22. Lena #2
I slide along the wall, inching toward the window.
It opens into a small courtyard. No one’s out there.
I try the window. Locked. I shake it again, weaker this time.
It doesn’t budge. I don’t even bother screaming.
My voice wouldn’t carry far, and anyway, who would hear me?
This neighborhood’s a ghost. It’s been cleared, so it can be handed over to the developers. Dominic’s friends.
Damn it. The nerve Anton has to bring me here. I scan the room and spot a brick on the floor. The kind used to prop open doors in old houses. I hit the window with it. Nothing. It’s thick glass, and I’m too weak.
How long have I been out? It’s still light outside, but not much. Evening creeps in, dimming everything.
The door creaks open. I stay by the window, across the room. The brick’s hidden behind me.
Anton.
“Sleeping beauty’s awake?” he drawls.
He doesn’t come closer. He grins from the doorway instead. He remembers the last time I hit him and is probably keeping his distance. But I know he’s not alone.
“Wipe that smile off your face, you bastard,” I spit. “Dominic’s coming.”
“That’s what you think, princess. Your Dominic is busy holding his dying mother’s hand right now. Do you think he’s going to leave her side for… you?”
God. No. Lexi said she was unconscious, but dying?
“Bullshit. You don’t know that. You’re bluffing.”
He takes a slow step closer. “I knew the moment they got to the hospital, baby. You still don’t get it, do you?
” He spreads his arms like a preacher. “This city’s mine.
I know everything the second it happens.
I’ve got people everywhere. I told you Mayor Lang is only a puppet.
I run this place? You didn’t believe me. Had to prove it.”
His face twists when he talks. He’s never been attractive. Just polished. The kind of guy who wears wealth like a second skin. That’s what draws people in. Especially women. Until they actually get to know him.
“Let’s drop the whole ‘Lady Monti’ act,” he sneers. “That name won’t save you now. You’re mine. You and your cute little music box. Guess what my guys found when they went through your backpack?”
“Do you need your thugs for everything? Even when you wipe your ass?”
He flinches. Good. Anton makes mistakes when he’s angry.
And I need him to make a lot of them. Every second I stall is a second closer to Gabriel finding me.
What this asshole doesn’t realize is that Dominic has real friends.
Men like him, who probably already started the hunt.
Knowing Lexi, she’s already sounded the alarm. My girl’s smart.
Anton steps closer. “Aren’t you curious, though?” he says, in a mocking voice. “I was. Of course I was. I had to see what the little reporter was hiding. I’ve got to say… pretty impressive.”
“Don’t get too excited,” I say coldly. “I’ve got backups.”
He smirks. “Sure. But now I know who your sources are. And I’ll make sure they stay silent. Permanently.” He leans in, breathing sharply. “I love a good hunt. Especially when it involves women.”
Something inside me twists. First disbelief.
Then disgust. Then fire. Rage crawls up my spine.
Slow and cold at first, then faster, hotter, until it slams into my chest like a punch.
I grip the brick tighter behind me. My fingers are locked around it now.
If he steps closer, I’ll hit him. Hard. In the head.
I know how. I trained for this, back when I promised myself no man would ever hit me again.
Even dizzy and off balance, I can make it count.
I’ll use the wall to launch. Add momentum.
One clean hit, and it’s over. If he dies, no one else gets hurt.
No more victims. No more women hunted. Just me, left with the consequences.
Broken, maybe beyond repair. But free of him for good.
My voice cuts through the silence. “Why did you bring me here? What do you even want from me? Don’t pretend you knew about the music box. That was dumb luck.”
He shrugs. “True. I’ll admit it. A nice surprise.” A mean grin, then a step forward. “But there’s something I need to finish with you first.” He nods toward the mattress. “Not the best bed, I know. But I don’t think you’ll care much about comfort.”
“Anton,” I say, my voice like steel, “you know I can beat the crap out of you. I’ve done it before. Stay. The fuck. Back.”
His eyes narrow.
“I’m not that na?ve college girl anymore,” I snap. “You already felt what I’m capable of. And you should be scared of who I am now, you idiot.”
“You caught me off guard that time,” he spits. “You’ll pay for that. For everything. For the pain in my leg. For daring to hit me.” His face contorts with fury. “That little taste of hell you had in the hospital? Nothing compared to what I’m about to do to you now, you arrogant bitch.”
I see it in his face. He’s going to snap. He lunges. I swing the brick, aiming for his head, but it slips at the last second. My palms are too sweaty.
He sees the opening and throws a punch. It lands hard across my face. Pain bursts behind my eye as I slam into the window. My shoulder takes part of it, but my temple clips the edge of the frame, hard. I collapse, gasping, landing hard on the floor.
The floor is ice. My vision spins. My whole body screams. My fingers brush the brick. It’s right there. Anton steps back, eyes gleaming as he watches me crumple. Then he laughs, loud and unhinged. “You’re such a fighter. I like it.”
I lift my head, tasting blood.
“Anton, if you touch me… if you so much as put your filthy hands on my body, you’re going to die.”
“And who’s going to do that? Your precious Dominic?” He scoffs and nods. “You really still believe he’ll come? I’ve got an army outside and inside this house. This whole place is locked down. He doesn’t stand a chance. Honestly, I’d love for him to show up.”
He pauses, smirks, then pulls out a phone.
“Maybe I should send him a picture of you. Let him see what’s waiting for him. Do you think he’ll rush over when he sees you like this?”
Actually, let the idiot send it. If he does, they can trace the number. But it’ll take time. Time I might not have. And if that whole ‘army’ thing isn’t just his usual bluster, I’ll be dead before Dominic gets within a mile.
Unless killing Anton now buys me a head start. My fingers curl around the brick again. It’s warm now. Familiar.
“I don’t need Dominic,” I growl. “I’ll kill you myself the second you lay a hand on me.”
His expression twists. Then he storms toward me.
I tense. My grip is good, but I’m off balance.
Too close to the wall, not enough room to swing clean.
I need a distraction. Fast. My leg shoots out.
I hit his knee hard, bone against bone. He collapses with a guttural grunt, catching himself on both hands.
But he’s fast. He growls through his teeth and launches forward again, even more furious.
Good. Come at me.
That kick gave me what I needed. I shift my weight. Get up fast. Now I’m on my feet, steady. The brick is locked tight in my hand. My back presses against the wall. My feet are planted. My arm’s ready.
I won’t drop it this time. I won’t drop it this time. I won’t. And Anton... He’s not walking out of here. Not this time. I hold his gaze, waiting for that last step, the one that puts him within striking distance. Just one more and I’ll swing.
Then a voice roars from behind. “Get away from her.”
Dominic.
Anton turns, just in time for Dominic’s fist to crash into his jaw. The impact sends him flying sideways, slamming the wall right next to me. I stumble back, disoriented, and drop to the floor a few inches from Anton’s body. He groans, curling into himself, with blood dripping from his nose.
Dominic’s on the ground beside me in seconds. He drops to his knees, takes my face in both hands, eyes darting across me like he’s trying to scan for damage. “Did he touch you? Are you hurt?”
I nod. Pain surges through me like a fresh wave, and I let out a low groan. He gently tilts my chin, fingers trembling slightly. Then he sees it. The red handprint seared across my cheek. His expression shifts instantly, his jaw tightening.
Still holding me with one arm, he turns toward Anton. “I’m going to fucking kill you,” he growls.
Anton’s on his knees now, blood pouring down his face. Broken or faking, hard to tell. Dominic eases me back against the wall, like it physically pains him to let go. But he needs both hands.
That’s when Gabriel appears. Silent, sudden, and deadly calm. He grabs Anton by the collar and yanks him upright like he weighs nothing.
Dominic charges, fists raised, fury exploding.
Gabriel steps between them, slamming a hand against Dominic’s chest. “Stop. He’s not worth it,” he says, low but firm.
Dominic doesn’t blink. He’s breathing hard, his chest heaving.
His eyes burn into Gabriel’s. For a second, it looks like he might hit him.
I press myself against the wall, frozen. Anton dangles like a rag doll in Gabriel’s grip, the only thing keeping him from hitting the floor in a pool of his own blood.
Leo and Damien burst through the doorway. Damien takes one look and moves. No hesitation. He crosses the room, grabs Anton from Gabriel, and drags him out. Gabriel stays planted, keeping his hand on Dominic’s chest for a beat longer, then slowly lowers it. Dominic’s breathing starts to even out.
That’s when Leo comes to me. He crouches low, slides an arm around my back, and lifts me gently. I don’t resist. My head falls to his shoulder. My legs give out.
That’s what pulls Dominic back to me. He blinks, like waking from a trance. “Lena? Baby? Stay with me.”
He steps in, takes me from Leo, and pulls me against his chest, holding me like I was something sacred and fragile. Then he looks at Leo.
“Go. Clear the way.”
Leo moves fast, throwing open doors, shoving aside whatever’s in the way, clearing the path. Dominic carries me like I’m weightless.
The house is wrecked, with broken furniture, footprints in dust, peeling walls. Outside, the yard is in chaos. Damien’s officers are dragging Anton’s men into submission—more than a dozen bodies, weapons scattered, faces bruised.
Leo yanks open the back door of a black SUV. Dominic gently lowers me onto the seat. Then he climbs in beside me and pulls me close, one arm wrapped tight around my waist.
“To the hospital,” he tells Leo.
“No, Dominic. Please. Not the hospital. I don’t want that.”
His voice tightens. “Did he do anything to you?”
“My head’s pounding from whatever he used to knock me out. He hit me once. Just once. I hit him back just as hard. I was ready to finish it if he’d gotten any closer. I’m dizzy from the fall, but I’m okay. There’s no blood on my face, right?”
He leans in and gently wipes at my temples.
“Where to?” Leo asks from the front seat.
“The hotel,” Dominic says. “Our doctor will see her there.”
I rest my head against his chest. His shirt smells like smoke, cold air, and the scent I’ve come to know as him. My eyes slip shut. The shaking finally stops. I was ready to kill. He nearly died. And I nearly lost myself. But not tonight. Tonight, the worst didn’t happen.