The stench of smoke and sweat clung to the walls of Marco's den, thick and suffocating. Emily sat on a worn, threadbare couch, her wrists raw from the ropes that bit into her skin. Around her, men lounged carelessly with bottles and playing cards, laughter booming like gunfire, every sound a reminder that she was trapped in a world she didn't belong to.
Marco's voice echoed from the next room, harsh and commanding, barking orders into a phone. Something about a shipment. Something about territory. Emily's ears caught the words, but her mind drifted, calculating, scanning for weaknesses in the chaos that surrounded her. She didn't belong here. She couldn't stay.
And then it happened.
A fight erupted without warning. Two of Marco's men began shouting, shoving each other over a spilled drink. A chair toppled, bottles shattered, and the room erupted into chaos. In the storm of noise, Emily's heart hammered with sudden hope—finally, a chance.
Her pulse thundered in her ears. Now.
She twisted her hands against the ropes until the skin tore, sharp pain radiating up her arms. She ignored it. With a desperate jerk, the knot loosened. Freedom was a few inches away.
"Hey!" one of the men shouted, spotting her movement, but Emily didn't hesitate.
She kicked over the nearest table, glass and liquor crashing to the floor, and bolted.
The side door slammed behind her, the cool night air hitting her like a wave. She ran blindly down the alley, lungs burning, heart screaming. The angry shouts of Marco's men chased her, but she pushed forward, ignoring the sting of her wounds.
Then she skidded to a stop.
Engines growled ahead, low and menacing. Black cars, sleek and polished, lined the street like predators waiting for prey. A dozen men in tailored suits stood near them, weapons glinting under the dim streetlights. And at their center… him.
Venom.
He leaned casually against the hood of a black Maserati, a cigarette burning between his fingers. The tailored suit hugged his tall, imposing frame perfectly, but it was his eyes that froze her in place—dark, merciless, piercing. They were eyes that saw everything, weighed everything, and devoured everything in their path.
The chaos behind her surged closer—Marco's men were nearly upon her.
Emily stumbled forward, her voice trembling. "Please… help me."
Venom's gaze shifted, slow and deliberate, as though weighing her very soul. After a tense heartbeat, he inclined his head slightly. Two of his men stepped forward, pulling Emily into their protective shadow.
Moments later, Marco stormed into the alley with three of his thugs, arrogance plastered across his face. But it faltered instantly when he saw Venom.
"Venom," Marco said, his tone low and cautious. "Didn't realize… this was your territory."
Venom exhaled smoke, his expression unreadable, almost amused. "And yet here you are, chasing a girl… onto my streets."
Marco's eyes flicked nervously between Emily and Venom. "She's mine. A deal was made."
Venom straightened, his presence sharp and commanding. "She ran from you. Which means she's no longer yours. And if you think you're walking away with what's mine now…" His voice dropped, smooth and lethal. "…you'd better think again."
Marco's bravado dissolved, sweat gleaming at his temple. He knew the rules—Venom was not just a man; he was a king who ruled the underworld with blood and fear.
With a defeated grunt, Marco raised his hands. "Fine. Keep her. She's not worth the trouble." He motioned to his men, retreating quickly into the shadows.
Emily stood frozen, chest heaving, caught between fear and relief. She had escaped one danger only to step into another, far darker one.
Venom's gaze lingered on her, cold yet piercing, a predator studying a creature that had dared to slip past his net. "You've just made a dangerous mistake, little dove," he said quietly, flicking ash from his cigarette. "Running from a wolf… only to fall into the hands of a serpent."
Emily swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. In that moment, Emily realized Her nightmare wasn't over. Not by a long shot. It had only just begun.