Beneath the Chillies and Cactus
The door clicked shut behind them—slow, deliberate, final.
Melissa’s breath caught in her throat.
Then came the twist of the lock. That low, metallic snap echoed across the massive chamber like a gavel striking judgment. It reverberated in her spine, crashing into the wall of fear already rising inside her.
She turned slowly, her heart thudding in her chest like a war drum.
Alec stood by the door, tall, composed, smirking.
The entire room was drenched in darkness except for the faint gleam from a high window where moonlight spilled in, outlining the harsh planes of Alec’s face. His features were like marble—beautiful, unreadable, cold.
Melissa’s body was stiff. Her fingers trembled at her sides. Her vision darted across the room, hunting for light, fo
