Zadie’s POV
Pain came first. A sharp, burning throb along my side, then the duller ache in my head, followed by the cold weight of metal digging into my wrists and ankles. I blinked against the harsh light, my vision swimming as the sterile white ceiling slowly came into focus.
Where the hell was I? The air smelled like antiseptic and the place was filled with silence. The kind of silence that meant bad things were coming. I tried to move, tried to sit up, but my limbs were sluggish. Whatever they drugged me with still lingered in my veins like thick syrup. I gritted my teeth, swallowing a wave of nausea as I realized I was shackled. Both hands. Both feet. Tight enough to leave marks.
Great. Not just exposed. Caged like an animal. The door creaked. I turned my head slowly, forcing my eyes to focus. Heels clacked across the floor, sharp, steady, cruel. It’s Kendall.
Her expression was all satisfaction and poison as she stepped into the room. “Well, well,” she purred. “Sleeping Beauty’s finally awake.” I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My throat felt like sandpaper, and every word tasted like regret.
She walked over and crouched next to me, eyes scanning my face. “You really had us going, you know. That sweet, dumb assistant act. The pretty little smile. You almost fooled him.” She leaned in closer, voice dripping with venom. “Almost.” Then her hand whipped across my face. Pain bloomed instantly, I could taste blood.
“You thought you could crawl into his bed and steal from us? Use him?” she snarled, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking my head back. “You think you're the first bitch who tried?”
I didn’t flinch. Wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. But before she could raise her hand again, the door slammed open. “Enough!” Lazaro.
His voice hit the room like thunder, and Kendall froze mid-motion. She turned slowly, clearly stunned to see him there, his expression like ice, his gaze locked on her hand still tangled in my hair.
“She’s a traitor,” Kendall said, breathless. “She deserves worse.” Lazaro didn’t respond with words. He crossed the room in three strides and shoved her back so hard she staggered.
“You touch her again, and I swear to God, Kendall-” his voice was low, dangerous, “-you’ll be the one chained to that wall. You understand me?” The silence stretched between them like a knife.
Kendall’s jaw clenched, her pride cracked. She shot me a look that could’ve killed and turned on her heel, storming out without another word. The door clicked shut behind her, and suddenly it was just the two of us.
I looked up at him through the haze. “Go ahead,” I rasped. “Finish it.”
He didn’t move nor speak, he just left the room quietly. I formed a bitter smile. What will happen now then? I ruined everything and now Lazaro hated me too.
The thought that Lazaro hates me gives a heavy feeling in my chest and I don’t know why it aches more than if I failed the mission. I was really fucked up.