**Logan**“How’s progress with her?” Liam asked, leaning against the balcony railing.I let out a quiet breath. “She hugged me, man.”His eyes widened. “Whoa.” He punched my shoulder lightly. “Nice improvement.”“Quiet down,” I said, glancing over my shoulder toward the open door.The lights were off inside, but I could still see her curled up beneath the covers. Her breathing was even. Peaceful. “She’s asleep.”Liam raised a brow. “What? You don’t seem excited.”“It’s not that,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “I’m just trying not to get my hopes up.”He frowned. “Because of the hug?”“No. Because what if she only did it because she was scared? What if it wasn’t real?” My eyes stayed on the dark outline of her figure through the window. “She was in danger, Liam. People react in all kinds of ways when they’re desperate. For all I know, she could wake up tomorrow and decide to run again.”I didn’t say the rest, but I felt it. A tightness in my chest, that familiar cold cr
**Elena**“Hey, beautiful…” A deep, slurred voice said from behind me as a hand landed on my shoulder.I froze.My heart jumped into my throat and I slowly turned, already knowing this wasn’t going to be good.He was tall. Drunk. His eyes were glassy, and the stench of alcohol hit me like a slap. I took a step back, and that’s when I noticed my surroundings.I was standing right in front of a hotel. Not the classy kind.The kind with too much noise, too many shadows, and too many people who didn’t care.Loud music blasted from a speaker near the entrance. People loitered outside…some smoking, others laughing, all watching. The smell of cigarettes and sweat filled the air.How hadn’t I noticed any of this?I shouldn’t have come this way. I knew that now.Panic started to rise in my chest.I turned to leave, but before I could take two steps, I felt his hand grip my arm…tight.“Where are you headed, princess?” he said, voice greasy. “C’mon, I’ll take you there.”My stomach turned.I
**Elena**“Meet my half-brother,” Logan said suddenly. “Liam.”I blinked.The words didn’t even make sense at first.Half-brother?My brain stuttered to a stop.“You...your half brother?” I muttered under my breath, completely thrown.That explained the resemblance, the constant back-and-forth, the tension mixed with familiarity.“Yep,” Liam said casually, his grin stretching wide like this was all some big joke. “You can call me L2.”“L2?” I repeated, blinking at him.He nodded, completely unfazed. “Yes.. my lady…”I gave him a glare..“Or… do you still plan on hitting me with a baseball bat?” he teased as he stepped forward, eyes glinting with amusement.My expression changed.Was he serious?I clenched my jaw and tightened my fists, ready to wipe that smug look off his face. I was this close to actually hitting him when Logan’s voice stopped me.“Have you found out how she ended up down in the pipelines?” Logan asked sharply, his gaze snapping to Liam.My chest tightened at the re
**Elena**I jerked awake, my breath coming out in short, sharp gasps.My chest burned like I had been holding my breath for hours. My hair clung to my face, damp with sweat… or was it water? I didn’t even know anymore.I blinked rapidly, trying to steady my racing heart.A nightmare. That’s what it had to be.I was drowning… thrashing helplessly in a dark pool, water filling my lungs as I clawed at a gate that wouldn’t open. My chest tightened just thinking about it.“It’s okay,” I whispered to myself shakily. “It was just a dream. Just a nightmare.”“You’re awake,” a voice said close to my ear.I flinched.My eyes darted toward the sound.Am I dead?A man stood there.A man I didn’t recognize.My lips parted, my voice barely audible. “What… what happened?”But even as I asked, the truth clawed its way up from the depths of my mind.The pipes. The water. The iron gate. My screams.My heart stopped for a beat.“Oh my god,” I whispered to myself. “It wasn’t a nightmare…”“Don’t you r
**Elena**What the hell did she mean by that?Her voice still rang in my ears like an echo I couldn’t shake off. Make it out? What was this, some kind of twisted joke?I clenched my fists and forced myself to move forward, stepping deeper into the darkness.The air was damp and cold, sticking to my skin. Each step on the metal flooring groaned, sending tiny vibrations up my legs.My heart thumped hard against my ribs. “Get a grip, Ena,” I whispered to myself. “It’s just a pipe. Fix it and get out. Simple.”Yeah, right.I stopped at the first intersection of pipes, looking around. It was impossible to tell which one needed fixing. There were too many…thick pipes, thin pipes, pipes that bent in odd directions, and some that dripped steadily onto the floor.I rubbed my arms. “Where the hell do I even start?”The silence answered me.I tilted my head up toward the vent where Carla’s face had appeared moments ago. Of course, she wasn’t there now. She’d probably walked off laughing, ima
**Elena** “You belong in the maids’ quarters,” she spat.I stood there, frozen. My lips pressed into a thin line. Say nothing, I told myself. But the words burst from my chest before I could stop them.“Is that all you want from me? To prove myself?”She scoffed, lips curling into a mocking smile. “Prove yourself?” she echoed, laughing bitterly. “I don’t need you proving anything. If you really want to do something… then leave. Leave this palace. Leave my son alone.”“I’d have gladly done that,” I muttered, voice barely above a whisper, “if it was that easy.”Her head snapped toward me.“What did you just say?”I looked up slowly. “I said I’ll make my way to the maids’ quarters.”She smirked, satisfied. But she wasn’t done. No. This woman wasn’t one to let go once.“That’s not all,” she said, stepping forward until we were nearly nose to nose. “You won’t just stay there…you’ll serve. In my chambers. You’ll scrub my floors, fold my gowns, clean up after me like the nothing you a