Her father moved with the speed of a man protecting his most precious treasure. He lunged forward, his fist colliding with the stranger’s jaw in a brutal arc. The impact reverberated like thunder, and the pistol clattered to the floor, skidding to a halt just inches from Savannah’s feet. She gasped, her eyes darting between the weapon and the unfolding chaos.
Another man emerged from the shadows, his presence suffocating the room like a black fog. His voice was slick, dripping with cruelty as he taunted her father. “Serrano sends his condolences,” he said with a leer that made Savannah’s stomach churn. “He also sends a message: don’t bother worrying about the girl. She’ll fetch a fine price on the market.” His words twisted in her mind, their meaning a horror she could barely comprehend.
