Page 57 of Felix

“Son of a bitch!” one yells when he sees what I’ve done. He grabs my arms, yanking them behind my back and tying them with rough rope.

“Learn your fucking place,” he snarls, giving me a vicious shove onto the cold floor. I struggle against the bonds, but it’s useless. My hands are permanently tied behind my back now, all because I refused their sick version of care.

“Fuck you,” I whisper again, too weak to put up more of a fight. My heart clenches at the thought of Felix. Why hasn’t he come for me? Is he even looking for me? I need him more than ever. But for now, I’m alone in this hellhole, and it’s up to me to survive and find a way out.

My body aches, the pain radiating from every gash and bruise. I drift in and out of consciousness, each time praying it’s my last, but I keep waking up to this nightmare.

“Hey, bitch! Time for some fun,” one of them sneers as he yanks me off the floor. My legs barely support me, but I stand, glaring at him with all the hatred I can muster.

“Fuck you,” I spit back, though the words lack force. My vision blurs as they start their sick games. I won’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me break, even as they slice into my flesh, leaving more jagged cuts than before.

“Please.” I want to scream, but I bite my lip instead, tasting blood. They laugh as they violate me again and again, their twisted grins haunting my thoughts. It hurts worse than anything I’ve ever experienced, and I know I’m nearing death.

“Look at her,” one of them taunts while he lashes me with barbed wire. “Not so tough now, are you?”

“Fuck… you,” I gasp through clenched teeth. Every breath feels like fire, my chest tight and heavy. The infection spreading beneath my skin threatens to claim my life, and I welcome it—anything to be free of this hell.

“Pathetic,” another says, his eyes cold and cruel. “Thought you’d last longer.”

“Go to hell,” I choke out, tears streaming down my face.

Where are you, Felix? Why haven’t you come for me?

I collapse onto the floor, my body failing me. No one is coming. No one will rescue me from this torment. Despair settles in my bones, and I can’t hold on any longer.

“Is that all you got?” I whisper, my voice barely audible. Let them think they’ve won. I’m already dead inside.

Chapter Forty-One

Felix Greyson

The sun is bleeding out across the sky like a fucking masterpiece of bruises and blood. I can feel my heart pounding, adrenaline pumping through my veins as we follow Antonio from a safe distance—close enough to tail him but far enough so he won’t catch on. My hands grip the steering wheel tight, knuckles turning white.

“Keep your eyes peeled,” Matteo growls, his voice low and menacing. He’s got that killer instinct in his eyes, and I know he’s ready for whatever shit might go down.

“Got it,” I reply, not taking my eyes off the road. We’re way past Sydney now, surrounded by nothing but open land and dense gum trees. It feels like we’re stepping into enemy territory, and it makes my blood boil just thinking about what they might be doing to Aurora.

“Turn here!” Spike commands suddenly, his finger pointing at a dirt road up ahead. Antonio’s car swerves onto it, and we don’t hesitate to follow suit. The wheels kick updust, and the car bounces over the uneven terrain, but I won’t let this bastard get away.

“Slow down, Felix,” Angel whispers, his voice barely audible over the engine’s roar. “We can’t risk being spotted.”

“Fine,” I mutter, easing off the gas pedal. It takes every ounce of self-control not to floor it again. My fingers itch to wrap around Antonio’s throat, to make him pay for touching what’s mine.

“Good call, Angel,” Matteo says, nodding in agreement. “We need to be smart about this.”

“Right,” I acknowledge, though I’m not feeling patient or rational right now. All I want is to get Aurora back, to protect her from the darkness that threatens to swallow her whole.

I glance at Matteo, his eyes glued to the phone, talking to his son, Niko. He’s been on that fucking thing the whole ride, trying to get as much intel as possible.

“Right, so the road Antonio went down has an old farmhouse, cattle yard, and a milking station,” Matteo says, relaying the information Niko got from the satellite images.

“Got it,” I reply. The image of Aurora held captive in that shithole is burning through my mind like acid. I grip the steering wheel tighter.

Next to me, Spike looks ready for a bloody massacre. His arsenal of knives strapped to every part of his body is impressive—if someone threw him in a river, the cunt would sink. The way he fits that many blades on one person is a fucking accomplishment, and I can’t help but envy his lethal skill.

“Nice collection you got there,” I say, admiring the assortment of deadly weapons.

“Thanks, mate,” Spike responds, a twisted grin spreads across his face. “Just wait till you see what they can do.”

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