat of silence fell over us, and Zane's expression shifted between protector mode and anger. Me acting like this was a low blow, and I couldn't bear the weight of frustration anymore. I turned on my heel, storming off toward the bathroom, needing a moment to escape the tension.
The last thing I heard was Zane snarling something under his breath, a mix of curses that got lost in the music. I know the asshole wanted to follow me all the way to this door, but he controlled himself. As soon as I stepped into the bathroom, I pressed my hands against the cool sink, trying to calm the storm inside.
I felt shame and nausea remembering our little moment before this, but also it made me want it again. The walls felt like they were closing in. Just when I started to breathe again, the door swung open, and two girls dressed in nothing more than a little fabric covering the important lady parts.
They were probably going to the bathroom, but being around Zane these days made me paranoid. I reached into my purse to grab my lipstick, and I smelled a strong scent of chloroform. Strong hands grabbed me from behind, dragging me away before I could even scream.
A hand holding a handkerchief I smelled moment ago was on my mouth, and everything went dark.
What had I done to end up in this mess?
****
The pounding in my head was the first thing I became aware of as I slowly regained consciousness. My eyes fluttered open, but the dim lighting made it difficult to make out my surroundings.
Where was I?
The last thing I remembered was stepping away from Zane for a moment in the club to use the bathroom.
As my vision adjusted, I realized I was lying on a cold, concrete floor in what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse.
Panic began to set in as the gravity of my situation sank in. I had been kidnapped.
Carefully, I tried to move my arms, but found they were bound tightly behind my back. My legs were also restrained, making any attempt at escape funny. I was completely at the mercy of whoever had brought me here.
A creaking sound came from the shadows, and my heart raced as a tall, imposing figure emerged from the darkness. I instantly recognized the cold, calculating gaze of Lucas - Zane's dangerous rival in the underground world of organized crime he said he's in.
"Well, well, look who's finally decided to join us," he sneered, circling me like a predator. "I must say, I'm impressed you managed to slip away from my men at the club. But you should have known you couldn't hide from me forever, Alisa."
How the fuck did he avoid Zane to get here? I left them together.
I tried to keep my voice steady as I demanded, "What do you want from me? Why have you done this?"
Lucas crouched down, his icy stare boring into me. "It's simple, really. You're the key to getting Zane exactly where I want him - under my control. And I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen."
My blood ran cold at the implication of his words. I was merely a pawn in his twisted game against Zane. Panic and dread consumed me as I realized I was completely at the mercy of this dangerous man.
Fuck,Zane was right!
Lucas stood, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "Don't worry, my dear. I promise this will be...an interesting experience for you." With that, he turned and disappeared back into the shadows, leaving me alone with my growing sense of terror.
Now where is that asshole Zane when you need him!