Semua Bab The Seduction Clause: Bab 31 - Bab 40

Celeste blinked, a slow, disoriented journey back to consciousness. Her head throbbed, and a thick, fuzzy blanket of confusion still clung to her mind. As her vision remained a blurry wash of light and shadow, she relied on her other senses. The roughness of a thick rope bit into her wrists, tied securely behind her back and fastened to the heavy chair she was in. The air was cool and damp, with an earthy, metallic scent that suggested they were on a level below ground. All around her, the low, steady hum of air ducts was the only sound.She continued to blink, forcing her eyes to focus, until the blurriness gave way to the harsh, unforgiving brightness of fluorescent lights. Her gaze swept over her new surroundings, a cold certainty settling in her gut. This wasn't the sterile, metal room where she had last seen Elias. This place was different. She was in a concrete room, windowless and bare, with bare wires and pipes running along the ceiling. She was no longer a player in a game of

Celeste's blood ran cold, the last of her defiance draining away, replaced by a deep, hollow fear. He wasn't bluffing. There was no game, no negotiation. She was a liability, a loose end to be tied up.Elias turned his back to her, addressing the cold-faced woman who had been standing silently by the door. "Get rid of her," he said, his voice flat, as if giving an order to dispose of trash. "The last thing we need is her talking to anyone."Just as the woman took a step forward, a sharp, repetitive beep echoed through the sterile hallway. It was a pager, and the sound was insistent. The woman glanced at a device on her belt, then looked to Elias. His face, already a mask of cold indifference, tightened with annoyance."The shipment?" she asked.Elias let out an exasperated sigh, running a hand over his face. "Of course. Go get them ready." He turned back to Celeste for one final, chilling moment, a predator assessing his prey. "The last thing we need is a hiccup with the next shipment

Celeste’s hand flew to her mouth, stifling a gasp of pure, unadulterated horror. The metallic taste of blood from the backhand was suddenly eclipsed by the sickening reality of the scene before her. She was going to be sick. How had a simple divorce investigation pulled her into this dark, unimaginable world? And how the hell was Vivienne involved in something so monstrous?The muffled whimpers and cries of the women and children were a siren song, pulling at her conscience. She had to do something. She couldn't just run and leave them here. She took a shuddering breath, her voice barely a whisper in the dark, "I'll go get help."With her promise hanging in the air, she backed out of the doorway, gently closing the door behind her. She moved away from the cries and into the silent hall, her mind now a vortex of terror and resolve. The weight of her new mission settled on her shoulders. She had to get out of here alive, not just for herself, but for every single person trapped in that

Shouts from other parts of the building, the slam of doors, and the heavy pounding of footsteps in the hall shattered the suffocating silence. "Clear!" a male voice yelled from the doorway. The sounds of a raid were unmistakable. Celeste, cowering next to the wall, had her knees drawn to her chest and her arms wrapped tightly over her head. She was no longer a detective or a captive; she was just a terrified woman waiting for the next blow.Footsteps approached slowly, then stopped near her. "You're safe," the voice said, calm and steady amidst the chaos.Slowly, Celeste lowered her arms and peaked at the man standing over her. Confusion flooded over her. The man was muscular, hard-faced, and lethal—she knew him instantly. It was Royce Tilman, the same man Dom had captured photos of exchanging something late at night. She had been led to believe he was involved in something with Julian, not Elias. So why was he here?Royce seemed to recognize the fear and confusion warring in her eyes

Celeste drifted in and out of a medicated haze, her body sore but her mind still on high alert. A nurse had checked on her less than fifteen minutes ago, and she was just now beginning to feel herself slip into sleep when her door cracked open. A different nurse, her face obscured by a surgical mask, slipped inside. Celeste's unease flared. The nurse busied herself at the sink, her back to Celeste, and then walked over to the chart at the foot of the bed. She missed a beat, failing to jot down Celeste's vitals and pain medication dose."This is a different medication," the nurse said, her voice muffled, as she approached with a syringe.Celeste instantly knew this was wrong. Her panic mounted, but before she could even cry out, the nurse lunged at her, covering her mouth with a surprisingly strong hand. Celeste tried to push her off, but she was too weak from her injuries. The nurse leaned in, whispering, "Don't make this harder than it needs to be. This is merciful compared to what E