Chapter 7: Why Not Try the Last One?
Adam's POV
Sophie sat beside me, her arm reluctantly linked with mine. That familiar drowsiness began to wash over me as I inhaled her presence. The moment my grandfather stepped away, she tried to push away from me, her resistance igniting a sudden surge of irritation within me. Without thought, my hands seized her waist, holding her in place.
She fought back immediately, but her struggle only fueled my determination to keep her contained.
In our struggle, her clothes tore in the scuffle as I pinned her arms above her head, my legs pressing against hers to keep her still.
My grip on her waist tightened, fingers burning against her skin as I crashed my lips down onto hers in a forceful kiss. So soft, I thought, a hunger for more overwhelming my senses.
Suddenly, sharp pain shot through my lower lip as Sophie's teeth sank into it. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, shocking me back to reality. I jerked back, the fog of desire clearing as I realized what I'd just done. My expression darkened as I touched my bleeding lip.
"I'm moving out," Sophie declared.
The next day, I lay in the hospital bed, surrounded by the artificial comfort of familiarity. Luke had recreated my bedroom from Agate Island down to the smallest detail, but something felt off.
"Everything's set up according to your specifications," Luke said, "Are you ready?"
My jaw clenched. "Just do it, Morrison." I said firmly, "These are all the brands she uses – shampoo, soap, everything. Basic drugstore items from her hometown."
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Cedar Town products? That's... specific."
Through half-closed eyes, I observed the medical student they'd chosen for today's treatment. Crystal Martinez sat in the corner, wearing simple cotton pajamas, her hair damp with Cedar Town shampoo. The same brand Sophie used. But where Sophie's presence brought a natural, comforting warmth, this felt hollow—a poor imitation of what I needed.
Luke handled the briefing. "The parameters are simple. Sit quietly, and ten thousand dollars will be transferred to your account."
"Just sitting?" She couldn't quite keep the eagerness from her voice. "That's all?"
"That's all." Luke's tone was professional, but I caught the slight eye roll my friend tried to hide.
I caught Crystal stealing glances at me when she thought I wasn't looking. Her posture was too stiff. Through half-closed eyes, I observed how she fidgeted with the nightgown's hem, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.
The greed in her eyes was familiar—I'd seen it countless times in the social circles I moved in. Everyone wanted something from me. Everyone except...
I forced down my irritation and lay back on the bed, trying to find a comfortable position among the monitoring devices.
A familiar scent reached me – almost right, but not quite. Through my half-closed eyes, I could see Crystal stealing glances at me. She was doing her best to appear demure, but her calculated movements betrayed her thoughts.
Sleep began to pull at me, dragging me down into that hazy space between consciousness and dreams.
The darkness came first, thick and suffocating. Then the memory crystallized – they had caught the cat. Their voices echoed in my head, as clear as the day it happened.
"Come on, get on your knees and beg us. Crawl over here, and we'll let it go."
"Oops, used too much force. How did it end up dead?"
In the dream, I was that helpless child again, ready to kneel.
Then the scene twisted, distorted. Another memory, years later. I stood over a man with crushed legs, my voice cold and precise: "Sorry about that. Pressed the gas pedal too hard. Shame you're not dead yet."
Blood. Malice. Revenge.
They seeped into me, staining everything they touched.
Through the fog of nightmares, I sensed movement. Someone approaching. My eyes snapped open.
My hand found her throat, fingers closing with deadly precision. I watched her struggle weakly against my grip, some distant part of me knowing I should stop but unable to make my fingers release.
Water hit my face. Luke's voice cut through the chaos: "Adam! Down!"
Reality crashed back. Crystal collapsed as my grip loosened, Luke rushing to provide emergency care.
It took several minutes before Crystal regained consciousness, her eyes wide with terror.
"It's alright now," Luke's voice was gentle but firm. "You didn't follow instructions. We told you not to approach him. Go home and forget about today. Money will be transferred to your account."
Later, after Crystal had stumbled away in terror, I stared at my hands. The same hands that had nearly ended a life today. My mind drifted to Sophie –instead of succeeding in strangling her that night, I'd been the one who ended up nearly beaten to death.
"I have to say, Adam," Luke remarked as he checked my vitals hours later, "you're quite the philanthropist. Each of these girls sits here for barely an hour and walks away with a hundred grand. Med school tuition isn't looking so daunting anymore."
I grimaced, the sedatives making my tongue feel thick. "How many?"
"We tried three more students after the intern—all young, similar build, using Sophie's products," Luke said, his amusement fading. "But still nothing."
"What are you suggesting?"
"Come on, Adam," Luke leaned back with a smirk, "why overthink this? She's just a woman. Special or not, I can help you keep her by your side."
"Luke," my voice dropped dangerously low, "don't interfere."
For some reason, the thought of using underhanded methods on Sophie felt wrong.
Luke waved dismissively. "Fine, fine, I won't do anything rash. But we need to be flexible here. There are plenty of ways to make a woman stay willingly."
"Oh?"
"Money is the simplest, threats are the most direct, and emotion is the most sophisticated." Luke grinned like he was enjoying a private joke. "Adam, why not try the last one? With your wealth and looks, winning a woman's heart should be child's play."