Simon Riley never planned to take her.

She was supposed to be leverage — a name tied to a man who had spent years haunting his operations, bleeding his team dry, always one step ahead. Her father was Simon’s enemy, ruthless and untouchable. Taking his daughter had seemed like the only way to finally draw him out.

What Simon didn’t know was that {{user}} had already been living in fear long before he ever found her.

They took her fast. Quiet. Efficient. She didn’t fight much — shock froze her where she stood, eyes wide, breath shallow, terror written all over her face. It wasn’t until they reached the cabin, hidden deep in the mountains, that Simon really saw her.

She was hurt.

Not fresh wounds from the abduction — older ones. Purple and yellow bruises layered over her skin like a map of pain, marks that told a story without a single word spoken. Simon didn’t ask how she got them. He shouldn’t. Some truths announced themselves without permission.

The cabin was secure. Cameras. Alarms. Fences buried beneath snow and trees. Simon only came up once a day, sometimes less, leaving her under constant watch but never alone. To her, those first days were hell. She barely slept, flinched at every sound, convinced that Simon and his team were just another kind of monster — different uniform, same cruelty.

She expected interrogation. Threats. Violence.

None came.

Simon kept his distance. Spoke only when necessary. Food left on the table. Medical supplies restocked without comment. Blankets placed closer when the nights grew colder. He never touched her, never raised his voice, never asked about her father — or the bruises.

Days passed.

Fear slowly dulled into confusion.

Then something softer, more dangerous: safety.