Page 44 of Hook

Lance reaches out, his fingers trailing along my jawline in a mockery of a tender caress. I flinch away, but there's nowhere to go. His touch leaves a trail of ice in its wake, and I feel my resolve crumbling under the weight of my fear.

"You've been very, very naughty," he continues, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And now, I'm going to have to punish you for what you've done." His lips curl into a cruel smile, and I can see the promise of pain in his eyes.

I want to be brave, to face him with defiance, but terror courses through my veins like ice water. As Lance looms over me, I closemy eyes and silently pray for a miracle, for someone to find me before it's too late.

I brace myself as Lance lifts his hand and strikes me over and over. With every blow he tells me how I’m not worth anything. How I’m a bitch and how he should’ve killed me when he had the chance. I do my best not to let the words get to me but I can’t stop the tears that are falling from my face.

As Lance's fists finally slow, his breath coming in ragged pants, I sense a shift in the air. His anger seems to have burned itself out, leaving behind a hollow exhaustion. This is my chance—perhaps my only chance.

I force myself to look up at him, blinking away the tears and blood that blur my vision. My entire body throbs with pain, but I push it aside, focusing on the man before me. I soften my gaze, letting my lower lip tremble as if I'm fighting back more tears.

"Lance," I whisper, my voice hoarse and broken. "I'm so sorry. I've been such a fool."

He pauses, his hand still raised as if to strike again, but there's a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. I press on, desperation lending strength to my words.

"I've missed you so much," I continue, letting a sob catch in my throat. "Every day since I left, I've regretted it. I was scared, confused... but I never stopped loving you."

Lance's arm lowers slowly, his expression a mixture of suspicion and hope. I can see the war raging behind his eyes—the desire to believe me battling against his anger and distrust.

"You're lying," he growls, but there's a hint of doubt in his voice.

I shake my head vehemently, wincing at the pain the movement causes. "No, I swear it's true. I've been waiting for you, Lance. Waiting for you to find me, to bring me back where I belong."

My words seem to caress him, soothing the rage that's been driving him. His posture relaxes slightly, and he takes a step closer, his eyes searching mine for any sign of deception.

"You mean it?" he asks, his voice suddenly soft, almost childlike in its vulnerability. "You still want to be with me?"

I nod, forcing a smile onto my battered face. "Yes, Lance. I want to try again. We can start over, make things right between us."

For a moment, hope blooms in my chest as I see Lance's expression soften. He reaches out, his fingers gentle as they brush a strand of hair from my face. I lean into his touch, fighting back the revulsion that threatens to overwhelm me.

"Oh, Bea," he murmurs, a sad smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "If only that were possible."

My heart plummets as I see the change in his eyes. The tenderness vanishes, replaced by a cold, calculating look that chills me to the bone.

"You see, darling," Lance continues, his voice now dripping with false sweetness, "I've already made other arrangements for you. Your little escape attempt cost me a lot of money and credibility. I had to make it right."

Fear claws at my insides as I realize the full extent of my situation. "What do you mean?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Lance's eyes glint with a mixture of amusement and malice as he steps aside, revealing two hulking figures lurking in the shadowydoorway. My breath catches in my throat as I recognize them—the same men who had been chasing me earlier. Their faces are hard, emotionless masks, but their eyes gleam with barely contained violence.

"I'm afraid our time together has come to an end, my dear," Lance says, his voice dripping with false regret. He leans in close, his breath hot against my ear. "I'll miss that smart mouth of yours, after all. Such a shame it has to end this way."

With a dramatic flourish, Lance turns on his heel and strides out of the room, leaving me alone with the two menacing figures. The door slams shut behind him, the sound echoing through the basement like a death knell.

The men approach slowly, their heavy footsteps reverberating off the concrete walls. One of them, a brute with a scar running down his left cheek, reaches out with meaty hands to untie me from the chair. His touch is rough, uncaring, as he yanks me to my feet.

I sway unsteadily, my body screaming in protest from Lance's beating. The other man, taller and leaner with cold, gray eyes, produces a length of rope and binds my hands tightly behind my back. The coarse fibers dig into my already raw wrists, but I bite back a whimper, determined not to show weakness.

They drag me through the dim corridors of the sub-basement, my bare feet scraping against the cold floor. The fluorescent lights flicker overhead, casting grotesque shadows that dance along the walls. The musty smell of decay grows stronger as we near what I assume is an exit.

A heavy metal door groans open, and I'm hit with a blast of cool night air. We emerge into an abandoned loading dock,the crumbling concrete littered with debris and weeds pushing through the cracks. A sleek black sedan waits nearby, its engine idling softly.

Scarface roughly shoves me towards the car while his partner pops the trunk. The cavernous space yawns before me, dark and foreboding. A scrap of ratty carpet lines the bottom, and I can see the faint outline of what looks like a tire iron tucked into one corner.

Before I can react, Scarface lifts me effortlessly and dumps me into the trunk. The impact knocks the wind out of me, and I gasp for air. Gray Eyes leans over me, a strip of duct tape in his hands. With practiced efficiency, he slaps it across my mouth, effectively gagging me.

"Sweet dreams, princess," Scarface sneers, slamming the trunk shut and plunging me into darkness.