40. Annalise

40

ANNALISE

T he cold metal of the chair presses against my back, sending shivers down my spine. I blink away the haze that clouds my vision, trying to focus on the man standing in front of me. Timothy’s cruel sneer is etched into his face as his fingers curl into a fist.

“Tell me everything you know about the Volkov brothers,” he snarls, his voice dripping with malice.

I stare at him defiantly, refusing to let him see my fear. “I have nothing to say to you.”

He doesn’t waste any time, striking me hard across the face. Pain explodes in my cheek, and my head whips to the side. I wheeze, struggling to catch my breath as tears prick at the corners of my eyes. But I refuse to give Timothy the satisfaction of breaking me.

“Stubborn bitch,” he spits, but there’s a hint of admiration in his tone. “You’ll talk eventually. Everyone does.”

“Go to hell,” I retort, gritting my teeth against the pain.

“Wrong answer.” His hand connects with my face again, but this time, I manage to suppress my gasp.

“Where are they?” He glares at me intently, searching for any signs of weakness.

“You think you can break me?” My emerald eyes blaze with determination, even through my blurred vision. “I won’t betray them.”

Timothy’s face twists with rage as he steps closer, looming over me. “We’ll see about that.”

My heart hammers in my chest, but my thoughts remain clear. I cannot—will not—give up the Volkov brothers. The lives of my daughters and our unborn child depend on it. No matter how much pain Timothy inflicts on me, I will protect my family. Even if it costs me my life.

“Is that all you’ve got?” I taunt, desperation fueling my defiance. “You’re going to have to do better than that.”

“Brave words,” he sneers. “Let’s see if you can keep them up.”

Blood drips from my split lip and splatters onto the cold concrete floor below me. My vision swims in and out of focus, wavering between the harsh reality of the dingy room and the dark abyss that threatens to swallow me whole. I grit my teeth in determination, refusing to allow the darkness to claim me.

“Still nothing?” Timothy snarls, his voice dripping with malice as he delivers another slap across my face. The force of it sends a shock wave of pain through my skull, momentarily making my vision go white.

“Nothing,” I choke out, tasting blood and defiance on my tongue. “I won’t tell you anything.”

“Let’s see what Arlo thinks about that.” Timothy turns to a figure lurking in the shadows, waiting for his cue like a predator ready to pounce.

“Arlo?” My breath hitches at the familiar name, my heart seizing in my chest. It can’t be. Not him.

The man steps forward, allowing the dim light to illuminate his features. My worst fears are confirmed—it is Arlo, the man from the casino night, the one who had seemed so enamored with me. To see him now, betraying the Volkovs, feels like a knife twisting in my gut.

“Recognize her?” Timothy asks, a cruel grin playing on his lips.

“Of course,” Arlo replies, his eyes meeting mine with a cold detachment that makes my blood run cold. “She’s Annalise Tryst. The Volkovs have taken quite an interest in her.”

“Indeed.” Timothy smirks, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. “Well, Ms. Tryst, it seems your loyalty is going to cost you dearly.”

“Arlo…” My voice cracks, the weight of betrayal heavy on my shoulders. “Why?”

“Money talks, darling,” he drawls, stepping closer until his face is mere inches from mine. “And it seems the Volkovs weren’t offering enough.”

“Please,” I whisper, desperation clawing at my throat. “I’m pregnant. Don’t do this.”

“Save your breath,” Arlo says, his voice devoid of emotion. “It won’t change anything.”

“Your loyalty means nothing, then?” I challenge him, my emerald eyes blazing with defiance. “You’d sell out those who trusted you?”

“Business is business.” He shrugs, his gaze cold and unfeeling. “Nothing personal.”

“Remember that when they come for you,” I warn, a flicker of hope igniting within me. The Volkovs won’t let this betrayal go unpunished.

“Bold words for someone in your position,” Timothy taunts, stepping back into the fray. “But we’ll see how long your resolve lasts. Time to have some fun, Arlo.”

My heart hammers in my chest as I stare into Arlo’s cold, unfeeling eyes. The man I danced with at the casino—the one who had seemed so charming—now stands before me as my tormentor. What a cruel twist of fate.

“Y’know,” Arlo says conversationally, “the Volkovs really seem to care about you, Annalise. It’s a shame that all this might happen to you.” His gaze lingers on my swelling belly, and I instinctively place a protective hand over it.

“Which makes me wonder,” he continues, circling me like a predator, “what kind of valuable information you must be carrying around.”

“Go to hell,” I spit out, despite the terror coursing through me. I refuse to let them break me.

“Feisty,” Timothy chuckles darkly. “I like it. But feistiness won’t save you or your precious little secret.”

“Leave my baby out of this,” I plead, clenching my teeth to hold back the tears threatening to fall.

“Give us what we want, and we might just consider it,” Arlo offers, his voice dripping with malice.

“Never,” I hiss, my resolve unwavering.

Timothy’s fist connects with my jaw, and pain explodes through my face. I gasp, tears pricking my eyes, but I don’t dare let them fall. I can’t give them the satisfaction.

“Think about your answer,” Timothy warns, his breath hot against my ear. “Because when I come back, I won’t be so gentle.”

As he leaves the room, I’m left alone with the traitorous Arlo. My body trembles from fear and pain, but I force myself to meet his gaze. There’s nothing more they can take from me now.

“Whatever they’re paying you,” I whisper, my voice hoarse and shaky, “it won’t be enough when the Volkovs come for you.”

Arlo smirks, but his eyes betray a flicker of uncertainty. “We’ll see about that.”

“Remember,” I say, forcing confidence into my words, “you made your choice. And choices have consequences.”

“Keep telling yourself that, Annalise,” Arlo replies, his expression impassive. “It might make this ordeal easier to bear.”

“Or harder for you to live with,” I retort, summoning every ounce of courage I possess.

“Time will tell,” Arlo says with a shrug, leaving me alone with my thoughts and rapidly fading hope.

The cold metal of the chair digs into my back, a chilling reminder of the betrayal that has led me here. Arlo stands before me, his eyes devoid of any emotion I once thought I knew. My heart hammers in my chest, but I refuse to let fear dictate my every move.

“Arlo,” I rasp, my throat raw from the earlier assault. “Why? After everything the Volkovs have done for you?”

He studies me for a moment, as if weighing his options. Then, with a humorless chuckle, he leans in close. “You think I owe them loyalty, Annalise? They were only a means to an end.”

“An end?” I can’t help but scoff, despite the pain it causes. “What could be worth more than what they offered you?”

“Power,” he replies, straightening up and crossing his arms over his chest. “A chance to control my own fate instead of groveling at the feet of those brothers.”

“Power over what?” I demand, anger and desperation bubbling within me. “Over innocent people like me and my daughters?”

“Collateral damage,” he says dismissively. “Everyone is expendable in this game, Annalise. Even you.”

“Even their trust?” I press on, unwilling to surrender to his twisted logic. “Did their faith in you mean nothing?”

“Trust is a currency easily spent.” Arlo smirks, unfazed by my words. “I invested mine wisely.”

“Is it wise to cross the Volkovs?” I ask, leaning forward as far as my restraints allow. “You’ve seen what they’re capable of. Do you really think they’ll let this go?”

“Let me worry about that,” he replies coolly, stepping away from me. “Your concern should be the choices you make while you’re still breathing.”

“Choices?” My voice cracks, but I refuse to let the threat deter me. “I won’t betray them, Arlo. Not even to save myself.”

“Then you’re a fool,” he says flatly, his expression hardening. “But you’ll have plenty of time to reconsider your decision.”

With that, he turns on his heel and leaves me alone in the cold, dim room. As the door slams shut behind him, I find comfort in the unwavering resolve that fills my chest. I may be battered and bruised, but I have one thing that Arlo will never possess—loyalty born from love.

And that is something I will cling to, no matter the cost.

The sound of the door creaking open pierces the silence, and I brace myself for what’s to come. Arlo enters the room once more, his expression unreadable as he stalks toward me. I hold my head high, determined to show him that I’m not broken.

“Still clinging to your loyalty?” he sneers, circling me like a predator sizing up its prey. “You’re wasting your time, Annalise.”

“Maybe,” I reply, swallowing the fear that threatens to choke me. “But at least I have something worth fighting for.”

“Pathetic,” he scoffs, stopping in front of me. His eyes bore into mine, cold and calculating, before his hand shoots out with brutal force. The backhand catches me off guard, sending me flying across the room. I hit the wall with a sickening thud, pain exploding through my body.

“Tell me everything you know about the Volkovs’ plans!” he demands, advancing on me, his voice full of malice.

“Never,” I gasp, struggling to catch my breath from the impact. My vision blurs, but I refuse to let him see how much he’s hurting me.

“You’re making this harder than it has to be,” Arlo growls, kicking me in the ribs with enough force to send me curling into a protective position. My hand instinctively moves to shield my unborn child, desperation coursing through me.

“Stop,” I beg through gritted teeth, tears streaming down my face. “Please, don’t hurt my baby.”

“Then start talking,” he snarls, landing another vicious kick to my side. My mind races, trying to find a way out of this nightmare, but there seems to be no escape.

As the pain intensifies, I cling to the love I have for my daughters, for the life growing inside me, and for the Volkov brothers who have shown me kindness. It’s that love that keeps me defiant in the face of Arlo’s relentless assault.

“You’ll never break me,” I whisper, my voice hoarse from the abuse. “I’ll die before I betray them.”

“Very well,” Arlo says coldly, his eyes void of any humanity. “We’ll see just how far your loyalty can take you.”

The cold metal floor beneath me seems to vibrate with each violent kick, echoing the agony surging through my battered body. Arlo’s eyes are cold and merciless as he continues his ruthless assault.

“Stop!” I choke out between coughs, desperate for air. My thoughts race in a chaotic whirlwind of fear, anger, and disbelief, but still, I cling to the one thing that fuels every last ounce of my strength—protecting my unborn child.

“Your loyalty is misplaced,” Arlo sneers, delivering another swift blow to my ribs.

“Arlo!” a guard’s voice booms from behind him, halting his attack abruptly.

“What?” he growls, annoyance flashing across his face.

“The Volkovs have launched an all-out war,” the guard warns, urgency in his tone. “You need to take cover.”

“Finally, some action,” Arlo mutters under his breath, stepping back from me. His eyes meet mine for a split second, devoid of any remorse or compassion.

“Guard her closely,” he commands, addressing the man who interrupted us. “I’ll be back to finish this later.” The door slams shut behind him, leaving me alone with the guard—and my pain.

As I lie here, battered and bruised, my heart races with a mixture of dread and hope. While the thought of an all-out war terrifies me, I can’t help but hope that the Volkov brothers will find me before it’s too late. They’ve proven themselves capable of great care and kindness, even amidst the darkness that surrounds them.

“Please,” I whisper to myself, my emerald-green eyes brimming with unshed tears. “Find me before it’s too late.”