My head throbbed, the pain sharp and relentless as I forced my eyes open. A dull, golden light flickered above me, casting eerie shadows on the unfamiliar walls. The scent of damp concrete mixed with something metallic filled my nostrils. My wrists burned from the tight ropes binding them, and the cold steel of the chair beneath me sent a shiver up my spine.
Where am I?
I struggled to move, the restraints biting into my skin. My breath quickened as the fog in my mind began to clear. The last thing I remembered was the alley, the gun, and those men. And him.
The door creaked open, pulling my focus. Heavy boots echoed against the floor before a figure stepped into the light. Dominic Moretti. I'd heard his name whispered in dark corners—a man you didn't cross. His presence was suffocating, his tailored suit immaculate, but his eyes burned with a predatory intensity that made my pulse spike.
"Scarlett Beaumont," he said, his deep voice slicing through the silence. "You've been quite the thorn in my side."
I forced myself to sit straighter, meeting his gaze despite the fear tightening in my chest. "I don't know what you're talking about."
He chuckled, low and mocking, as he leaned against the edge of a table. "Don't play dumb. My family doesn't take betrayal lightly."
"Betrayal?" My voice cracked, but I held firm. "I don't even know your family."
Dominic's smile vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating glare. He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "Do you think I'm a fool, Scarlett? Do you think I don't know about the documents you stole? The ones you handed over to the police?"
I blinked, confused. "I didn't—"
His hand slammed down on the table, the sharp sound making me flinch. "Lies!" he roared, his composure fracturing for a moment before he reined it back in. He exhaled deeply, his expression hardening. "I don't have time for games. Confess now, and maybe I'll be merciful."
"I didn't steal anything!" I snapped, my frustration outweighing my fear. "I have no idea what you're talking about!"
Dominic studied me, his jaw tightening. "You're either very brave or very stupid."
"Or maybe you've got the wrong person," I shot back, my voice steady despite the terror coursing through me.
His eyes narrowed, and for a moment, something flickered there—doubt? Frustration? Whatever it was, it disappeared as quickly as it came. He stepped back, motioning to someone behind me.
Footsteps approached, and a hulking man with a scar running down his cheek entered my line of sight. He carried an air of menace that made my stomach churn.
"Lock her up," Dominic ordered, his voice icy. "Let her think about the consequences of lying to me."
"What if I'm not lying?" I countered, desperation creeping into my tone.
Dominic paused, turning to look at me. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes burned with an intensity that made my skin prickle. "Then you'll wish you had been."
The scarred man grabbed my chair, dragging it across the floor with a screech that set my teeth on edge. Dominic's cold gaze followed me as I was hauled away, his presence lingering like a shadow even as the door slammed shut behind me.
Alone in the darkness, my mind raced. Who was framing me? Why had Dominic believed them? And most importantly, how was I going to survive this?
As the cold seeped into my bones, one thing became clear—I wasn't going to break. Whatever Dominic thought he had on me, I'd prove him wrong. Or die trying.