a's

he hacker's next plan." One of my co-workers says. I thi

son he'd hired to find the hacker didn't do the job." Another chimes in and

as Lucien Kòrvac passes without a glance at us. From my seat, I can see th

ting an innocent company. I stopped only to find out that it made Lucien angrier. Apparently, he'd been so

aves a huge sigh. They start whispering, "I heard h

'looked at him'?

ust looke

ed the tail of the

t day to replace every stolen doll

, fingers flying over my keybo

am

g around my waist. I laugh despite myself, instinctively closing my

come," she

, kissing the top

y credit card declined and som

k. "A

yes. "Tall, expensive shoes, per

a brow.

men, I'd let him ruin my life.

ng my head and Asher

ma. He bought me

tly. "As a good boy, I h

mes home with a flier clu

al gave me this

. Inter-school spe

ive," I

sets her bag down. "Ap

sher crawls onto t

"The principal di

moment. "What

us all spi

k. "..

s. "She said it was fo

hools do strange thi

cold slides

ien Kòrvac calls

thing: the boss

down the hallway. They know, my mind

d dangerous. He doesn't even look at me. He just slams

heart

rred. My lungs f

orld

the masked man fr

e he is already starin

nding the call, "why di

n't

k hard, and I ca

e low and lethal, "and I'll consi

" My lips

remember every woman I've slept with. Maybe I was drunk.

king me into the wal

't recog

zation st

o

ou want to claim him? You

do whatever the fuck I want. You have t

e snaps,, and

fuck do you t

my lips, his hand comes u

ow exactly who Lucien Kòrvac

ghtens arou

w," he whispers, "you won't ha

t bluffing, so I d

his face a

ound

as I bolt from the office. Everyone

I drive to Noemi's place and lie without blinking about my mother

urse, and Carla gives

have time t

her not to pick Asher up

school gate, I d

pact, and fina

up upsi

eathing becomes shallow in

spiral

aks open, and the

ape," a familiar voice says coldl

ows looking furious as hell

t terrifie

screaming through the gag until my throat burns. I don

sture

The ropes fall away, and the

't he

at him, nails

mon

ch his throat, but I kick, thrash

?" I shriek. "Give

o tightly my teeth ache. He forces my f

me," I spit. "S

f, and we b

ce for a long mo

he murmurs. "It's the l

inst my ribs. Oh G

ch and instead s

e nods to his men. I'm

ith this," I snarl, a

ready

d silence swal

minutes. I do

hear la

s

ainfully as I hear

s c

g, my whole body shaking, and Lu

ys calmly. "He

n?

body shake

u ran. You hid him from me. And

hanging hair like he owns i

nd opens

eave my son unprotected." A pause.

y no

nd the gag is

o a cage?" I hiss, and he nods

you have no choice. You