I sat huddled on the dirty mattress, knees pulled tight to my chest, wrists burning from the rough rope. The small room felt like a tomb, no windows, no fresh air, just the single bare bulb swinging slightly above me and the faint smell of fear.
Every few minutes I strained to listen, pressing my ear against the thin wall. At first I could still hear muffled voices, Victor and Marcus arguing about money, about how much they should demand, about what they would do once they got it. But now even those had faded. The house had gone strangely quiet. Too quiet.
My heart wouldn’t stop racing. I kept replaying everything in my head. This is my fault. I lied to Damien. I came here alone. I walked straight into their trap like a naïve little girl who still wanted her father to love her. Tears sli
