The screen went dark.
Eden's hands trembled as she pulled the flash drive from the laptop. The cold metal burned between her fingers.
She turned at the sound behind her.
"I told you not to go through my things," Cassian said.
She stood slowly. "Then don't lock them."
His eyes flicked to the drawer. "What did you see?"
"Tereza. In the collar. Crying."
Her voice cracked. "She said to run."
He closed the door with a calm so cold, it rattled her worse than if he'd slammed it.
"What else did she say?"
"That if Rowan finds it…" Her chest tightened. "To tell me to run."
Cassian didn't react.
No anger, no shock.
He was just silent.
And that was worse.
"Say something," she said.
He walked to the desk. Closed the laptop. "She was broken. She said a lot of things."
"She said your name like it was the only thing holding her together."
"I wasn't enough."
"That doesn't scare you?"
"I lived it, Eden. Nothing on that drive surprises me."
She moved toward him, heart pounding.
"Then tell me what does surprise you."
He looked up.
"You."
Eden flinched.
"Why?"
"Because you haven't run yet."
He stepped closer.
She didn't back away.
"You still think I'm going to?" she asked.
"I think you should."
"Then make me."
Cassian's jaw flexed. "Don't tempt me."
"I'm not tempting," she whispered. "I'm already yours. Isn't that what you wanted?"
He touched her face. "No. I wanted to break you."
Her pulse jumped. "And now?"
"I want to see what you become after."
His mouth crashed against hers, he kissed her violent and hungry.
Her back hit the desk. His hands were already under her shirt, yanking it over her head.
She didn't care. Not anymore.
She wanted to feel. To burn. To forget.
Her bra hit the floor. He dragged his mouth down her throat, across her collarbone, down to the curve of her breast.
He bit.
She gasped.
"Tell me to stop," he growled.
"Don't you fucking dare."
He unzipped her jeans, dragged them down, then lifted her onto the desk.
The wood was cold against her thighs.
His mouth was hot.
And his fingers, deadly.
He spread her open.
Exposed. Dripping of wetness.
And he just… looked.
"You're shaking," he whispered.
"I'm not scared."
"You should be."
"Then ruin me."
Cassian dropped to his knees in front of her, fingers digging into her thighs hard enough to leave marks. Eden didn't flinch. She wanted the sting.
She wanted the bruises.
She needed the reminder.
That this was real.
That she was still hers, even if he owned the pieces.
His mouth sealed over her pussy.
Her head fell back.
Every flick of his tongue dragged a sound from her throat she couldn't control.
She was unraveling.
Quick.
Hard.
Too much.
And he didn't stop.
Not when she cummed.
Not when she begged.
Not when her nails clawed at the desk.
Only when her legs gave out and she collapsed into his arms did he finally lift his head.
His lips were wet. His eyes black.
"You taste like an addiction," he said.
She tried to catch her breath.
"You like addictions?"
"I like control."
He laid her back.
Unbuckled his belt.
Freed himself.
No teasing.
No permission.
He buried himself inside her in one brutal thrust.
Eden moaned out. And it wasn't pain.
It was release.
He moved like he owned her body.
And maybe he did.
Because she couldn't think.
Couldn't breathe.
Couldn't remember her own name.
Only his, Only his…..
She clenched around him, and he cursed against her throat.
"Again," he growled.
She obeyed.
She cummed again, harder this time, her body shaking.
And he didn't stop.
Didn't slow.
He pinned her wrists above her head and fucked her like the world was ending.
And maybe it was.
Because when he finally cummed, it was with a sound she'd never heard from him before.
A sound that almost sounded like… surrender.
They stayed like that, silent, tangled in sweat and breath, holding on like the world might tear open.
Eden's voice broke the quiet. "Why do I feel like you're hiding something from me?"
Cassian didn't answer. His hand just drifted down her arm, slow, like he was stalling.
"There are things you're safer not knowing."
"I'm past safe."
He stood.
Helped her up.
Cleaned her gently, then dressed her in silence.
Only when she was fully clothed again did he speak.
"That video was meant to scare you."
"It didn't."
"Yes, it did."
She didn't argue.
She followed him out of the office, down the hall, until they reached the stairwell.
He kissed her once, soft and deep.
Then said, "Stay in your room tonight. Don't open the door. No matter what you hear."
"Cassian…"
He didn't wait.
He disappeared down the stairs.
She stayed frozen, heart slamming against her ribs.
Something felt off. Deeply, terribly off, she felt it.
Deep in her chest, but she did what he said.
She went to her room.
Locked the door. Waited.
Hours passed.
Then came the sound.
A thump.
Then another.
The a gunshot.
She ran to the door.
Pressed her ear against it.
There was silence.
Then footsteps approached.
A knock.
Three soft raps.
She didn't answer.
"Eden," a voice whispered. "It's me."
Rowan.
She backed away.
Another knock sounded. "Please. Open the door."
She gripped the knob.
"No."
"I need to show you something."
"You've shown me enough."
"I found her phone."
Eden froze.
"Tereza's?"
"Yes."
"She's dead."
"No," Rowan said. "She's not."
Her knees buckled.
"That's not possible."
"I didn't believe it either. But the message you saw? That was fake. Spliced together."
Her head spun.
"You're lying."
"I wish I was."
Eden stepped closer to the door.
"Then where is she?"
Rowan exhaled.
"I tracked the IP address the message came from. It wasn't her location. It was a dead zone. A misdirection."
"Then who sent it?"
"I think Cassian."
"No," she whispered.
"He wanted you scared. Vulnerable."
"I don't believe you."
"Then come with me."
She paused, breath caught halfway.
"If she's alive…" Rowan said, his voice low, careful, "Wouldn't you want to know?"
Eden's fingers curled around the handle, then slowly, she unlocked the door.
Opened it.
And saw the blood.
On Rowan's sleeve.
On his collar.
"Whose blood is that?"
He didn't answer.
She stepped back. "Tell me."
But before he could, a voice spoke behind her.
"I warned you not to open the door." Cassian said. His voice was low and terrifying.
Eden turned slowly.
He stood at the end of the hall.
Eyes on Rowan.
Gun in his hand.
No expression.
No mercy.
Just one word.
"Move."
Rowan blocked her with his body. "You don't have to do this."
Cassian's voice was calm. "You shouldn't have touched her."
"I was protecting her."
"You lied to her."
"So did you."
"I never promised the truth."
Eden stepped between them.
"Stop it. Both of you."
They ignored her.
Cassian cocked the gun.
And Rowan whispered, "I didn't come for her."
"Then why are you here?"
Rowan's eyes shifted to Eden, sharp and unreadable.
And then he said:
"Because I know who killed Tereza."