Sam's grin widened, his eyes narrowing with a twisted delight as he took in Alexander's restrained form. He stepped closer, savoring the sight of the once-mighty Alexander Sterling now bound and vulnerable before him. There was a gleam in his eyes, a sick sort of triumph mixed with a dangerous obsession that radiated off him in waves.
"That's right, it's me," Sam said, drawing the words out as if relishing every syllable. He paused, tilting his head as though genuinely pondering his next question. "Have you missed me like I've missed you?"
Alexander's expression remained stone-cold, his face betraying none of the turmoil that roiled inside him. He stared Sam down, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. The room fell into a tense silence, the only sound the faint crackling of the burning cigarette still clutched in Sam's hand. The smoke swirled around them, thick and choking, like the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air.