Zinnia
The grand hall felt even colder now. Roman’s smirk deepened as the live footage flickered on the screen. Reed and Hermine were moving with calculated steps, staying low, scanning their surroundings. Roman tilted his head, watching the screen with lazy amusement.
“He’s cautious and playing it smart. But not smart enough.”
My pulse pounded against my ribs, but I forced my face to remain blank. Roman wanted a reaction. He fed off them like a leech. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
“What do you think, darling?” He turned to me with a smooth voice. “How long do you think he’ll last? Ten minutes? Five?” He let out a low chuckle. “Maybe I should make a bet with my guests.”
Murmurs rippled through the onlookers, a few amused chuckles blending in. To them, this was entertainment. A cruel, twisted show. “You won’t touch him,” I said, voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.
Roman arched a brow, stepping closer, invading my space. “I won’t?” He lifted a hand, running a slow finger down my cheek. My skin crawled. “I think you forget who’s holding the gun here.”
My jaw clenched. “You need me alive. Otherwise, why all the theatrics? If you were going to kill me, you would’ve done it already.”
A slow grin spread across his face, dark amusement flickering in his eyes. “You do know me well, my little flower. But that doesn’t mean I can’t make you wish I pulled the trigger.”
The room seemed to shrink as the walls closed in. The projector screen refreshed, showing Reed and Hermine slipping through the east corridor. Roman had them right where he wanted them.
“They’re walking into a trap,” I murmured, more to myself than anyone else.
“Indeed, they are.” Roman’s eyes gleamed. “And you know what the best part is? You get a front-row seat.” He snapped his fingers. Two guards yanked me toward the center of the room, forcing me to my knees. A metallic clink echoed as chains were locked around my wrists, securing me in place.
Roman perched himself back on his throne, draping one leg over the other. “Let’s up the stakes, shall we?” He motioned toward the screen, and suddenly the live feed shifted. The camera in the east corridor zoomed in, revealing a tripwire stretched thin across the entrance.
Reed was seconds away from setting it off.
“No-!” The word escaped before I could stop it. Roman’s smile widened, satisfied. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
“There it is,” he murmured. “The crack in your armor.”
I ignored him, my focus locked on the screen. Reed moved with the confidence of someone who had done this a thousand times before. But he wasn’t seeing what I was seeing. The wire was at shin level, meant to take out someone in a rush. If he tripped it, alarms would blare, and Roman’s men would swarm him within seconds.
“Let’s make things interesting,” Roman mused. He lifted a small remote, twirling it between his fingers. “One press of this button, and the whole corridor locks down. No exits. No escapes.” A slow horror crept into my veins. He was toying with me.
The guests watched in eager silence, anticipation thick in the air. Think, Zinnia, Zinnia. I swallowed hard, forcing my mind to work. If I warned Reed, Roman would know I saw the trap. He’d exploit that. But if I stayed silent… Suddenly, Reed stepped forward and my heart drop to my chest.
Then, at the last second, Hermine’s arm shot out, catching him by the shoulder. She whispered something, pointing to the floor. Reed stilled, then glanced down. His body tensed as he followed her gaze. He saw it. A breath I didn’t realize I was holding escaped my lips.
Roman tsked. “Clever girl,” he mused, eyeing Hermine on the screen. “But not clever enough.” He flicked his fingers, and another guard stepped forward, handing him a sleek black phone. Roman tapped the screen, then turned it toward me.
My stomach dropped. It was Reed’s number. A shrill ring echoed from the speakers as the sound carried through the grand hall. The CCTV feed showed Reed and Hermine freezing in place. Reed fumbled for his phone, staring at the caller ID.
Roman grinned. “Answer it, or I shoot her.”
The room went deathly silent. My breath caught as Reed lifted the phone to his ear. He said nothing. Roman leaned back, lifting his own phone.
“Reed. How wonderful of you to join us.”
A long pause. Then, Reed’s voice, low and lethal. “If you touch her-”
“Ah, ah, ah,” Roman cut him off, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You’re in no position to make demands. In fact, you should be thanking me. I’m giving you a chance.”
Silence.
“A chance for what?” Reed finally asked.
“To prove just how much she’s worth to you.” Roman stood, stepping closer to me. He reached down, gripping my chin between his fingers. “So here’s how this game is going to work. You come to me. Alone. Unarmed. And I’ll let her live.”
Reed’s breathing was steady, controlled. But I knew him. He was barely keeping himself together.
“If I don’t?” Reed asked.
Roman’s smirk deepened. “Then you’ll get to watch as I put a bullet in her head.”
The line went dead.
A slow, satisfied hum rumbled from Roman’s chest. “Well, that went well.”
I barely heard him. My mind began to swirl, calculating the options of how to help Reed and the possible outcomes. Reed wouldn’t walk into this blindly. He had a plan. He had to.
But right now, Roman had the upper hand. And he knew it.
The room pulsed with silence. Roman turned to his audience, lifting his glass.
“Ladies and gentlemen, place your bets. How far will Reed go for his beloved Zinnia?”
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