The warehouse smelled of rust and sea air.
Somewhere in the shadows, water dripped in a slow, steady rhythm, like the ticking of a clock Ava didn’t want to hear.
The scarred man was tied to a metal chair under the single hanging light, his wrists bound so tight the cords cut into skin. His breathing was steady, his eyes fixed not on Liam — but on her.
“Leave her out of this,” he said, voice low but firm.
Liam circled him once, his shoes echoing on the concrete. “She’s already in it,” he replied. “And you’re going to make sure she understands exactly why I can’t let you walk out of here.”
Ava stood at the edge of the light’s reach, arms wrapped around herself. “I don’t need to see this.”
“You do,” Liam said without looking at her. “You think I’m cruel. Maybe you’re right. But this… th
