Chapter 4

Jake walked to the door, still uneasy. "Make sure you get it out of her. We need to eliminate any future threats."

I guessed he was worried that Oliver couldn't go through with it when it came to me.

The hall was quiet for a moment.

I was pulled to my feet, and Oliver's arm locked tightly around me.

He took a tissue and carefully wiped the blood from my face.

He didn't say a word.

I closed my eyes, silent.

"Sophia, you know we'll find your brother Liam," he said, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Let's talk about it when you actually find him," I replied.

He stopped wiping the blood.

Anyway, my wound was still bleeding, and no amount of wiping would clean it up.

"Oliver."

"What?"

"Am I really going to die here?"

He stayed quiet.

I murmured, "Something tells me I'm going to die here."

The Morton Pack and the Blackwood Pack had been at odds for ages. Now, the Morton Pack had teamed up with other packs to take down the Blackwood Pack.

But that still wasn't enough for them. They wanted to finish off Liam for good.

They were determined to make sure the Blackwood Pack never got back on its feet.

I was locked up in a vacant room at the very edge of the Morton Pack house.

*****

After two days, the wound on my forehead finally scabbed over.

But the strong smell of blood still lingered on me.

Before Oliver tossed me in here, he told the guards that if I ever wanted to spill where Liam was hiding, they should call him right away.

*****

After another two days, I finally got some food.

I dragged myself over, inch by inch, and opened the lunchbox.

I lifted it and ate slowly.

I let out a cough, as the food was too dry. But I was so hungry I didn't care.

I ate like a starving animal.

Suddenly, the door swung open.

I flinched, startled.

My mouth was still stuffed with food.

Oliver stood there, looking down at me. "Still got an appetite, huh? Guess you really want to live."

He was clearly scowling, his brows furrowed.

I was such a mess that he probably felt sick looking at me.

I froze, not daring to move with him standing there.

I kept my head hanging low, half-expecting him to do something to me.

But after a few seconds, he turned and walked out.

Only after I was sure he wasn't coming back did I pick up the lunchbox again.

After that, someone brought me food every day at mealtimes, and each meal was better than the last.

I had no idea why, but I wanted to stay alive. As long as they brought food, I ate it.

But one day, my stomach suddenly started hurting badly.

One time, they brought me my favorite borscht, but my stomach hurt so badly that I could hardly get any of it down.

Three meals in a row, they brought the food in and took it away untouched without me eating a single bite.

Sometime later, I saw a pair of leather shoes come to a stop in front of me.

Oliver glanced at the fish burger and chicken nuggets beside me. He crouched down and lifted my chin. "Why aren't you eating? What, planning to go on a hunger strike?"

I jerked away from his hand and turned my head aside.

He was barely keeping his anger in check. "Sophia, I'm ordering you to eat."

I stayed still, silent.

"Are you deaf or something?" he barked.

I turned back, confused, staring at him. "Why do you want me to eat now?"

He smirked, holding my chin firmly between his fingers. "You don't get to ask questions. You do what I say. Got it?"

My stomach felt like someone set my insides on fire all over again.

I pulled my knees up to my chest and hugged them tight.

I jerked my chin out of his fingers.

But in the next instant, he grabbed the burger, pulled me closer, and pinned me between his knees.

He forced my mouth open and tried to shove the burger into it. "Eat it. You hear me?"

I tried to spit it out, but he slapped his hand over my mouth.

I was forced to swallow. "Oliver, you're a monster."

He grabbed some chicken nuggets and held them up to my lips. "Open your mouth."

I was sweating bullets.

He looked like he was about to force it in again, so I gave in and opened my mouth.

Only after all the food was gone did he finally let go of me.