Isabella had never been afraid of the dark.
She'd lived through silence, abandonment, loneliness, and poverty. She'd learned to survive on instincts sharpened by necessity.
But this—
This was different.
The address led her to an abandoned waterfront warehouse, miles from the hospital, far from the town, far from anyone who would hear her scream.
The car they sent for her pulled to a stop.
No driver.
Just a message flashing on the dashboard:
Get out.
Her hands shook as she opened the door.
The night air was sharp, biting. The ocean roared somewhere in the distance, violent and endless. The warehouse loomed ahead—massive, rusted, broken windows staring at her like hollow eyes.
She took one step forward.
Then another.
Her heart pounded so hard it hurt.
She whispered Nolan's name under her breath like a prayer.
Inside, the air was cold and damp. Footsteps echoed as she walked, the sound swallowed by the massive space.
A single light flickered at the far end.
She followed it.
And then she saw him.
Nolan was on his knees, wrists cuffed to a metal beam. Blood streaked down his face. One eye was swollen shut. His shirt was torn open, skin bruised and cut.
But he was alive.
Her knees buckled.
She rushed forward before she could stop herself.
"No—don't—" he rasped.
She fell to her knees in front of him.
"Oh God, Nolan," she whispered, hands hovering, afraid to touch him, afraid to hurt him.
His jaw clenched. "You shouldn't be here."
Tears slid down her cheeks. "I'm not leaving you."
His breath was ragged. "You were supposed to."
"I will never leave you like that again," she whispered.
He closed his eyes.
The sound of slow clapping echoed through the warehouse.
Isabella froze.
The men stepped out of the shadows.
Four of them.
Calm. Casual. Armed.
The one who'd spoken to her before smiled.
"You made good time," he said.
She stood slowly, placing herself in front of Nolan without thinking.
"Let him go," she said.
The man tilted his head. "Already making demands."
She clenched her fists. "This is between you and him."
He chuckled. "No. This is between us and your heart."
Her blood ran cold.
"You chose him," the man continued. "That was your mistake."
Nolan struggled weakly. "Don't listen to them."
She didn't look back. "What do you want?"
The man's smile widened. "To see how far you'll go."
They brought out a chair.
Metal.
Bolted to the floor.
Isabella's stomach twisted.
"You sit," the man said.
She didn't move.
Nolan growled weakly. "Touch her and I swear—"
They struck him again.
Hard.
His cry tore from his throat.
Isabella screamed.
"Stop!" she sobbed. "Please!"
The man gestured to the chair. "Sit."
She did.
They restrained her wrists.
Nolan roared.
She tried to break free.
It was useless.
"You wanted to save him," the man said calmly. "Now we test that."
They brought out a folder.
Photos.
Isabella's breath hitched.
Juan.
At school.
At the playground.
Sleeping.
Her heart shattered.
"You've been watching my son," she whispered.
The man nodded. "Very closely."
Nolan went feral, straining against the cuffs.
"You touch him and I will kill every one of you," he snarled.
The man laughed.
"You won't," he replied. "Because you're too busy watching her suffer."
Isabella's vision blurred with tears.
"What do you want?" she begged.
The man crouched in front of her.
"You," he said. "To walk away."
Her chest tightened. "From what?"
"From him," he replied.
Silence slammed into her.
"You divorce him again," the man continued. "Publicly. Loudly. You say he abused you. Used you. Lied to you. That he's a monster."
Nolan shook his head violently. "No."
"And you disappear," the man added. "Forever."
Her heart shattered.
"And if I don't?" she whispered.
The man smiled.
"Then he dies."
Nolan went still.
"No," he rasped.
Isabella turned to him, eyes filled with agony.
"I can't—"
"Don't," Nolan whispered. "Don't you dare."
Her voice broke. "They'll kill you."
"I don't care," he replied. "I won't let them break you."
She sobbed. "I already am."
The man leaned back. "You have one hour."
Isabella shook her head. "You can't—"
"One hour," he repeated. "Then we start removing pieces of him."
Nolan roared.
The men stepped back into the shadows.
The warehouse fell silent except for Nolan's labored breathing.
Isabella struggled against the restraints.
"Nolan, I'm so sorry," she whispered.
He stared at her with bloodshot eyes. "No. Listen to me."
She looked at him.
"You do not sacrifice yourself for me," he said. "Not again. Not ever."
She sobbed. "I can't lose you."
He laughed weakly. "You already did once. You survived."
"I didn't," she whispered. "I just kept breathing."
He pulled against the cuffs, straining.
"If you leave," he said, "they win."
"They'll kill you," she cried.
"And if you go," he replied, "they'll own you."
She shook her head violently.
"I love you," he said.
The words slammed into her.
"I never stopped," he whispered. "Not for a single day."
Her chest caved in.
"I didn't know how to be a husband," he continued. "But I learned how to be a father. And I'll die one."
Tears streamed down her face.
"You don't get to die," she sobbed. "Not for me."
He forced a smile. "For you, I would."
She closed her eyes, breaking.
Outside, footsteps approached.
The men returned.
"Time's almost up," the leader said.
Isabella opened her eyes.
They were no longer pleading.
They were burning.
"I won't," she said quietly.
The man paused. "Won't what?"
"I won't leave him," she repeated. "I won't destroy my life to save it."
Nolan's eyes widened. "Isabella—"
"You wanted a choice," she said, voice trembling but firm. "Here it is."
The man studied her.
Then he smiled.
"Then we begin."
One of the men pulled out a knife.
Isabella screamed.
Nolan roared.
And just as the blade touched his skin—
The warehouse doors exploded open.
Lights flooded in.
Voices shouted.
Gunfire echoed.
Chaos erupted.
Nolan stared in shock.
Isabella's restraints were cut.
She collapsed into Nolan's arms as men flooded in—black uniforms, tactical gear.
Nathan.
He stood in the doorway, gun raised, eyes blazing.
"You should've killed me when you had the chance," he said.
The kidnappers scattered.
Shots rang out.
Within seconds, it was over.
Nolan collapsed.
Isabella screamed.
Nathan ran.
And as medics rushed in, Isabella clutched Nolan's face.
"Stay with me," she sobbed.
He smiled weakly.
"You didn't leave."
"No," she whispered. "I chose you."
His eyes closed.
And the heart monitor began to scream.