Claimed By A Criminal

CHAPTER 7

Daniel's footsteps echoed in the dimly lit corridor as he carried Emilia, her limp body heavy against his chest. The weight of her unconsciousness matched the heaviness in his heart as he approached the corner room of the basement, a place where shadows danced with secrets and whispers lingered in the stale air.

The door creaked open, revealing a small, decrepit chamber. The walls, adorned with dried bloodstains, seemed to harbour the echoes of past suffering. A lone window on the right wall allowed slivers of moonlight to pierce through, casting eerie shadows across the room. It was a haunting space, a sanctuary for forgotten nightmares.

Daniel gently laid Emilia on the old, weathered bench in the corner, her form a fragile contrast against the ruggedness of her surroundings. With a heavy heart, he locked the door, sealing her fate within the confines of darkness.

In the adjacent cell, Dawson lay bound by chains, his figure a testament to the cruelty of his captor. Unconsciousness cloaked him, a temporary respite from the agony that awaited him.

" Be careful, Cole......., " Daniel cautioned, his voice a mere whisper in the suffocating silence of the cellar. His gaze lingered on Dawson's prone form, a silent reminder of their purpose.

" Boss wants him alive......., " Daniel emphasized, a subtle warning beneath his words.

Cole, a looming presence beside Dawson, nodded in acknowledgment. His eyes gleamed with a feral intensity, a reflection of the violence lurking within.

" Okay, boss......, " Cole replied, his voice a low growl as he surveyed his helpless prey.

With a deliberate step, Cole approached Dawson, his movements calculated with the precision of a predator. The air crackled with tension as he stood over his captive, a silent menace in the darkness.

" Boss still needs information......., " Daniel reminded him, his words a fragile thread holding back the tide of brutality. He watched as Cole's gaze hardened, a silent promise of pain yet to come.

Daniel retreated from the cell, leaving Dawson at Cole's mercy, a pawn in a game of vengeance and betrayal.

Meanwhile, Emilia stirred from her unconsciousness, her senses dulled by the oppressive darkness. Tears stained her cheeks as she called out for her father, her voice a desperate plea in the silence of the night.

" Dad......., " she cried, her words swallowed by the cavernous depths of the basement.

With trembling hands, she attempted to rise, her bare feet meeting the cold, unforgiving floor. Pain shot through her as she stumbled, her body a canvas of bruises and wounds.

The basement floor, littered with jagged rocks and debris, seemed to conspire against her, each step a test of endurance.

A sharp cry escaped her lips as her head collided with the unforgiving ground, a chorus of agony echoing in the stillness.

Blood pooled beneath her, a stark reminder of her vulnerability in this labyrinth of despair. She was a captive, ensnared in a web of darkness and deceit, her fate intertwined with that of her father.

As consciousness slipped away, Emilia clung to the fading echoes of hope, a flickering flame in the encroaching shadows.

.....................................................................

A tremor ran through Shane as Holly's touch grazed his shoulder. It wasn't the sweet tingle it used to be. All he craved was the memory of vibrant emerald eyes. " Master......, " Holly murmured, her voice a practiced purr, her hand trailing down his arm like a possessive vine.

Shane forced his eyes open, the remnants of a dream clinging to him like smoke. A dream of defiance and wild beauty. " What? " he rasped, his voice thick with sleep and a strange hunger.

Holly's smile, usually potent enough to melt his resolve, seemed as stale as yesterday's bread. " Master...., " she breathed, leaning in close enough for him to smell the cloying sweetness of her perfume, " your brother awaits in the dining hall for breakfast. "

Her body brushed against his, a calculated caress, but Shane barely registered it. That captivating girl haunted his every thought. He shouldn't care. He shouldn't feel a flicker of… sympathy. No, that wasn't right. This wasn't sympathy. This was a gnawing unease, a primal urge to see those emerald eyes open again.

" All Right....., " he finally managed, his voice devoid of warmth, his gaze fixed on a point far beyond Holly's painted face. Her touch, once a flame, now felt like a cold brand.

He pushed past her, the need for distance, a physical ache. " You can leave....., " Shane commanded, his voice a low growl.

Holly's carefully constructed smile stuttered. Rejection, even a silent one, stung. But she schooled her features quickly, the practiced mask snapping back into place.

Shane stalked through the room, his bare feet silent on the polished floor. He showered, the water a harsh caress against his burning skin. He dressed in a crisp white shirt, a stark contrast to the turmoil within.

As Shane arrived, the dining hall was empty. John was gone, a message on his phone the only explanation. Fury bubbled, hot and unwelcome, but it was quickly eclipsed by a cold dread.

" Master......., " Holly's voice, carefully devoid of earlier tension, echoed in the hall. " Your brother left a few minutes ago. Something urgent came up, and he apologized. "

Shane's reply died on his lips as his phone buzzed. A message from Daniel, his words stark and terrifying. " The girl. Unconscious. Blood. "

The world tilted on its axis. The carefully constructed facade of indifference was shattered. He roared, a sound primal and raw, fear twisting his insides into a tight knot. Shane grabbed the phone, his eyes scanning the message, each word a hammer blow to his chest.

" Boss.........., " Daniel stammered, bursting into the hall, his face pale. Before he could speak, Shane cut him off.

" What do you mean she's not responding? " Shane's voice was a feral snarl, his eyes blazing with a fury that transcended anger.

" This morning, sir......., " Daniel stammered, " when I opened the door..."

The details blurred, and a horrifying image seared into Shane's mind. His hands clenched into fists, the knuckles white with barely contained rage.

" Get a doctor. Now..., " Shane rasped, his voice a low growl.

He didn't wait for confirmation. He rushed to the base and stormed down the stairs, each step echoing his pounding heart. He flung open the basement door, the air thick with a metallic tang.

There. In the dim light, a broken doll was on the cold floor. Emilia. Her once vibrant dress was torn and bloodied. Her face, beautiful even in its unconscious pallor, was marred by a dark stain. Shane's breath was caught in his throat.

" Call the doctor, damn you! " He roared at Daniel, his voice laced with a raw, desperate fear he couldn't control. Then, with a tenderness that surprised even him, he knelt beside her. His fingers brushed her cheek, a feather-light touch that sent a jolt through him. It was wrong, he knew it was, but the urge to hold her, to protect her was overwhelming.

Shane scooped Emilia up in his arms, the weight a fragile burden against his chest. As he carried her out of the dark room, a single thought echoed in his mind: Don't you dare die on me.