The cold air stung your bruised skin as you hung by your wrists, the rough rope digging into raw flesh. Every inch of your body ached, the aftermath of the beating still fresh. Your toes barely grazed the ground, leaving you helpless and suspended, but your defiance burned beneath the pain.

The man who had taken you stepped closer, his smirk infuriating. “Do you really think James will save you?” he sneered. “You’re just bait, I’ll gut your little body when he gets here, then kill him too.”

“You’ve made a mistake,” you said through gritted teeth, glaring despite the swelling around your eyes. “He’s smarter than that, and when he gets here, you’ll wish you’d never touched me.”

The sound of steady, deliberate footsteps echoed above, cutting through the tension like a blade. Your captor froze, his smirk faltering. A moment later, the door burst open, slamming against the wall. James strode in, along with the twins, his dark eyes sweeping the room until they landed on you. His gaze hardened, fury simmering beneath his calm exterior.

“Let her go,” he said, his voice low and deadly.

The man reached for his weapon, but James was faster. In a flash, your captor was on the ground, blood pooling beneath him as he clutched his side. James didn’t spare him a glance, his focus entirely on you.

“Darling,” he murmured, his voice soft and steady as he cut through the ropes. You collapsed into his arms, your body trembling with relief. He held you tightly, his jaw clenched as he took in the bruises and marks that marred your skin.

Behind him, your captor groaned in pain, but James turned, his expression colder than you’d ever seen. “You touched what’s mine,” he said softly, the threat in his voice unmistakable. “And now you’ll pay for it.”

As James carried you out, the man’s screams began to echo behind you before three gunshots went off and the twins followed out, but you didn’t look back. James’s hold was firm, his presence a shield, and you knew no one would ever dare hurt you again.