Fina's legs burned. Her chest felt like it might explode. Every shadow in the alley twisted into a threat, every passing car a possible danger. Evan… gone. Just like that and now she had no one.
Her phone buzzed again...
Unknown Number. She yanked it from her pocket.
"You are alone now."
Her stomach dropped. Her fingers shook. Alone, completely alone.
She broke into a run, weaving through the streets, heels snapping against the pavement. Every step echoed the thought that had lodged in her mind like a knife: I can not survive this alone.
Her thoughts raced. The alley, Evan's warning, the shadows… the unknown threat chasing her. And then, like a heartbeat she could not ignore...she thought of him... Madrex.
The man who had terrified her yesterday, who had trapped her with a contract, whose presence made her blood burn… and who had also kept her alive.
She shook her head... I hate him. But… she hated the trembling fear in her chest more. I need him.
Her heels clattered harder. Her mind refused to stop racing. He will yell at me, he will scold me but if I go back… if I run to him… he will protect me, he will…
She stumbled, almost falling, catching herself on a streetlamp. The city felt like it had shrunk around her panic. She didn't care who saw her, didn't care what he'd say. She needed safety. And right now, that meant him.
She skidded to the towering glass doors of his building. Her heart hammered in her ears. She pressed the buzzer to the lobby, praying he would be there.
The elevator doors opened immediately.
Madrex was already waiting, arms crossed, eyes unreadable. The faint smile he offered didn't reach his dangerous, predatory gaze.
"Fina," he said softly, almost mockingly. "Back so soon?"
Her chest heaved. Words failed her. All she could do was nod, as if admitting defeat and surrendering to the one person who could keep her alive.
He stepped aside, letting her in, eyes narrowing.
"Did you… run all the way here because you are scared?" His voice was low, amused, terrifying.
She swallowed, unable to speak.
Madrex's smile widened just slightly. "Good," he murmured. "Because being scared is exactly what I like."
She froze.
And then he said, softly, almost to himself:
"Now… let's see just how far you'll go to stay under my protection."
Her stomach dropped.
The elevator doors closed.
And outside, the city continued, oblivious… but Fina had never felt more confused and lost.
***
Evan paused in the alley, the city buzzing around him. He fished his phone out and pressed the number he had memorized.
The line clicked, a voice answered, low and patient.
"It's done," Evan said. "She's with him. He won't let her go."
A slow, deliberate silence. Then:
"Good. Did she ask about her parents?"
Evan hesitated. "Not yet… but she'll find out soon. I made sure of it."
"Perfect," the voice said. "We have been waiting for this moment for a long time. Keep watching her. Do not fail."
"Yes," Evan said, his fingers tightening.
He ended the call and stepped into the shadows, the echo of the voice still ringing in his ears.
Somewhere unseen, the person smiled... the kind of smile that promised a reckoning long overdue.
***
Fina stood in front of Madrex's desk, chest rising and falling fast.
Madrex did not sit, he didn't circle, he didn't touch her.
He looked at her and said it.
"I'm keeping you close because I want to torment you."
The words landed heavy, final, unapologetic.
Fina blinked. "What…?"
"I'm not confused," he continued calmly. "And I'm not joking. I paid your uncle's debt because I wanted control over you. I offered you that contract because I don't want you free."
Her throat tightened. "You said it was to protect me."
"It is," he said. "Protection and torment are not opposites."
She shook her head slowly. "You are sick."
"Yes," Madrex agreed easily. "And you standing up to me yesterday made me interested. You embarrassed me. You challenged me. So now I want you close enough to break."
Her hands clenched. "Break me?"
"I want to watch you struggle," he said, voice steady. "I want you angry, afraid and confused. I want you to wake up every day knowing you belong to someone you hate."
Fina's breath came faster. "Why?"
"Because obsession doesn't feel good unless it hurts," he replied. "And because you won't leave. You won't dare."
She laughed weakly. "You think I won't run?"
"I know you won't," he said. "You have already seen what happens when you are unprotected. Loan sharks, threats and men who don't ask."
He leaned forward slightly. "I'm worse... but I'm predictable."
Her voice shook. "So what… you just plan to ruin my life?"
"Yes," he said. "Slowly and deliberately, I want you to depend on me while resenting me. I want you to need me while wishing you did not."
Tears burned her eyes. "You are admitting this?"
"I'm warning you," he corrected. "So you don't lie to yourself later."
Silence swallowed the room.
Fina whispered, "And if I refuse?"
Madrex did not raise his voice neither did he threaten.
"I'll let the world have you," he said. "And you already know how that ends."
Her knees weakened.
"This isn't protection," she said.
"Umm," he replied. "It is.. no protection on earth can outstand what I'm offering you right now..."
She stared at him, horrified.
"You want to hurt me."
"Yes."
"You enjoy it."
"Yes."
"And you are not stopping."
"No."
The honesty was worse than cruelty.
Madrex straightened. "You wanted clarity, Fina. Now you have it."
A phone vibrated on his desk.
He glanced at the screen once, then looked back at her.
"Decision time," he said calmly. "Stay close to the man who wants to torment you…"
He paused.
"…or walk out and see who else is waiting."
Fina's heart dropped.
The phone vibrated again.
And she realized someone was already coming for her.