Chapter Twenty-Five
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
DELILAH
T he cold seeped into my bones as I blinked into the darkness, my head pounding and my wrists aching from the restraints. The sharp metallic clang of chains echoed as I shifted on the hard mattress beneath me. The air was damp and stale, carrying the faint scent of mildew and something far more sinister—blood.
My breathing quickened as reality came crashing down. The Iron Serpents. I wasn’t just another victim. I was a pawn in their twisted game—a way to strike at Ryder and Axel. My child wasn’t even born yet, and already, they were caught in the middle of a war they had no part in.
I fought back tears as I took in my surroundings. The room was bare except for the cot I was chained to, its thin mattress offering little comfort. A single dull, flickering lightbulb hung from the ceiling, casting eerie shadows on the cracked concrete walls. I’d never felt so alone or so terrified.
The sound of heavy boots echoed outside the door, each step sending a jolt of fear through me. The door creaked open, and a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped inside. His face was rugged, his expression one of cruel amusement. He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe, his presence filling the room with menace.
“Awake, huh?” he said, his voice gravelly. “Good. I was starting to think you’d sleep through all the fun we have planned.”
I glared at him, refusing to let him see how scared I was. “What do you want?” I demanded, my voice steadier than I expected.
The man chuckled darkly. “What do I want? Sweetheart, it’s not about what I want. It’s about sending a message. Your baby daddy and your brother… they’re about to learn what happens when you fuck with the Serpents.”
“You’re cowards,” I spat. “Taking me won’t win you this war. It’ll just get you killed faster.”
His smirk faded, replaced by a dangerous glint in his eyes. He stepped closer, and I instinctively pressed back against the wall. “You’ve got a sharp tongue,” he said, grabbing my chin roughly. “But you’ll learn your place soon enough.”
I jerked my head away, my heart racing. “Touch me again, and I swear I’ll make you regret it.”
The man’s eyes darkened, and without warning, his hand shot out, striking me across the face. Pain exploded along my cheekbone, and I gasped, my vision blurring for a moment. “You’re in no position to make threats, sweetheart,” he growled. “You’re nothing but leverage. A tool. And tools don’t talk back.”
Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. My body trembled as fear clawed at me, but I held his gaze, forcing myself to stay defiant. Inside, I was a storm of emotions—terror, anger, and a crushing sense of helplessness. I pressed a hand to my stomach, trying to steady myself, trying to remind myself why I had to endure this.
His laughter was cold and humorless. “You’ve got fight. I’ll give you that. But let’s see how long that lasts.” He reached for his belt, and for a moment, my blood turned to ice. But before he could do anything more, another Serpent appeared in the doorway.
“Enough,” the second man said, his tone sharp. “Boss wants her in one piece.”
The first man sneered but stepped back. “For now,” he muttered, shooting me a final glare before leaving the room. The second man lingered for a moment, his eyes cold and calculating.
“You should hope they find you soon,” he said flatly. “Because if they don’t, we’ll stop needing you alive.”
The door slammed shut, and I was plunged back into the dull light. My body trembled as I fought to keep my emotions in check. I couldn’t break. Not here. Not now.
Memories flooded my mind, unbidden. I saw my father standing in this very house, his voice raised in anger as he argued with my mother. The same walls that had once echoed with their fights now surrounded me in my darkest moment. My father had been ruthless, unforgiving, a man who valued power above all else. And now, I wondered if I’d inherited any of his strength.
I pressed a hand to my stomach, the movement limited by the chains. “We’re going to get out of this,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I promise.”
The hours stretched on, each second an eternity. The Serpents’ voices filtered through the walls, their laughter and taunts reminding me just how precarious my situation was. I knew Ryder would come for me. Axel too. But would they be in time?
The door opened again, and this time, two men entered. One carried a tray of food, the other a length of chain. My pulse quickened as they approached.
“Eat up,” the first man said, dropping the tray onto the cot. “You’ll need your strength.”
“For what?” I asked, my voice defiant.
The second man grinned, his teeth yellowed and uneven. “For whatever happens next.”
They left without another word, and I stared at the tray. The food looked unappetizing, but I forced myself to eat. I couldn’t afford to be weak, not now.
As I chewed, I thought of Ryder. His baby growing inside me. I thought of Axel, his overbearing protectiveness and the way he’d always tried to shield me from this life. They had their flaws, their grudges, but I knew one thing for certain: they’d burn the world down to save me.
The sound of footsteps approached again, and I braced myself. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
Memories flooded my mind, unbidden. I saw my father standing in this very house, his voice raised in anger as he argued with my mother. The same walls that had once echoed with their fights now surrounded me in my darkest moment. My father had been ruthless, unforgiving, a man who valued power above all else. And now, I wondered if I’d inherited any of his strength.
I pressed a hand to my stomach, the movement limited by the chains. “We’re going to get out of this,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I promise.”
The hours stretched on, each second an eternity. The Serpents’ voices filtered through the walls, their laughter and taunts reminding me just how precarious my situation was. I knew Ryder would come for me. Axel too. But would they be in time?
The door opened again, and this time, two men entered. One carried a tray of food, the other more chains. My pulse quickened as they approached.
“Eat up,” the first man said, dropping the tray onto the cot. “You’ll need your strength.”
“For what?” I asked, my voice defiant.
The second man grinned, his teeth yellowed and uneven. “For whatever happens next.”
They left without another word, and I stared at the tray. The food looked unappetizing, but I forced myself to eat. I couldn’t afford to be weak, not now.
As I chewed, I thought of Ryder. His voice, his touch, the way he’d always looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered. I thought of Axel, his overbearing protectiveness, and the way he’d always tried to shield me from this life. They had their flaws and their grudges, but I knew one thing for certain: they’d burn the world down to save me.
The sound of footsteps approached again, and I braced myself. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
The door creaked open, and the first man returned, his hulking frame casting a long shadow over the room. He carried a coiled whip in one hand and a smirk on his face that made my stomach churn. “Miss me already?” he sneered, stepping closer.
I clenched my fists, my heart hammering in my chest as I tried to maintain a calm exterior. Inside, I was screaming. I glanced at the whip, bile rising in my throat.
“Boss says I’ve got to keep you in one piece,” he said, dragging the whip along the floor as he walked. “But he didn’t say I couldn’t have a little fun scaring you.”
“You think this makes you powerful?” I said, my voice steadier than I expected. “Hurting a woman chained to a bed? That’s the mark of a weak man.”
His smirk faltered for a split second, replaced by a flash of anger. “Careful,” he growled. “You don’t know how far I’m willing to go.”
“I know exactly how far cowards like you go,” I snapped, my voice dripping with contempt.
The whip cracked against the concrete floor, the sound echoing through the room. I flinched involuntarily, and he laughed, the sound cold and devoid of humor. “That’s what I thought,” he said, leaning down until his face was inches from mine. “You’re all talk, sweetheart.”
I stared back at him, my body trembling but my gaze unwavering. “You can scare me. You can hurt me. But you’ll never break me. And when they come for me… you’ll wish you’d never laid a hand on me.”
His grin widened, but there was a flicker of unease in his eyes. He straightened and tossed the whip onto the floor at the foot of the bed. “We’ll see about that,” he said, backing toward the door. “You’ve got fight now, but everyone breaks eventually.”
When he finally left, the door slamming shut behind him, I exhaled shakily. Tears blurred my vision, but I blinked them away, refusing to let them fall. I had to be strong. For myself. For my baby.
The minutes dragged into hours, the darkness around me pressing in on all sides. My cheek throbbed where he’d hit me earlier, and I pressed my palm to the tender spot, the physical pain grounding me in a way I hadn’t expected. I closed my eyes, focusing on the steady rhythm of my breathing.
A faint flutter against my ribs broke through the storm of my thoughts. My baby. I placed my hand on my stomach; my fingers splayed protectively. “We’re going to make it through this,” I whispered. “I promise.”
The sound of voices filtered through the walls, muffled but growing louder. One of them was angry, the words sharp and clipped. I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but it was clear there was disagreement. My pulse quickened. Was this a sign of weakness in their ranks? A crack I could exploit?
I strained to hear more, catching snippets of words like “deadline” and “message.” My heart sank as I pieced it together. They weren’t planning to keep me alive for long. I was a bargaining chip, nothing more. Once they got what they wanted—or didn’t—I’d be disposable.
The door opened again, this time revealing a man I hadn’t seen before. He was smaller than the others, wiry and sharp-eyed, his expression one of clinical detachment. He carried a clipboard and a flashlight, and as he approached, he clicked the light on, shining it directly into my eyes.
“Vitals check,” he muttered, more to himself than to me.
“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice hoarse.
He ignored me, setting the clipboard down and pulling a stethoscope from his pocket. “Hold still,” he said, pressing the cold metal to my chest. I didn’t have much of a choice, shackled as I was, but I jerked away as best I could.
“You’re not a doctor,” I said, glaring at him. “You’re a butcher.”
His lips twitched in what might have been amusement, but he didn’t respond. After a few moments, he stood back, scribbling something on his clipboard. “You’re healthy enough,” he said. “For now.”
“What does that mean?” I demanded, but he was already leaving, the door slamming shut once more.
I slumped back against the wall, my heart racing. They weren’t just toying with me; they were assessing how long I could last. How much time they had to use me. The realization sent a fresh wave of terror through me, but I swallowed it down, forcing myself to think.
I had to get out. And I had to do it soon.
I didn’t remember falling asleep, but I woke with a start, my heart pounding as muffled shouts reached my ears. I sat up as much as the chains would allow, straining to hear. The voices grew louder, angrier, and then—a gunshot. My breath hitched, fear freezing me in place.
A scream pierced the air, high-pitched and desperate. The metallic clatter of something heavy falling to the floor sent a jolt through me. Panic clawed at my chest as the sounds of chaos intensified: more gunfire, footsteps pounding against the concrete, and voices yelling orders I couldn’t make out.
I clutched my stomach protectively, my mind racing. Was this a rescue? Or had something even worse come for me? The baby kicked against my hand, a small, grounding reminder that I couldn’t let fear consume me.
The door to my cell rattled violently, the handle turning sharply before it burst open. I recoiled, pressing myself against the wall as the light from the hallway spilled into the room. For a terrifying moment, I expected one of the Serpents to appear, ready to drag me into whatever hell was unfolding outside.
Instead, Ryder stepped inside, his silhouette dominating the doorway. His eyes found mine instantly, blazing with a mix of fury and relief. His chest heaved as he took in the sight of me, chained and battered but alive.
“Delilah,” he said, his voice rough, like gravel scraping against metal. He crossed the room in three strides, kneeling beside the cot and reaching for the chains.
I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. The flood of emotions was too much—relief, fear, anger, and something deeper that I didn’t have the strength to name.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his hands working quickly to undo the restraints. “You’re safe now.”
I have no idea how he did it but the chains fell away, and he helped me sit up fully. His touch was firm but careful, his eyes scanning me for injuries. “Can you stand?”
I nodded, though my legs felt like jelly as I swung them over the edge of the cot. Ryder wrapped an arm around my waist, steadying me as I wobbled to my feet. The room tilted slightly, but I held on, leaning into his strength.
“We need to move,” he said, his voice low but urgent. “They’re regrouping, and we don’t have much time.”
I didn’t argue. My body screamed in protest with every step, but I forced myself to keep going, one foot in front of the other. Ryder guided me through the dimly lit hallway, his movements deliberate and controlled, like a predator stalking its prey. Gunfire echoed from somewhere nearby, followed by a loud explosion that made the walls shake.
“Stay close,” he said, glancing over his shoulder to meet my eyes. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I believed him. In that moment, despite everything, I believed him completely.