Kate woke up and saw a tray with food on the nightstand. The door opened, and she quickly shut her eyes, pretending to be asleep. She felt Bastien’s scent drift toward her. It was definitely him. She listened as he moved around the room, until the mattress dipped slightly under his weight.

She felt the tip of his fingers brush against her face, gently moving a curl away from her eyes. He sighed—deep and sorrowful. Then his lips pressed lightly to her forehead.

—“My Kate… please, don’t hate me…”

He stood and left the room. Kate opened her eyes, heart pounding. She could still feel the warmth of his lips on her skin. She heard the roar of an engine and rushed to the window, her foot throbbing—but she didn’t care.

Outside, she saw a sleek black sports car leaving, followed by two dark SUVs.

On the nightstand was her favorite meal: lasagna. Next to it, a glass of mint lemonade and a slice of watermelon.

—“How does he know what I like? How long has this man been watching me…?”

She sat and started eating, her chest tight. She didn’t know whether to hate Bastien—the man who had taken everything from her—or let herself be protected by him.

Bastien walked down a dark corridor, his men flanking him. Distant screams of women echoed through the concrete halls. Men stepped out of rooms with smug grins and lust-glazed eyes.

One door was left slightly ajar. Through it, Bastien glimpsed a girl—no older than eighteen. One man had his member shoved into her mouth while another raped her from behind. Blood ran down her thighs.

The girl sobbed, gagging, as the man pulled her by the hair, forcing her deeper onto him.

—“That’s it, bitch. Swallow it all. I paid good money for you. Don’t waste a drop…”

The door slammed shut. It had been mere seconds, but for Bastien it felt like hours.

He kept walking. His jaw clenched. His silence was deadly.

He arrived at an office.

Two women knelt on the floor wearing only panties, their wrists cuffed. Behind a luxurious desk sat a man smiling with sick pleasure.

—“Who’s the lucky girl that gets to suck me off today?” —he sneered.

The women trembled, staring at the floor. The man looked up and grinned when he saw Bastien.

—“Bastien! My friend, come in. Want a treat? These bitches are professionals.”

Bastien’s expression didn’t change. He tossed a phone onto the desk.

The man picked it up and looked at the screen: it was a photo of Kate, moments after Bastien had taken her virginity.

—“You won’t be selling her virginity anymore. Leave her alone,” Bastien said coldly.

—“You dared to take what was mine, Bastien?”

—“She’s not yours. She never was. Tell me how much you paid. I’ll give you double.”

—“Hmm…” —the man stroked his chin—. “Interesting offer. But that girl belongs to my son. He personally arranged her capture for the party. He wanted to savor her. But I guess you beat him to it. I hope you enjoyed her. Those legs look delicious…”

Bastien yanked the phone back from him.

—“Name your price.”

—“Ten million. I paid five. Fair’s fair. But I can’t guarantee we’ll stop looking for her. She’d make a perfect servant—like these two beauties here.”

Bastien gestured to Lucca. He stepped forward and placed a briefcase on the desk. The man opened it and stared, stunned.

—“There’s fifteen million inside. If I see any of your men near my property again, I’ll come here and cut this problem at the root.”

Lucca tossed a bag on the desk. Inside: a severed head, hands, and feet. The head had no eyes. Blood splattered across the paperwork. The women screamed.

—“I see… I assume you made good use of his organs. I know your business, Bastien. You’re no better than me.”

—“I only gut and sell scum like you. Your organs wouldn’t even be useful—too much fat. Listen well, Fabio: don’t come near us again. You know I have no patience. Erase Katherine from your list or the next head you receive will be your beloved son’s.”

—“You wouldn’t dare!”

—“Don’t tempt me. You know I don’t have limits when it comes to protecting what’s mine. And she is mine. Etch that into your skull. Whatever happens to her—I’ll make your son and daughter suffer tenfold.”

Fabio shut the case and slid it under his desk.

—“I’ll try. But I can’t promise anything. My son is obsessed with that little girl.”

—“Then fix it. Or I’ll cure his obsession one bloody piece at a time.”

Bastien turned and walked out. The screams still echoed through the walls. Lucca followed beside him.

—“Why don’t you tell her, boss?”

—“Because she doesn’t need to know. She’ll never know what they were planning to do to her in this hell.”

—“But… she hates you.”

—“I’d rather she hates me… than ever know this place exists.”

Back at the mansion, Bastien headed straight for Kate’s room.

She was sitting on the bed, staring out the window at the moon rising over the hill. When she heard the door, she tensed and instinctively covered herself with the sheets. But when she saw it was Bastien, she relaxed—slightly.

He sat beside her.

—“How’s your foot?”

—“It still hurts… but I’m okay.”

—“Did you eat?”

—“Yes.”

—“Did you take your antibiotics?”

—“Yes.”

Bastien let out a quiet sigh.

—“If you’re able to stand tomorrow, I’d like you to join me for breakfast. There’s something I want to show you.”

—“I told you. I don’t want to eat with you.”

—“Kate…”

—“I said no! Listen to me! I have a boyfriend. I love him, and he loves me. He must be worried sick, losing his mind trying to find me. And you—you’re keeping me locked up. You raped me. You won’t let me go.”

—“You should forget that man. You’re mine now.”

—“NEVER! I will never be yours! NEVER!”

Bastien grabbed her wrists and climbed over her, breathing heavily. Kate’s eyes widened with fear.

—“What are you doing? Going to rape me again?”

—“Why are you so difficult? You’re mine, Kate. Mine. Only mine.”

—“Never, Bastien!” —Her eyes filled with tears, her voice full of hatred. She clenched her teeth, repeating it over and over.

Bastien looked at her, then leaned down and kissed her forehead. He let go of her and stood.

—“If you’re not downstairs for breakfast… I’ll come up myself. You decide.”

He left the room in silence.

Kate’s heart pounded in her chest. His eyes were hypnotic, like a serpent’s. She turned in bed and stared at the moon through the window.

—“Sebastián… do you miss me?”

Eventually, sleep claimed her.

In her dreams, she felt someone kissing her lips… stroking her hair…

—“Kitty… please don’t hate me…”