The Storm Before the War
A Prisoner in the Dark
The cold seeped into Emma's bones.
Her small cell was barely large enough to stretch her legs. The rough stone walls scraped against her fingers as she paced.
She had lost track of time.
Hours? Days?
It didn't matter.
Moretti had made himself clear—she was nothing more than a pawn in his game.
Her body ached from sleeping on the hard cot. The single light flickered above her, barely illuminating the four walls that had become her world.
But her mind never stopped.
She couldn't afford to break.
Because he was coming.
She knew it.
Felt it in her bones.
Alexander Kingston wasn't the type of man to let someone take what was his.
And she was his.
In every way that mattered.
Even if it killed him—
He would come for her.
—
A Familiar Voice in the Shadows
A sound.
Emma froze.
Footsteps outside her door.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Then—
A whisper.
"Emma."
Her heart nearly stopped.
She knew that voice.
Knew it better than her own.
Alexander.
Emma's hands pressed against the door.
She leaned in.
"Alexander?" she whispered.
A pause.
Then—
"Are you hurt?"
Her throat tightened.
"I'm fine."
Liar.
She wasn't fine.
She was trapped. Afraid. Alone.
But none of that mattered.
Not now.
"How did you get here?" she whispered.
A soft chuckle.
"You think a locked door could stop me?"
Tears burned her eyes.
It was him.
Alexander was here.
But—
"If you're caught—"
"I won't be," he cut in.
Confident.
Dangerous.
Exactly how she remembered.
She swallowed hard.
"Moretti wants to use me against you," she murmured.
A dark silence followed.
Then—
"Let him try."
A shiver ran through her.
Because she knew that tone.
It meant someone was going to die.
And soon.
—
The Plan
Alexander's voice was low.
"I don't have much time. Listen carefully."
Emma pressed closer to the door.
"I'm getting you out of here tonight."
Her heart pounded.
"How?"
"A distraction," he said simply.
Of course.
Typical Alexander—always steps ahead.
But Moretti was dangerous.
"Alexander, you don't understand—"
"I understand perfectly," he cut in.
Silk over steel.
His voice sent chills down her spine.
"I let you go once. Never again."
Emma's breath hitched.
A lump formed in her throat.
"You don't have to do this for me," she whispered.
Silence.
Then—
"Emma," he said, voice rough.
"You're mine."
Her chest ached.
Because she knew—
She felt the same way.
But before she could say another word—
The footsteps returned.
Louder.
Closer.
"Go," she whispered.
A pause.
Then—
"I love you."
Emma's heart shattered.
Then he was gone.
—
Moretti's Threat
The door burst open.
Emma barely had time to step back before two guards grabbed her.
She struggled.
Fought.
But they were stronger.
The grip on her arms was bruising as they dragged her down the hall.
Through the maze of corridors.
Then—
They stopped.
A familiar door.
A familiar nightmare.
The guards shoved her forward.
And Moretti stood waiting.
—
The Bargain
Moretti smiled.
"Ah, my favorite prisoner."
Emma glared.
She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of fear.
He gestured to the chair.
"Sit."
Emma didn't move.
Moretti sighed.
"Fine. Stand, then."
He leaned against his desk, watching her.
"You know why you're here?"
Emma's jaw clenched.
Moretti's smirk widened.
"Because Kingston is coming."
Her stomach dropped.
No.
He couldn't know.
But Moretti was too pleased.
Too confident.
He knew.
Emma swallowed.
"He won't stop," she said quietly.
Moretti chuckled.
"I'm counting on it."
Her hands fisted.
"What do you want?"
Moretti stepped forward.
Close enough to make her skin crawl.
"A deal."
Emma's heart pounded.
"I'm not making a deal with you."
Moretti smiled.
"You haven't heard it yet."
Then—
His next words nearly broke her.
"You will tell Alexander you don't love him."
Emma's breath caught.
"You will tell him you never did," Moretti continued.
Cold.
Calculated.
Emma's throat burned.
"And if I refuse?" she whispered.
Moretti's smile vanished.
"Then I kill him."
The air left her lungs.
—
A Choice That Wasn't a Choice
Emma felt sick.
Moretti wasn't bluffing.
He wanted Alexander to suffer.
And what better way than to make him believe she never loved him?
Moretti tilted his head.
"So, what will it be?"
Emma's heart ached.
If she said yes—
She would break the man she loved.
If she said no—
Alexander would die.
Tears burned her eyes.
There was no right answer.
Only pain.
Then—
She nodded.
—
The Lie That Would Kill Them Both
Moretti's smile returned.
"Good girl."
Emma felt like she was drowning.
Moretti gestured to the guards.
"Prepare the cameras."
Emma's stomach twisted.
No.
Not like this.
She wasn't ready.
But it didn't matter.
Because soon—
Alexander would see.
And she would destroy him.
—
The Storm Breaks
Hours later—
The screen flickered to life.
And there he was.
Alexander.
His sharp jaw clenched.
His blue eyes stormy.
He looked furious.
But beneath it—
Pain.
"Emma," he said, voice rough.
Her heart shattered.
She gripped the chair.
Moretti stood behind her, watching.
Waiting.
"Say it," he whispered.
Emma's throat burned.
Alexander's eyes locked onto hers.
Trusting.
Loving.
Waiting.
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
Then—
She took a breath.
And whispered the biggest lie of her life.
"I never loved you."
—
The End of Everything
The silence was deafening.
Then—
Alexander froze.
His whole body went rigid.
Like she had driven a knife into his chest.
Moretti chuckled.
"Good girl."
Emma broke.
Tears streamed down her face.
But she didn't stop.
Couldn't stop.
"Let me go," she whispered.
Moretti smirked.
"As promised."
Then—
The screen cut out.
And Emma felt like she had just lost everything.
—
The War Begins
Somewhere across the city—
Alexander stood in stunned silence.
Her words echoed in his skull.
"I never loved you."
His hands fisted.
Then—
A dark chuckle.
Low.
Dangerous.
"You think you can take her from me?"
He turned.
Eyes cold.
Deadly.
"Then you don't know who the hell you're dealing with."
Because now?
Now it wasn't just a rescue mission.
It was war.
And Moretti was a dead man.