The humidity hit her the moment the cabin door opened. It was thick and heavy, smelling of asphalt and city exhaust.
Two large men in suits escorted Della down the stairs. Her legs felt like jelly.
She looked around. A private airfield. High fences topped with razor wire. Floodlights cut through the darkness, illuminating a line of black Cadillac Escalades. Their engines idled, a collective growl that vibrated in the damp air.
Darius walked behind her. He didn't touch her, but his presence was a physical weight against her back.
One of the men opened the back door of the lead SUV. Della was guided inside. Darius slid in right next to her. The lock engaged with a decisive thud.
The convoy began to move.
Della turned to him. Desperation clawed at her throat. She had to try.
"My grandmother," she blurted out. "She's in a nursing home. Sunnyvale. She calls me every night at nine. If I don't answer, she panics."
Darius looked at his phone. His thumb scrolled through emails. He didn't even blink.
"She has heart issues," Della pressed, her voice rising. "If she thinks I'm missing, the stress could kill her. You have to let me call her."
Darius finally looked up. His expression was bored. "And?"
Della gaped at him. "And? She's an old woman! She has nothing to do with this!"
"She's your weakness," Darius said simply.
"I just need to tell her I'm okay. Please." The word tasted like ash. She hated begging. She hated him for making her do it.
Darius studied her. His eyes traced the line of her jaw, the pulse fluttering in her neck. He reached out.
Della flinched, squeezing her eyes shut, expecting a blow.
She felt his knuckles graze her throat, adjusting her collar. "Begging suits you," he said softly.
Della opened her eyes. Humiliation burned in her chest, hot and suffocating. She bit her lip to keep from screaming.
Darius reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a sleek, black smartphone. He didn't hand it to her. He held it up.
"One minute," he said. "Speaker on. No codes. No distress signals. If you say anything suspicious, I hang up, and she never hears from you again."
Della nodded frantically. She grabbed the phone, her fingers slipping on the screen.
She dialed the number she knew by heart. Darius watched the screen, his body angled toward her, listening.
"Sunnyvale Care Center," a tired voice answered.
"Can I speak to Nana Rose? It's Della."
At the mention of the name 'Nana Rose,' Darius's expression remained unchanged, a mask of cold indifference. He simply cataloged the name, another piece of data, another lever of control. She didn't have time to analyze it.
"Della?" Her grandmother's voice was frail, laced with worry. "Is that you, sweetie? The storm on the news... they said the park was hit hard."
Della squeezed the phone. "I'm fine, Nana. I'm safe." She looked at Darius. His face was a mask of stone. "Listen, I... I got a job offer. A really good one. It's out of state. I had to leave immediately."
Darius smirked. It was a cruel, knowing curve of his lips.
"So sudden?" Nana asked. "Are they good people?"
Della felt a tear slide down her cheek. "Yes," she choked out. "Very... professional."
Darius tapped his watch.
"I have to go, Nana. I'll be busy with training. I might not be able to call for a few days. Don't worry about me. I love you."
"I love you too, my little bird."
Darius snatched the phone from her hand and ended the call. He tossed the device onto the front seat.
Della slumped against the door, drained. She stared out the tinted window.
They were entering the city. Massive skyscrapers pierced the clouds. The lights of the skyline blurred through her tears. They weren't going to a warehouse in the docks. They were heading toward the financial district. Toward the most expensive real estate in the city.
The SUV turned onto a private ramp, descending into the belly of a glass tower.
