Immediately a cold, mocking laugh escaped him. "Just look at you," he sneered, his words dripping with contempt. "All that mouth, thinking you're untouchable. So tell me, smart girl… what are you going to do now?" He leaned in, his face inches from hers, his voice dropping to a venomous whisper.
"If not to beg."
The tension in the room grew thick enough to taste, like metal on the tongue. Dr. Kyle watched Cecilia, his head tilted just slightly, studying the woman held firm by his men. He saw the way her chest rose and fell too fast, the slight tremble in her knees she was fighting to control. He wasn't a monster; he could appreciate a strong will, even one that directly opposed his own. A long, quiet moment passed, the only sound the ragged pull of Cecilia's breath.
