The Only Link I Had Left

Luna staggered to her feet, grabbing a fistful of my hair and slamming my head against the wall.

A wave of searing pain hit me, nearly knocking me out. My vision blurred, but instinct took over as I gripped her wrist tightly.

I lifted my head, exposing my collarbone. I deliberately curled my lips into a mocking smile and sneered. "If York finds out you came here to throw a tantrum, he won't let it slide. Locking me up was his way of protecting me. A man like him, broadcasting to the world that you're his girlfriend—do you really think that's a blessing?"

Luna's twisted grin spread across her face as if I had just told the most ridiculous joke. "You think he doesn't know I'm here? Don't kid yourself into believing you're important to him. You're nothing more than—"

She froze mid-sentence, her eyes suddenly fixated on my collarbone.

The violet jade necklace. The very one York had personally placed on me last night.

"Why is that on you?" she hissed.

She looked like a steaming kettle as she lunged for the necklace, her hands clawing at it.

After several failed attempts, I felt the chain dig into the back of my neck, drawing blood.

I couldn't help but cry out in pain as I lifted my gaze toward the outside.

The only sound was the distant barking of dogs—no sign of life anywhere.

All the guards York had stationed on the island were mysteriously absent, leaving me feeling vulnerable.

I let out a gasp of pain.

The chain finally snapped.

Luna's eyes lit up as she gazed at the necklace in her hands. "I heard that when York returned to the country, he spent a fortune at the auction—was it 100 million for this?"

I lay prostrate on the ground, my eyes drifting to Quinn, who was conversing with Luna.

Without him, she wouldn't have made it onto this island.

It was no wonder Luna believed she could be here—she mistook York's indulgence for affection!

Quinn glanced at Luna with a frown. "We should get down to business. There's not much time left."

Sadly for him, Luna was losing her mind. "What's the rush? I haven't even started teaching her a lesson!"

Suddenly, she produced a small fruit knife, waving it menacingly in front of my face. "Ending you quickly would just make it too easy. You've got quite the sharp tongue. I'm very curious to see how long you can keep that mouth of yours going!"

As she spoke, she signaled her followers to restrain me, forcing the knife's tip against my flesh.

The pain nearly sent me into oblivion.

Yet, Luna seemed to grow more excited with every passing moment, her slashes growing increasingly brutal.

Before long, my face was a canvas of wounds.

"Come, take a look."

Her laughter was manic as she made me look in the mirror.

My reflection stared back, blood dripping down from the gaping cuts.

Aside from the agony, my mind was blank. The only regret nagging at me was whether Clint would recognize me in the afterlife.

I instinctively brushed my fingers against the tattoo on my inner arm.

He had one, too, a reminder of the day we went together to get inked before he vanished. He chose a rose; I opted for a distant mountain.

He promised that once everything settled, he would take me back home to marry me and ensure a peaceful life together.

Unfortunately, he went missing shortly after making that vow.

"What's this?" Luna ripped open my long sleeve, a sly grin spreading across her face. "You little tramp! You're trying to seduce someone, and it's pretty low. Let's just take it out!"

"No!" I shouted in panic, my heart racing.

This was the only link I had left to Clint. It was my reason to endure each day on this desolate island.

She couldn't take this away from me, too!

I struggled against her, but the frantic movements only made the cuts on my face bleed more.

Still, I was no match for several men.

Throw Her in With the Dog

They pinned me to the ground, their grips unforgiving.

Luna's foot pressed hard against my face, grinding it with cruel force. "Stop yelling! You sound like a dying animal!"

She glanced at one of the men nearby. "What are you waiting for? Get it done!"

I looked at Quinn through the haze of pain, my eyes pleading. "That… it's all I have left from him. Please…"

Clint had been close to Quinn before his disappearance. It was only because he saved Quinn's life once that he had gotten into the syndicate under York's wing. Quinn knew everything about me and Clint; he even brought us to get our tattoos together.

I was hoping, praying, that Quinn would show some mercy for Clint's sake if anything else. Yet, he didn't even look at me.

"You never should have gotten mixed up with York. If you survive, one day, he's going to die because of you!"

Luna let out a wild laugh. "Look at you, a total wreck! And you still think you can charm your way out of this?"

With that, she grabbed the knife, her hands working with brutal precision.

The pain was beyond words, searing through my body like fire. However, her grip only tightened as if feeding off my agony.

When she finally carved out the tattoo, my arm felt hollow, the faint outline of bone showing beneath the ragged flesh.

I lost consciousness more than once.

Each time, they brought me back by dousing me in saltwater.

Regardless, Luna wasn't done. She had someone force my jaw open and poured boiling water straight down my throat.

The scalding heat tore through me, every nerve in my body screaming in silent agony.

I tried to cry out, but all that came out were choked, broken gasps.

Curled up on the floor, drenched in blood, I barely clung to what was left of my sanity.

Luna glanced impatiently at the door, the sound of dogs barking still echoing outside.

"Throw her in with the dog!" she ordered.

They lifted me off the ground, dragging me toward the door.

A thick trail of blood snaked across the once-pristine floor.

Quinn frowned slightly, stepping in front of me. "That's enough."

Luna smirked, pushing him aside with ease. "What's this? Feeling soft all of a sudden? Don't forget. You were the one who said we should deal with this wretch today. If you're gonna use my hands, then sit back and let me finish the job!"

With a swift kick, she knocked me over and began ripping off my clothes without a care.

I didn't resist. My body had lost its fight the moment I found out Clint had died.

I stared blankly at the locked cage in front of me and felt absolutely nothing.

The Cane Corso caught the scent of my blood, its eyes flaring with savage hunger. It lunged at me, sinking its teeth deep into my calf.

Luna grinned wildly, lifting her phone to snap a picture. "Weren't you just running that sharp little mouth of yours? Get up and talk! Let's see who's got the meaner bite—you or this dog!"

She laughed arrogantly, her voice ringing out in the room.

Quinn stood next to her, his expression cold and distant. I wondered if Clint ever regretted saving him. Probably not. He was never one to regret his choices.

I was sprawled against the ground as I clung to memories, trying to dull the pain that coursed through my body.

The Cane Corso tore another chunk of flesh from my leg, gnawing on it like a prize. I no longer fought back. Eventually, even Luna seemed to grow bored.

Just as the dog prepared to strike again, something changed. In the blink of an eye, it dropped to the floor, as meek as a lamb, frozen in place like it had seen a ghost.

My heart lurched.

Behind me, a commanding voice cut through the air, demanding, "Who gave you permission to come in here?"