Samantha's POV
The room seemed abruptly smaller as the door closed behind us with a weighty thud. Whatever it was, I could hardly breathe. I wasn't sure if Marcus's mere presence or the immensity of the area made the air thick. Though every instinct in my body shouted at me to turn around and sprint, I stayed still. I had no other option.
Marcus stood there cool-headed, his eyes shining with a calculated, deadly assurance. He did not have to say anything to establish his authority; it emanated from him in waves, an invisible force permeating the entire space. Though I had expected wrath or maybe surprise at our unexpected arrival, instead there was something worse—an uncomfortable silence as if he had been waiting for this very moment all along.
Alex was tense next to me; his muscles c
