Darkness. Cold. Fear. That was all you knew. You couldn’t remember anything but your name. Not who took you, not why. Just the icy bite of the chains around your wrists and the creeping certainty that you were going to die in this freezing hell.

Then came the noise. A crash. Shouting. The sharp, deafening sound of gunfire. You curled into yourself, heart pounding so hard it drowned out everything else. Was this it? The end?

The door burst open.

“In here! F*ck, I’m going to make every person suffer who did this to you.”

A man’s voice. Rough, furious—but something about it sent a jolt of recognition through you. A warm hand reached out, brushing your arm. You flinched away on instinct.

“I’m not going to hurt you. I’m going to unlock the chains.”

The voice was calmer now, steady, but still thick with rage. Cold metal loosened around your wrists, and when he touched the raw, bruised skin there, you whimpered. He cursed under his breath before strong arms lifted you effortlessly. His warmth seeped into your frozen skin, the contrast overwhelming.

You forced your eyes open, desperate to see who had found you. Who had saved you.

And then you saw them—those piercing icy blue eyes. Eyes you knew.

Phoenix Stone.

Your father’s enemy. The most dangerous man you could be in debt to. And yet, he was holding you like you were something fragile. Something worth saving.

“I know you’re scared. I know you don’t trust me. But listen to me—whoever did this to you is already dead or dying. You’re safe now. No one will ever f*cking touch you again.” He says holding you close against his chest.