Chapter 359
KASMINE.
I refused the food again.
It sat there on the floor- lukewarm, bland, probably drugged but my stomach twisted so violently I thought I might pass out from the pain.
I was starving. My body screamed for it. My lips were cracked, and every bone in me ached from how cold it was in here. But I’d rather starve than give these monsters the satisfaction. How could I trust them? How could I be sure they wouldn’t slip something into the food to make me weak, compliant… easier to transport or silence?
My fingers were numb, curled into my sleeves for warmth. I sat hunched in the corner of the dim cell, trembling, half from cold, half from hunger, but I was hopeful Kester would find me. I knew he would.
I didn’t care how stupid I’d been to take off the necklace… the one thing that would have helped him find me.
I had to believe he’d come anyway. I had to.
Because the only thing worse than this… was thinking he might not be alive.
But he was. I felt it in my chest like a pulse. He was angry, and hurt, and probably losing his fucking mind right now, but he was out there, breathing and fighting. I just had to believe that because that was the only thought that gave me hope
and kept me sane.
There was no way I could think otherwise. If I do, I’d choke on my own fear.
The door creaked open again, and I didn’t need anyone to tell me who it was because the atmosphere changed with that
sinister stillness that always followed him.
He kept coming in here like clockwork and saying nothing, freaking me out. I was utterly terrified of him, and if that was
his game plan, then I must say it was working perfectly.
“Kasmine. A little bird tells me you haven’t been eating your food, hm?”
I flinched. His voice was too calm, and somehow, that scared me more than if he’d screamed.
Nagel stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click. He leaned his shoulder against the wall and watched me like a lab rat he was tired of poking.
He tilted his head slightly. “Oh, sweetheart,” he said, dryly amused. “You’re not here because of what you did.”
My lips trembled as tears blurred my vision. “Then why? What did I do? What do you want from me?”
He chuckled under his breath, shaking his head like I’d just asked the dumbest question alive.
“It’s not about you,” he said, pushing off the wall and walking toward me, “You’re just here because of your mate’s sins.”
My breath hitched. I pressed myself harder into the corner. The chill from the walls sank into my skin.
“Personally,” he went on, crouching so we were almost eye level, “I have very little problem with Kester. But unfortunately,
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Chapter 359
not everyone feels the same. He’s been… reckless. Stepping on toes that don’t belong to him. Making enemies faster than
he can count.”
He sounded so detached.
“And me?” My voice shook. “You think dragging me into it is fair? That I deserve this?*
“It wasn’t supposed to be you.” He shrugged. “You just happened to be the string we needed to pull.”
More tears streamed down my face. I wiped them with trembling hands, but they kept coming.
Nagel studied me, almost curious. “Jake told us a lot about you, you know.”
I froze.
“He said you had a real hold on him. That you were the one thing that could make him hesitate. Stupid, right? Love… or whatever that mess was.”
My chest twisted.
“He was struggling with the job. Couldn’t finish it. Couldn’t focus. Couldn’t fucking follow orders.”
So, it was true? All Kester had said were true?
Oh, God. Jake? An accomplice?
No… Oh, God. I’d been a fool.
Nagel’s eyes flicked across my face. “But then… you went and picked Kester. You chose him. Over Jake.”
His mouth curled just a little. “And just like that, his head cleared. He was ready to play.”
“No…” I whispered, “You’re lying.”
“Mm. You’d think so,” he replied, standing to his full height. “But it was the best thing that ever happened to our plan. Unfortunately, your darling Kester went and killed Jake anyway. Poor boy.”
He was quiet for a while, as if mourning the dead before he stood up and turned toward the door.
“You should eat something,” he said, not looking back. “You’ll need your strength.”
“I’m not eating anything,” I said, “I don’t care if I die here. I’m not touching a single thing you bring me.”
I don’t know what gave me the courage… I didn’t feel brave, not even a little… but words came pouring out like my soul had had enough.
“Kester will find me,” I choked out. “He will. And when he does, you’ll pay for everything you’ve done. Every single thing. You’ll fucking pay.”
There was a beat of silence.
Then, slowly, he turned back around. His eyes rested on me calmly.
Chapter 359
He took two steps toward me, then stopped. “Is that so?*
I didn’t answer. My throat was tight, and fear threatened to strangle me.
He hummed lightly like he was actually considering my words. Then he said, almost to himself, “You think he’ll make me pay for what I haven’t even done yet.”
Another step closer.
“Interesting logic.”
I backed up instinctively, but there was nowhere left to go. My spine was already pressed against the damp stone wall.
Nagel tilted his head, his tone still maddeningly casual.
‘Since you’re so sure your little mate will punish me for sins I haven’t committed,” he said, ‘I might as well commit some sins before he finally finds me because I know he will find me, don’t you think?”
My heart slammed into my ribs as he kept coming closer.
‘And since your mouth is too empty for food… but busy enough to bark threats,” he murmured, now standing inches away, ‘maybe it’s time it was used for something more useful.”
I felt his fingers glaze my chim
I froze. Everything inside me locked up.
He tilted my face up to this, peering deep into my soul with those dead eyes of his.
My knees were shaking. I hated that I was trembling-
I could barely whisper, “Don’t touch me.”
He let out a smile, and for the first time, it looked like a real smile, but I wasn’t fooled.
“Of course, I’ll touch you, baby. I certainly will.” He said. Then, without taking his eyes off me, he snapped his fingers.
I barely had time to process it before the door creaked behind him. Heavy boots scraped against the floor as two hefty men entered.
“Make her kneel,” he said, still holding my gaze intently. “It’s time I showed Kester how well his little mate worships my cock while he’s away.”
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Chapter 359
He took two steps toward me, then stopped. “Is that so?”
I didn’t answer. My throat was tight, and fear threatened to strangle me.
He hummed lightly like he was actually considering my words. Then he said, almost to himself, “You think he’ll make me pay for what I haven’t even done yet.”
Another step closer.
“Interesting logic.”
I backed up instinctively, but there was nowhere left to go. My spine was already pressed against the damp stone wall.
Nagel tilted his head, his tone still maddeningly casual.
“Since you’re so sure your little mate will punish me for sins I haven’t committed,” he said, “I might as well commit some sins before he finally finds me because I know he will find me, don’t you think?”
My heart slammed into my ribs as he kept coming closer.
“And since your mouth is too empty for food… but busy enough to bark threats,” he murmured, now standing inches away, “maybe it’s time it was used for something more useful.”
I felt his fingers graze my chin.
I froze. Everything inside me locked up.
He tilted my face up to his, peering deep into my soul with those dead eyes of his.
My knees were shaking. I hated that I was trembling.
I could barely whisper, “Don’t touch me.”
He let out a smile, and for the first time, it looked like a real smile, but I wasn’t fooled.
“Of course, I’ll touch you, baby. I certainly will.” He said. Then, without taking his eyes off me, he snapped his fingers.
I barely had time to process it before the door creaked behind him. Heavy boots scraped against the floor as two hefty
men entered.
“Make her kneel,” he said, still holding my gaze intently. “It’s time I showed Kester how well his little mate worships my cock while he’s away.”

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
Synopsis : My Stepbrother