Darkness clung to Olivia first.
A heavy, suffocating kind that felt like sinking through tar — thick, slow, pulling memories apart. She tasted metal on her tongue, felt heat pulsing in her skull, and then—
A sharp sting in her wrists.
Her senses snapped back one by one.
Rope.
Cold floor.
And someone's breath brushing her cheek.
Her eyes flew open.
Christopher Masters was kneeling in front of her, jaw clenched hard enough to crack. His gloved hands were looping rough rope around her wrists with practiced precision — fast, controlled, merciless.
"What the hell—?" Olivia jerked, muscles screaming as she tried to pull away.
"Stay still." Christopher's voice was a low, dangerous growl, the kind he only used when he was seconds from throwing someone through a wall.
She ignored him, because of course she did.
"Untie me." She twisted again, her breath coming sharp and furious.
He didn't even look up. "No."
"Christopher—"
