“Yuri!” Marco barked, his voice cutting through the space, dominant enough to make the air feel thin.
“My bosses,” Yuri rushed out. “One of them marked her. I don’t know which. They took a liking to her. Planned to bond her to their unit.”
Marco’s head tilted slightly, his attention sharpening.
“And who exactly are your bosses, Yuri?” he asked, his voice dropping into something far more dangerous. “I’d like to know who thinks they can sink their teeth into what’s mine.”
“Special Officers Knox and Silas Mercer,” Yuri said quickly. “They’re brothers. Twins. They run organized crime for AIED.”
Marco went still.
“Twins?” he repeated softly. “Knox and Silas Mercer…”
“Yeah,” Yuri said, uncertainty creeping in now. “They look exactly alike. Why?”
Marco’s gaze snapped to him.
“You don’t ask me questions,” he said coldly. “You answer them. Tell me what they look like.”
“Uh… big. Even for alphas. One keeps his hair short, the other longer. Pale blonde. Almost white. And their eyes—”
“Blue,” Marco breathed.
A slow, wicked smile spread across his face.
His hand came down on my head. I flinched instantly, my body recoiling on instinct, desperate to avoid him. For a moment, he patted me almost absently, like I was his pet.
Then his fingers tightened.
They speared into my scalp, gripping at the root as he yanked me forward.
A cry tore from my throat as he dragged me by the hair through the maze of shipping containers, my feet stumbling to keep up with his brutal pace, until he finally stopped in front of a black SUV.
He didn't bother looking at me as he barked, “Get in.”
I obeyed immediately, scrambling into the vehicle, hopingcompliance might soften whatever punishment he had already decided on. A shudder ran through me as I slid across theleather seat.
He climbed in beside me, slamming the door shut with a heavy thud.
“Seatbelt,” he ordered, his voice low and dangerous.
I pulled it across my body with trembling hands and clicked it into place.
The engine turned over, and the car rolled forward. Through the window, I caught a glimpse of Luca pressing a wad of cash into Yuri’s hand.
So, I was sold to Marco,again…
First my mother and now Yuri. Two people who were supposed to keep me safe.
I looked away, trying to keep the tears from flowing.
Instead, I focused on the passing city, buildings blurring into streaks of gray and steel as I tried to steady my breathing, and force myself back into that empty place inside. The place that had kept me alive.
If I could go numb, I could survive this.
But the numb didn’t come.
Not like it used to.
