The address Marcus sent was not a place.
It was a wound.
A rotting shipyard on the outskirts of the city, long abandoned, half-collapsed, eaten by rust and salt and time. The sea crashed against the broken docks like it was trying to drag everything into itself.
Isabella stepped out of the car.
Alone.
No phone.
No protection.
No way out.
Her heart was hammering so violently she thought she might collapse before she even reached the entrance.
She whispered Nolan's name like a prayer.
Every instinct screamed for her to turn around.
She didn't.
She walked.
Inside, the air was cold and damp.
Footsteps echoed.
Chains rattled somewhere.
Voices murmured in the distance.
Her stomach twisted violently.
She followed the sound of a single light.
And then she saw him.
Nolan was on his knees again.
Blood on his face.
Shirt torn.
Arms bound.
But he was alive.
Her breath left her lungs.
"Nolan…" she whispered.
His head lifted.
Their eyes met.
And something in his broke.
"No," he croaked. "No—no—no—"
She ran to him.
Two men stepped in front of her instantly.
She didn't stop.
They grabbed her.
She fought.
Screamed.
Kicked.
"Let me go!" she sobbed.
Nolan roared. "Don't touch her!"
Marcus stepped out of the shadows.
Slow.
Smiling.
Calm.
"You came," he said.
Isabella glared at him through tears. "I'm here. Let him go."
Marcus tilted his head. "Still making demands."
Nolan struggled violently. "Isabella, don't—"
She broke free long enough to fall to her knees in front of him.
"I won't let them kill you," she whispered.
He shook his head desperately. "They won't if you leave."
She cupped his face.
"I'm not leaving," she said. "Not this time."
Marcus clapped softly.
"Oh, I love reunions," he said.
He gestured.
The men dragged Isabella back.
Nolan screamed.
She screamed.
Marcus crouched in front of her.
"You're trembling," he observed.
She spat at him.
He smiled wider.
"That's good," he said. "Fear makes lessons stick."
They separated them.
Pulled her across the room.
Nolan roared her name.
She sobbed, fighting, screaming until her throat burned.
They strapped her to a chair.
Facing Nolan.
"No," she whispered.
Marcus leaned close.
"I want you to watch," he said.
Her blood ran cold.
"Watch what?" she whispered.
"What happens when love meets power," he replied.
Nolan thrashed violently.
"Touch her and I swear I will—"
Marcus punched him.
Hard.
Isabella screamed.
"Stop!" she sobbed. "Please!"
Marcus turned to her.
"That," he said, pointing at Nolan, "is why you're here."
He paced.
"You both think love is strength," he continued. "But love is a leash."
He stopped in front of Nolan.
"And you," Marcus said, "have always been arrogant."
Nolan spat blood.
"You're nothing," he growled.
Marcus smiled. "And yet you're kneeling."
Marcus snapped his fingers.
A screen flickered on.
Isabella's breath hitched.
Juan.
Sleeping.
In the safe house.
Her heart stopped.
"You promised you wouldn't touch him!" she screamed.
Marcus tilted his head. "I promised nothing."
Nolan went feral.
"You come near him and I will kill you," he roared.
Marcus crouched in front of Isabella.
"Do you see now?" he whispered. "Every choice hurts someone."
Tears streamed down her face.
"Leave him alone," she begged.
Marcus stood.
"You want him safe?" he asked.
She nodded frantically.
"Then you stay," he said.
Her heart shattered.
"For how long?" she whispered.
Marcus smiled.
"Forever."
Nolan screamed.
"No! Don't you dare!"
Isabella sobbed.
"I'll do anything," she whispered.
Marcus leaned in.
"Say it."
She shook.
"I'll stay," she whispered.
Nolan roared.
"No! Isabella, don't—!"
Marcus turned to him.
"You see?" he said. "Love breaks itself."
They moved Nolan.
Dragged him.
She screamed his name until her voice broke.
"Stop!" she sobbed. "I said I'd stay!"
Marcus raised a hand.
They stopped.
Nolan was barely conscious.
Isabella sobbed.
"Don't hurt him," she begged.
Marcus studied her.
"Good," he said. "Then you'll behave."
They locked Nolan behind a steel barrier.
She could see him.
But not reach him.
He collapsed.
Her heart shattered.
"Nolan!" she screamed.
He lifted his head weakly.
"Don't," he whispered.
She shook violently.
"I'm here," she cried. "I'm not leaving."
Tears slid down his face.
"This isn't saving me," he whispered. "This is killing you."
She pressed her hands to the glass.
"I choose you," she sobbed.
He closed his eyes.
"And I choose you," he whispered.
Marcus approached her again.
"You understand now," he said. "You are the leash."
She glared at him. "You're sick."
He smiled. "I'm honest."
He gestured.
"Take her."
Her heart slammed.
Two men grabbed her.
"No!" Nolan screamed.
She fought.
Kicked.
Bit.
They dragged her away.
"Nolan!" she screamed.
"I love you!" he roared.
Her sobs echoed through the warehouse.
They threw her into a room.
Concrete.
Dark.
Cold.
The door slammed.
Locked.
She slid down the wall, shaking violently.
Her chest hurt.
Her lungs burned.
She pressed her face into her knees and screamed.
Outside, Marcus watched Nolan.
"She's breaking," Marcus said.
Nolan lifted his head slowly.
Blood covered his face.
Eyes wild.
"No," he whispered.
Marcus smiled.
"Oh, she is," he replied. "And when she does…"
He leaned in.
"You will too."
Nolan's voice dropped.
"Then you don't know me."
Marcus laughed.
"We'll see."
Isabella sat alone in the dark.
Hours passed.
She didn't know how many.
No light.
No sound.
No time.
Her mind replayed Nolan's face.
His voice.
His pain.
She hugged herself.
"I won't break," she whispered.
Her voice echoed.
Weak.
But alive.
The door opened.
Blinding light flooded in.
She flinched.
Marcus stood there.
"You still standing?" he asked.
She lifted her head slowly.
Eyes burning.
"Yes," she whispered.
He smiled.
"Good," he said. "Because now the real game begins."
Her stomach dropped.
"What game?" she whispered.
He leaned in.
"The one where you stop choosing," he replied.
"And start obeying."
Elsewhere, Nathan crept through the shipyard.
Silent.
Armed.
Watching.
Waiting.
And when he finally saw Isabella being dragged down the corridor—
His finger tightened on the trigger.