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The soft click of the lock echoed through the elegant suite, like the first ominous note in a symphony I never wanted to hear, and my heart leaped into my throat, pounding away with a frantic rhythm that belied the calm confidence I was trying so hard to project.
My palms were clammy, and I tightened my grip on the frying pan until my knuckles ached. I couldn't afford to look weak, not in front of him. Not when every part of me screamed that showing fear would only feed into whatever twisted fantasy Elias had dreamt up in this luxurious prison.
I stood by the large, sealed window, arms crossed tightly over my chest, gazing out at the serene lakeside view that felt almost mocking in its peaceful beauty. It was the sort of scene that would fit perfectly in a wellness retreat brochure, not in the midst of a kidnapping.
