Juliette’s POV
The moment I felt his hand clamp over my mouth, the world went black. Panic gripped me so violently that I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t even hope. All I could feel was the heat of him, the strength behind his grip, and the certainty that I was utterly powerless. My heart slammed against my ribs like it wanted to escape before my body did.
When he finally released me, I collapsed onto cold concrete. The warehouse smelled of damp metal and decay. Shadows flickered across the walls from the broken windows above, twisted shapes dancing like monsters. My mind raced, struggling to make sense of everything. The black-eyed man was here, and he had me. My captor. My nightmare.
I scrambled backward, hands outstretched for something—anything—to steady myself. My gaze l
