Charles

Charles stepped into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over his skin as he contemplated his plan. His mind was divided between the satisfaction of the night with Anita and the darker, more sinister desires he harbored for Elara. His body responded to the mere thought of her—the thrill of the chase, the power he would wield over her when she finally had no choice but to submit to him.

He lathered soap over his chest, washing away the remnants of the night, but his thoughts remained tangled in his obsession. Elara had always been just out of reach, but now, with Damian distracted and her whereabouts uncertain, the opportunity was ripe. She would be his—whether she wanted to be or not.

A twisted smile played on his lips as the steam filled the room. The water beat down on his back, but his mind was already far away, at the warehouse where he knew the final act of his plan would unfold. He relished the thought of Damian arriving too late, desperate to save a woman who might alread