Emily glanced at Dominic, her pulse racing and her thoughts reeling with doubt and incredulity. Though wounded, James remained by her side, his hand softly caressing hers as if to comfort her that they would be facing this together. But Dominic's warning lingered in the air like a storm cloud, dark and threatening, making it abundantly evident that any mistake may mean James's life would be ended. The weight of the choice Emily had to make—pick freedom and risk James's life, or submit to Dominic and lose all she had battled so fiercely—paralysed her for a fleeting second.
Dominic's grin was icy, his eyes glittering with the merciless gratification of a predator aware he had captured his target. "You don't have much time, Emily," he whispered gently, advancing yet another step. Choose you
