Gage stood in his dark study. He smoked an entire cigar, pulling the harsh smoke deep into his lungs to kill the burning heat in his stomach. He crushed the stub into an ashtray. He turned around and walked back toward the guest room to finish what he started.
He kicked the guest room door open. The room was empty. The only thing left was a small drop of his blood on the white carpet.
Gage's pupils shrank to pinpricks. A violent, world-ending rage exploded in his chest. He reached out and grabbed a passing maid by the hair, yanking her backward.
The maid screamed, dropping her towels. She sobbed, quickly confessing that the old madam had taken the girl to the South Wing.
The words "South Wing" snapped the last thread of Gage's sanity. He dropped the maid. He sprinted down the stairs like a wild animal, heading straight for the heavy stone corridor lined with reinforced steel pillars.
Gage marched down the stone hallway. The heavy thud of his boots echoed off the walls. His personal bodyguards felt the murderous energy radiating off him. They pulled their handguns from their holsters and followed close behind.
Gage reached the mahogany doors. Beatrice's four guards immediately raised their rifles, aiming directly at Gage's chest. They ordered him to step back.
Gage didn't even slow down. He let out a dark, wicked laugh. He snapped his fingers.
His men, former special ops operatives, didn't hesitate. One of them pulled a flashbang grenade from his tactical vest and rolled it across the floor. The blinding burst of light and deafening pop instantly disoriented Beatrice's elite guards, completely neutralizing the advantage of their assault rifles.
A brutal close-quarters fight broke out in the narrow corridor. Gage threw himself into the chaos. He dodged a wild swing from the blinded captain and drove his fist directly into the man's face. The sickening crunch of breaking bone echoed loudly.
Gage ripped the stun baton from the falling captain's hand. He swung it hard, dropping another guard to the floor. Blood splattered across his white shirt.
Within two minutes, Beatrice's elite guards were groaning on the floor. Gage stepped over their bodies and walked right up to the electronic lock.
He didn't bother trying to hack the keypad. He reached to the back of his waistband and pulled out a massive Desert Eagle handgun. He pressed the barrel against the lock and pulled the trigger three times.
The deafening roar of gunfire echoed violently off the thick stone walls. The keypad exploded into sparking wires and black smoke.
Gage lifted his long leg and kicked the heavy mahogany door with all his strength. The wood splintered with a loud crack. The door crashed inward, hitting the floor.
The sound of the gunshots jolted June awake. She jumped off the sofa, her heart hammering wildly. She stared at the doorway in pure terror.
The smoke cleared. Gage stepped through the ruined doorway. He looked like a demon crawling out of hell. His black eyes locked onto June immediately.
June screamed. She spun around to run toward the bathroom, but her legs gave out.
Gage crossed the room in three massive strides. He reached out and grabbed the back of her pajama shirt. He yanked her backward, slamming her hard against his chest.
June thrashed wildly. She screamed for help, swinging her arms. Her fingernails dragged across his neck, leaving deep, bloody scratches.
Gage grabbed both of her wrists with one hand, pinning them behind her back. His other hand clamped around her jaw like a steel vice. He forced her to look up into his bloodshot eyes.
He ground his teeth together. He leaned down and whispered against her lips. "Even if you run to hell, I will drag you back. You will die in my hands."
Footsteps rushed down the hall. Beatrice and Jessica Cole, flanked by more guards, arrived at the ruined entrance of the South Wing.
Beatrice clutched her chest. She looked at the destroyed door and June trapped in Gage's arms. She raised her cane, screaming at Gage to let her go.
Jessica Cole hid behind a guard. She covered her mouth, too terrified of the gun in Gage's hand to say a single word.
Gage turned to face his grandmother. A twisted, arrogant smile spread across his face. He let the heavy gun hang loosely by his side, a silent threat to anyone who moved.
He declared loudly that June belonged to him now. If anyone tried to take her again, he would burn the rest of the house down.
Beatrice watched in stunned silence. Gage bent down, threw June over his broad shoulder, and walked straight out of the ruined South Wing.
June hung upside down. She watched Beatrice and her mother fade into the distance. The light in her eyes died completely.
Gage carried her down the hall. Drops of his blood fell from his arm, staining the white marble floor.
He reached his master bedroom. He kicked the door open, threw June onto the massive black bed, and locked the door behind them. The cage was sealed.
