RUTHLESS POSSESSION

CHAPTER FOUR

"Genesis."

The word had barely left Enzra's mouth when the entire training hall went silent.

Not quiet.

Silent.

It was the kind of silence where even the smallest sound would have been impossible to miss.

Enzra could hear her own breathing.

She slowly turned around.

Genesis stood a few feet behind her.

His expression was unreadable.

His eyes were fixed on hers.

Nobody in the training hall moved.

The fighters who had been practicing moments ago stood completely still.

Even the instructors remained silent.

Genesis tilted his head slightly.

"What did you just say?"

Enzra stared at him.

Her heart was beating faster, but she refused to show it.

She knew exactly what he wanted her to say.

She also knew she could repeat it.

Genesis.

She wasn't afraid of him.

Not the way everyone else seemed to be.

Her mind told her to say it again.

To prove that she wasn't like the others.

To prove that he couldn't control every word that came out of her mouth.

But another part of her remembered the underground cells.

The guards.

The workers.

The gunshot from that morning.

And the way everyone had immediately gone back to work.

Genesis waited.

Enzra's fingers tightened around the cloth she was still holding.

Say it.

Say his name.

She could.

She knew she could.

Her eyes remained on his.

Then she fought against the stubborn voice inside her.

"Master."

The word sounded bitter on her tongue.

Genesis watched her carefully.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then his gaze moved toward the fighters.

"Continue."

Nobody questioned him.

The training resumed immediately.

Clang.

Thud.

"Again!"

The instructors shouted.

People moved.

But the tension remained.

Genesis looked back at Enzra.

"You were given one rule."

Enzra frowned.

"Which one?"

His eyes narrowed.

"Do you really want me to remind you?"

Enzra knew exactly what he meant.

Never call me by my name.

She looked away.

Genesis stepped closer.

"You seem to have a problem following instructions."

"I have a problem with unnecessary rules."

A few people nearby suddenly became very interested in their training.

Genesis's expression didn't change.

"Is that so?"

Enzra nodded.

"Yes."

"You walked into a restricted facility."

"I heard something."

"And decided that meant you could enter."

"I was curious."

"Curiosity won't protect you here."

Enzra looked at him.

"Neither will fear."

Something flickered across his face.

It disappeared almost immediately.

Genesis turned away.

"Take her back."

Enzra blinked.

"That's it?"

Genesis stopped.

He looked over his shoulder.

"No."

Her stomach tightened.

"You won't receive lunch today."

Enzra stared at him.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"I worked all morning."

"And you disobeyed a direct rule."

"I didn't know I couldn't come here."

"You saw the sign."

Enzra glanced toward the iron door.

COMBAT TRAINING.

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.

She looked back at him.

"So you're punishing me because I was curious?"

"I'm punishing you because you disobeyed."

Enzra's jaw tightened.

"Fine."

Genesis's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Fine?"

She folded her arms.

"I'll survive one missed meal."

He studied her for another moment.

"Let's see."

He turned toward one of the guards.

"Take her back."

The guard nodded.

Enzra followed him toward the door.

Before leaving, she looked back.

Genesis was already walking toward the center of the training hall.

He didn't look at her again.

But somehow, that bothered her more.

She stepped into the corridor.

The iron door slammed shut behind her.

The sound echoed through the passage.

The guard walked ahead.

Enzra followed silently.

She had expected to feel defeated.

Instead, she felt irritated.

She had finally seen something beyond the walls of the slave quarters.

Something important.

An army.

Hundreds of trained people.

And now she was being sent back before she could understand what she had seen.

As they approached the workers' hall, Enzra noticed two men standing near the entrance.

They weren't guards from the underground quarters.

Their clothes were different.

Black shirts.

Black trousers.

Small silver symbols embroidered near their collars.

One of them noticed Enzra looking.

His eyes briefly met hers.

Then he looked away.

Enzra's gaze remained on the silver symbol.

Something about it felt familiar.

She had seen that symbol before.

Not here.

Somewhere else.

She couldn't remember exactly where.

The guard continued walking.

Enzra followed.

But the image stayed in her mind.

The silver symbol.

She had a strange feeling she had seen it years ago.

She was taken back to her cell.

Mara was sitting on the mattress.

She looked up immediately.

"You're back."

Enzra stepped inside.

"Apparently."

The door locked behind her.

Mara moved closer.

"What happened?"

"I got punished."

Mara's eyes widened.

"What did you do?"

"I went somewhere I wasn't supposed to."

Mara stared at her.

"Where?"

Enzra hesitated.

Then she looked toward the corridor.

"The training facility."

Mara's expression changed.

"You went there?"

"Yes."

"Enzra!"

"What?"

"You can't go there."

"I know that now."

Mara lowered her voice.

"Do you know what that place is?"

"I saw hundreds of people training."

Mara looked toward the bars.

"That's not all."

Enzra sat down.

"What else?"

Mara hesitated.

"Those aren't ordinary workers."

"I know."

"They're Genesis's most trusted people."

Enzra looked at her.

"How do you know?"

Mara lowered her eyes.

"I've been here eight months."

That wasn't an answer.

Enzra noticed.

But before she could ask another question, Mara reached beneath her mattress.

She pulled out a small piece of cloth.

Then she unfolded it.

Inside was a small amount of food.

Enzra stared.

"What is that?"

"My lunch."

"You haven't eaten it?"

"I saved it."

"For tomorrow?"

Mara shook her head.

"For you."

Enzra frowned.

"Why?"

"You said you wouldn't spend your life pretending."

Enzra stared at her.

Mara pushed the food toward her.

"You need to eat."

"I can't take this."

"You can."

"Mara—"

"I always save some."

Enzra looked at the small portion.

"Then what will you eat?"

Mara shrugged.

"I'll manage."

Enzra took the food reluctantly.

"Thank you."

Mara gave a small smile.

"Don't thank me yet."

"Why?"

"Because tomorrow you might get me punished too."

Enzra almost laughed.

Almost.

Instead, she shook her head.

"You shouldn't be helping me."

Mara looked at her.

"Maybe."

Then she glanced toward the corridor.

"But someone should."

Enzra ate quietly.

The food wasn't much.

But it was enough.

For the first time since arriving at Genesis's house, she realized something.

Not everyone here had completely surrendered.

Some people were simply waiting.

Waiting for a chance.

Waiting for something to change.

And maybe Mara was one of them.

Enzra finished eating.

She looked at the bars.

"Mara."

"Hmm?"

"That symbol."

Mara's face immediately changed.

"What symbol?"

"The silver symbol on the men's collars."

Mara became silent.

Enzra noticed.

"You know it."

Mara looked away.

"I've seen it."

"Where?"

"I don't know."

"You're lying."

Mara's eyes met hers.

"Enzra, leave it."

"Why?"

"Because some questions aren't safe."

Before Enzra could answer, footsteps approached.

Mara immediately stopped talking.

A guard appeared.

He didn't stop at Enzra's cell.

He continued down the corridor.

Enzra watched him disappear.

Something was happening upstairs.

She could feel it.

Several floors above them, the atmosphere inside the mansion had changed.

Men moved quickly through the corridors.

Nobody spoke unnecessarily.

Damon walked into the main hall dressed in black.

Four men followed behind him.

The man with the silver symbol was among them.

His name was Ronan.

He had worked under Genesis for years and was one of the few men trusted with sensitive operations.

Beside him was Caleb, a younger member of Genesis's organization who rarely spoke unless necessary.

Damon stopped near the entrance.

"Everything ready?"

Ronan checked the time.

"Yes."

Damon looked at the others.

"Then we leave."

One of the men hesitated.

"What about Master?"

Damon's eyes moved toward him.

"Follow the plan."

That was all he said.

Nobody asked another question.

The black vehicles left the mansion one after another.

Down in the underground quarters, Enzra knew nothing about it.

She remained inside her cell.

Across the city, an old warehouse stood beneath a row of broken streetlights.

Several black vehicles stopped outside.

Damon stepped out first.

Ronan followed.

Caleb and the others moved behind them.

The warehouse looked abandoned.

Broken windows.

Rusting metal doors.

No visible security.

Ronan studied the building.

"Too quiet."

Damon looked toward the entrance.

"Stay alert."

They entered.

Inside, several men were waiting.

At the center stood a broad-shouldered man in a dark coat.

His name was Silas Vane.

He controlled the group that Genesis had been negotiating with for weeks.

Silas smiled when he saw Damon.

"Genesis sends his men."

Damon didn't respond.

Silas's smile faded.

"Where is he?"

Damon looked at him.

"We're here for the agreement."

Silas gave a short laugh.

"Straight to business."

"That's why we're here."

Silas stepped aside.

"The agreement is ready."

Damon's eyes moved around the warehouse.

"Where is the package?"

Silas's expression changed.

"What package?"

Damon's jaw tightened.

"The one you promised."

For several seconds, nobody moved.

Then Silas smiled.

It wasn't a friendly smile.

"I think there's been a misunderstanding."

Ronan's hand moved slightly.

Damon noticed.

So did Silas.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

"You know exactly why we're here," Damon said.

Silas stared at him.

"Do I?"

Then the warehouse lights went out.

Everything happened at once.

A shout.

A loud crash.

Then gunshots echoed through the building.

Damon shouted an order.

His men scattered for cover.

The other group returned fire.

The warehouse erupted into chaos.

Damon moved toward the nearest wall as more shots rang out.

"Where's the package?" he shouted.

Nobody answered.

Ronan pointed toward a side entrance.

"He's moving!"

Damon followed.

They pushed through the door into a narrow alley.

But Silas was already disappearing into the darkness.

Damon stopped.

Something was wrong.

The meeting had been a trap.

And the package wasn't the only thing missing.

Ronan returned moments later.

"He's gone."

Damon looked back at the warehouse.

"Check everything."

Caleb ran toward the main room.

Seconds later, he returned holding a phone.

"Damon."

"What?"

"We received this."

Damon took the phone.

His face changed as he looked at the screen.

A message had been sent from an unknown number.

YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE WRONG THING.

Below it was a photograph.

Damon stared at the image.

It showed an old house.

An old house Enzra would recognize immediately.

Her uncle's house.

Ronan stepped closer.

"What is it?"

Damon didn't answer.

He stared at the photograph again.

Then another message appeared.

ASK THE GIRL WHAT HER UNCLE HID.

Damon's expression hardened.

For the first time that night, something close to concern appeared in his eyes.

"Get the vehicles."

Ronan looked at him.

"Where?"

Damon handed him the phone.

"Back to the mansion."

_________________________________________

The underground quarters remained unusually quiet.

Enzra sat against the wall.

Mara was already asleep.

Enzra wasn't.

She stared through the bars.

Something had changed.

She didn't know what.

Then she heard footsteps.

Fast.

Several people.

Mara immediately woke.

"What is that?"

Enzra stood.

The footsteps grew louder.

A door opened somewhere down the corridor.

Then another.

Guards rushed into the underground section.

"Everyone stay inside!"

The slaves immediately moved away from their cell doors.

Enzra's stomach tightened.

"What happened?"

Nobody answered.

More guards appeared.

Damon entered the corridor.

His face was completely different from earlier.

Hard.

Focused.

Urgent.

He looked down the row of cells.

"Lock every cell."

The guards immediately moved.

Metal doors slammed shut.

One after another.

Enzra watched.

"What is going on?"

Damon ignored her.

"Nobody leaves this section."

A guard nodded.

"Yes."

Enzra stepped toward the bars.

"Damon."

He stopped.

His eyes moved to her.

She waited for an answer.

Damon looked at her for several seconds.

Then his gaze shifted toward the guard beside him.

"Open her cell."

Mara immediately sat up.

"What?"

Enzra's heart skipped.

The guard unlocked the door.

Damon pointed at Enzra.

"Bring her."

Two guards stepped inside.

Enzra backed away.

"Why?"

Damon didn't answer.

The guards moved toward her.

Enzra looked toward Mara.

Mara was pale.

"Damon, what happened?"

Still nothing.

Enzra was led out.

She looked back at Mara.

Mara gripped the bars.

"Enzra!"

Enzra stopped.

Their eyes met.

Neither knew what to say.

Then Damon turned away.

The guards continued moving.

They didn't take Enzra toward the main corridor.

They went in the opposite direction.

Past the workers' hall.

Past the cells.

Past a corridor Enzra had never seen before.

The deeper they went, the quieter everything became.

Enzra finally stopped.

"I don't like this."

Damon looked at her.

"You are not supposed to."

He continued walking.

At the very end stood a single reinforced door.

There was no number.

No sign.

Nothing that explained what was behind it.

Damon unlocked it.

The door opened.

Inside was a small hidden cell.

Different from the others.

No other prisoner.

No voices.

No neighboring cells.

Just four walls, a mattress, and a small barred opening high above.

Enzra stared.

Damon remained at the doorway.

She looked at him.

He said nothing.

The guards waited behind him.

Enzra stepped inside.

Damon closed the door.

The lock turned.

Enzra immediately moved toward the bars.

"Damon!"

He didn't stop.

She watched him walk away with the guards.

The corridor slowly disappeared into darkness.

Enzra turned back toward the cell.

Her breathing became slower.

She looked around.

Why had they separated her from everyone else?

Why had the guards suddenly locked down the entire underground section?

And what had happened at that warehouse?

She had no answers.

Then—

Knock.

Enzra froze.

Silence.

She slowly turned toward the wall.

Knock.

Knock.

Three slow knocks.

Her eyes widened.

Someone was on the other side.

She took one careful step toward the wall.

Then a voice came through.

Low.

Barely above a whisper.

"Enzra..."

She stopped breathing for a moment.

She knew that voice.

Her eyes widened.

It was impossible.

That person wasn't supposed to be here.

The voice came again.

"Your uncle never told you the truth."

Enzra stepped closer to the wall.

"Who are you?"

Silence.

Then the voice whispered,

"Ask Genesis what happened the night your parents disappeared."

Enzra froze.

Her entire body went still.

Her parents.

Nobody had mentioned them since she arrived.

Nobody here should have known anything about them.

And whoever was behind that wall knew their secret.

Then—

Footsteps sounded outside her cell.

Fast.

Coming straight toward her.

Enzra turned toward the door.

The footsteps stopped.

The lock began to turn.

And suddenly, she realized something far worse than being locked away.

Someone inside Genesis Black's house knew the truth about her family.