John appears a second later behind him, lingering near the doorway instead of stepping fully into the room. Mary hovers in the hall.
Mary speaks first.
“John… please.” Mary steps closer, her voice low. “Tell Grant to remind Elliot not to harm her.”
John doesn’t answer.
She moves another step in, fingers twisting together. “Please.”
He exhales, jaw tightening, then shifts his attention to Grant.
“You will remind Elliot that she is not to be killed. Not to be harmed. No mysterious accidents.”
Grant glances over his shoulder, one brow lifting.
“You talk about my brother as if he’s a monster.”
John meets his eyes. “He is.”
A slow breath leaves Grant’s nose, amusement flickering across his face.
“He’ll make her obedient.” His gaze drifts to me. “That much I can promise.”
“Don’t let him kill her.” John’s tone stays flat.
Grant tilts his head, studying him. “Protective. That’s new.”
John doesn’t react.
Somethingin me snaps.
“Where’s Seth?” I lunge forward as far as the restraints allow, the chair jerking violently. “Is he alive? Where is he?”
Grant turns toward me, unhurried.
“Someone is loud this morning.”
Mary lingers just inside the doorway, hands clasped tight. She says nothing.
“Answer me,” I shout. “Where the fuck is he?”
Grant crosses the room in two calm steps. He pulls a gag from his pocket and shoves it into my mouth. Leather presses hard against my teeth as he ties it tight behind my head until the corners of my lips burn.
“That's better. Women should be quiet when men are talking,” he smirks.
Before I can react, John grabs the back of the chair and drags me across the floor. The legs scrape loudly over the wood as he hauls me out of the bedroom and into the hallway.
Mary follows behind them.She doesn't protest. She simply closes the bedroom door as we pass it.
Her voice comes again, thin and strained.
“John… please make sure she—”
“She’ll survive,” John cuts in. “She’s strong. We raised her to be.”
Something cold slides through my chest at that.
The tension between the men hangs heavy in the air. I don't know the full history of Grant and Elliot, but the way their names are spoken makes one thing clear.
