But as Maya's eyes focused, her confidence shattered. The space where Ross had stood was empty.
"What the—" Maya's words caught in her throat as a chill crawled up her spine. A presence loomed behind her, and before she could react, a powerful arm snaked around her neck like a steel vice.
"Hagggg..." She gasped in shock, her hands instinctively clawing at the arm that cut off her air supply. She twisted her body, desperately trying to free herself, but the grip only tightened. Her struggles became frantic, her lungs burning as the lack of oxygen took its toll.
"Nice try, Maya," Ross whispered into her ear, his tone mockingly calm. His breath brushed against her skin, sending a shiver of helplessness through her. "But not good enough."
Her strength waned, her vision darkening as his hold proved inescapable. The gun slipped from her fingers and clattered to the floor as her body went limp. The last thing she heard before the darkness claimed her was Ross's low chuckle, the sound of complete, unchallenged dominance.
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"Wake up, my up and coming slut, Maya."
The voice was calm, almost taunting, but there was an undeniable edge of menace that sliced through the silence like a knife. The words pulled Maya out of the fog of unconsciousness, her mind struggling to catch up with her body. Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open, the dim light of the room making her squint as her senses returned.
The first thing she saw sent a jolt of terror coursing through her. Peter was bound tightly to a chair, thick ropes digging into his arms and legs, rendering him completely immobile. A gag stuffed his mouth, muffling the angry sounds he was making, his eyes burning with a mix of rage and helplessness. Maya's heart sank at the sight of him, her mind flashing back to the chaos of the previous night.
Shivering, she felt the cold grip of fear settle over her, but she forced herself to push it down. She had no choice but to stay calm and think rationally. The room was eerily silent except for the faint sound of Peter's muffled struggles. It only amplified the tension that hung in the air.
Maya's eyes darted around, quickly taking stock of the situation. Beside Peter stood Ross, his smug expression infuriatingly calm, as if everything was going exactly as he'd planned. Next to him was another man, taller and more imposing, wearing a demon mask that obscured his features. The masked figure's presence was silent but oppressive, and in his hands, he held the hand gun Maya had used earlier this night—Peter's gun.
The barrel was pointed directly at Peter's head, unwavering in its aim. The proximity was terrifying. Peter, tied down and vulnerable, had no chance of escape. The shot wouldn't miss—it couldn't. The precision with which the gun was held, combined with Peter's helpless position, made that fact inescapable.
Maya's breath hitched, her chest tightening as a thousand thoughts raced through her mind. She clenched her fists, forcing herself to focus, to find some way to turn the tide. She couldn't afford to panic, not with Peter's life hanging in the balance.
"What do you want?" she finally managed to ask, her voice hoarse and shaky. Clearing her throat, she tried again, injecting as much firmness into her words as she could muster. "What is it that you want, Ross?"
Ross turned his attention to her, his smirk deepening as if he found her courage amusing. His dark eyes bore into her, and for a moment, the room felt suffocatingly small.
"You know what I want, Maya," Ross said, his tone dripping with condescension. "You're a smart, beautiful girl. Or do I really need to say it again? Spell it out for you over and over?"
The way he spoke, calm yet mocking, made her skin crawl. His words hung in the air like a noose tightening around her. Maya swallowed hard, her mind screaming at her to stay strong even as her body betrayed her with a slight tremble.
Her gaze flicked back to Peter, his furious eyes meeting hers. He was trying to say something, but the gag muffled his words. The sight broke her heart. He looked desperate, helpless, and it killed her to see him like this.
Regret clawed at her chest, bitter and sharp. She had always thought there would be time—that she and Peter could share everything when the moment felt right. Now, that moment seemed impossibly far away, stolen by the twisted hand fate had dealt her. She had never imagined this, never imagined having to make choices under such cruel circumstances.
Peter was her everything, and now his life was in Ross's hands. She couldn't let her fear show, couldn't let Ross know how much power he held over her. But deep down, she already knew—he could see through her, see her desperation, her love for Peter, and he was going to use it against her.
And Ross, standing there with that maddening smirk, knew he had already won.
"Release him, and I'll do anything you want," Maya proposed, her voice trembling but determined.
Ross raised an eyebrow, his smirk never wavering. "That's not going to happen," he replied, his tone cold and calculating. "I already gave you your revenge, and yet you dare strike at me. You've crossed a line, Maya. I don't think I can trust a single word you say anymore."
Maya's heart pounded in her chest, her eyes pleading with him. But Ross remained unmoved, his gaze hardening as he stepped closer to her, his presence suffocating. "This man stays exactly where he is," he continued, his voice low and dangerous. "You see, Maya, the real question you need to ask yourself isn't whether you'll get him back… but whether he's going to survive the night. I'm not so easily swayed by empty promises. Not from you. Not anymore."
Maya's breath hitched, fear creeping into her veins. She could feel the weight of his words pressing down on her. She'd pushed too far, too hard, and now she was caught in his web, with no clear way out.
Ross smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You'll need to do some very convincing, my dear Maya, if you want him to make it through. But I don't think you're in the position to negotiate anymore."
With one final glance, he turned and made his way toward the bedroom, his footsteps echoing in the silence. Maya stood frozen, the gravity of the situation sinking in, knowing that time was running out for them both.