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“So we just sit here.”
“Yeah,” Jace said, rubbing his temple with a bruised hand. “As much as I hate it, I think what we do is sit here and wait.”
Chapter Five: Sofia
"Victor," I warned, my voice sharp with anxiety. I could practically feel the tension in the room thickening, an invisible fog of menace wrapping around us. Stephen merely smirked, his gaze never leaving Victor. We were already trapped, already in a situation where we could be killed any minute, and I didn’t want anything to get worse when they were already so precarious.
"I'm not scared of him, Sofia," Victor retorted, his fists clenched tightly by his sides. He looked kind of sexy, with blood smeared down his side and his dark eyes shining brightly
I shook my head frantically, my eyes pleading with him. "Victor, this isn't the time."
"The hell it isn't," he shot back, all pent up anger and righteous indignation. But his gaze softened slightly as he looked at me, his voice dropping to a low growl. "I won't stand by while he threatens you."
“I didn’t threaten her,” Stephen said. “You would know if I’d threatened her.”
"But you are holding her hostage," Victor shot back, his eyes never leaving Stephen's.
“I mean, I’m holding both of you hostage. But sure, if that makes you feel better.”
Victor bristled at Stephen's casual indifference, the muscle in his jaw ticking with barely contained fury. Stephen, on the other hand, just looked amused as he watched him.
"Getting riled up isn't going to help anyone," Stephen commented, pulling out a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it. Victor clenched his fists at his side, looking ready to launch himself at Stephen despite the warning. “You smoke?”
Victor's nostrils flared, his eyes narrowed to a pair of angry slits. "I don't want your damn cigarette," he spat out, the words crackling with venom.
Stephen shrugged, taking a drag of his cigarette and letting out a slow puff of smoke. "Your loss," he murmured, his gaze never leaving Victor's seething form. I felt the tension in the room ratchet up another notch, pressing against my chest in a suffocating weight. “What about you, sweetheart?”
“Don’t talk to her.”
I needed to defuse this situation before it escalated further.
"Victor," I muttered, reaching out to place my hand on his forearm. He jumped at my touch, immediately turning to look at me. His eyes were full of fire, full of that fierce protective streak that had always drawn me to him. But right now, it was a danger to us both.
"I can handle him," I assured him, giving his arm a gentle squeeze for emphasis. He looked as if he wanted to argue, but instead he just stared down at me, an intense mixture of emotions raging in his gaze.
From the corner of my eye, I could see Stephen was trying not to laugh.
“Alright, sweetheart. Suit yourself.” Stephen flicked the ash off his cigarette, clearly entertained by the whole spectacle. He took another drag, releasing the smoke into the dimly lit room.
"Stephen," I began, forcing myself to sound calm and collected. "What do you want from us?"
He turned to me, taking a long moment before he answered. "Just for you to behave while you’re here,” he said nonchalantly.
"And what if we don't?" Victor challenged. His voice was hard and unyielding, the same look glinting in his eyes.
Stephen just shrugged, his nonchalant attitude not faltering for even a second. “Then things might get unpleasant. For her more than for you.”
Victor stepped forward, putting himself between me and Stephen. "Over my dead body," he spat, his muscles taut with barely suppressed rage.
“I can arrange that.”
I rubbed my temple. “Can you two stop?”
Stephen rolled his eyes, taking one last drag from his cigarette before snubbing it out against the concrete floor. "Fine by me," he said, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
Victor, however, wasn't ready to let go of his anger. "If anything happens to her," he growled, his tone deadly low, "I swear I will –"
"Victor," I interrupted, my anxious gaze darting between the two men. "Let's just... let's just try to stay calm. Look, he’s not doing too good. His shirt is covered in blood. Can I tend to his wound, please?”
