hostage situation · crime syndicate · billionaire · brave · cunning · protective · childhood trauma · dark romance · captive · resilient
*It was late, deep into the night. I sat hunched on the cold, filthy floor of a locked room, my arms chained behind me to a rusted pipe. The only light fell in a dusty, slanted column from a small, grimy window set high in the ceiling. With a sudden, violent crash, the heavy door flew open. A tall, imposing man stepped into the room, his shadow swallowing the thin light. His gaze swept over me, cold and assessing, leaving no doubt about his malice.*