Chapter Text
The quiet of the basement was now suffocating. Sir could hear every footstep above him, every laugh, and every exchanged word between Gabi and Keith. It felt as if he were drowning in silence. But the sound of his chains slipping free was the only thing that mattered. His heart raced with each passing second as the plan took shape in his mind with chilling clarity. He had prepared for this moment for too long to let anything—especially Gab i— s tand in his way.
The lock was nearly undone now, its mechanism clinking softly as he fumbled with it . His fingers, slick with sweat from the tension, moved with surprising steadiness, driven by a sense of urgency that pulsed through him like a drumbeat. Each passing second felt like a countdown, weighing heavily on his chest as he pressed on. The plan was fraught with danger, but then again, what wasn’t in his tumultuous world?
Gabi had never truly grasped the depths of his soul. He had poured everything into her: his unwavering protection, his boundless love, even fragments of his very self. But she had turned away, choosing instead to embrace the vibrant chaos of the outside world. She had chosen Keith.
Keith. The name echoed in his mind, a bitter reminder of what he had lost.
The mere thought of the cop made Sir’s skin crawl. How dare he, a man of law, a mere distraction, think he could offer Gabi anything that Sir couldn’t? Sir was her protector. Her true partner. They were meant to be together. The thought of her with Keith—it was maddening. It made the fire inside him burn hotter.
The lock clicked open with a quiet, satisfying sound. Sir grinned, barely containing his excitement. This was it. He had worked too hard for too long to turn back now.
His mind raced with a whirlwind of possibilities as he took a long, deep breath and pushed himself to stand up. The basement was small and cramped, dimly lit, and filled with the scent of dampness, making it feel all the more like a prison. Over time, he had meticulously learned every corner and crevice, memorizing the positioning of shadows and the subtle sounds that echoed off the concrete walls. He was acutely aware of where everything lay—tools, makeshift comforts, and the few items he had claimed as his own. Most importantly, he had mapped out every possible escape route with precision.
Gabi, on the other hand, had no inkling of his capabilities or the extent to which he was willing to go. She had never truly grasped the depth of his feelings for her, nor had she seen the darkness and determination that simmered beneath the surface. Throughout their time together, he had always been there for her, a constant presence in her life—always supporting, always protecting. Now, he was convinced that the moment was approaching when she would finally recognize the lengths he had gone to for her.
Above him, the house was enveloped in an eerie stillness, interrupted only by the distant sound of Keith’s voice wafting down from the stairs. The casual banter felt hollow and disconnected to him, unimportant in the grand scheme of what was unfolding below. He couldn’t focus on anything outside this moment because Gabi had always been the key—the missing piece in his fractured existence. He believed with all his heart that she would be the one to finally make him whole again.
With the lock undone, Sir pulled at the door, testing it. It creaked open, and the dim light from upstairs spilled into the basement, cutting through the darkness that had kept him prisoner for so long. He stepped into the hallway, the soft carpet under his feet a jarring contrast to the cold concrete of the basement. His heart thudded in his chest, every beat like a drum of impending action. He could hear their voices now, closer. He knew Gabi was in the living room. He could feel it.
He moved swiftly, silently, not making a sound as he crept through the house. Every step brought him closer to the one thing he had been waiting for—the moment when he would show Gabi that she couldn’t escape him. That they couldn’t be apart anymore.
Upstairs, Gabi was sitting on the couch, her body relaxed, her legs tucked underneath her as she spoke to Keith. The cop was leaning against the doorframe, his casual demeanor betraying none of the urgency that Sir felt crawling under his skin. Gabi laughed again at something Keith had said, and Sir felt his jaw tighten.
It wasn’t just jealousy. It was rage—quiet, simmering, but violent. Keith had no place here, no right to take her from him. He had been the one who saved her. He had been the one who protected her when no one else would. And yet, it was Keith’s voice that filled the air, it was Keith who made her smile, Keith who made her feel safe.
That smile. That laugh. They were meant for him. Not Keith.
Gabi leaned forward, placing her drink on the coffee table. “So, what do you think about this case?” she asked, her tone bright and her eyes searching Keith’s for validation. It was a question she had asked him countless times before, one she trusted him to answer, to help solve. Keith spoke with steady confidence as he began to share his thoughts, completely unaware of the man lurking in the shadows just beyond the living room.
But Sir had been waiting for this moment. He was done waiting.
He stepped forward, emerging from the hallway, and the sight of him froze the air in the room. Gabi’s face went pale the moment she saw him, her eyes wide in shock. Keith’s hand instinctively reached for his gun, but Sir was faster, already closing the gap between them with terrifying speed.
“Sir,” Gabi whispered, her voice trembling despite the calm facade she tried to maintain. “What are you doing here?”
Keith stood frozen, his hand still hovering over his holstered gun, his posture rigid and ready for whatever came next. But Sir wasn’t interested in him—not yet, at least. Gabi, however, was his focus.
“Gabi,” Sir said softly, his voice low and dangerous. “I came to bring you home.”
Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, Sir thought he saw something in her eyes—a flicker of recognition, of confusion, maybe even fear. But she quickly masked it, her expression turning cold.
“Home?” she asked, her voice barely audible. “What are you talking about? You’re not welcome here, Sir.”
He smiled a dark, twisted grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “Oh, but I am,” he said, his gaze fixed firmly on hers. “You belong with me. You’ve always belonged with me. It’s time you finally understand that.”
Keith moved to step between them, but Sir was quicker. He reached out, grabbing Keith by the arm and shoving him back with surprising strength. The cop stumbled, nearly losing his balance, but managed to stay on his feet.
“Stay out of this, Keith,” Sir growled, his voice laced with a dangerous edge.
Gabi took a step back, her eyes wide, her hands shaking as she looked from Sir to Keith. “Sir, please—just leave,” she said, her voice cracking. “I’m not your prisoner anymore.”
The words hit Sir like a slap to the face. She didn’t understand. She didn’t understand that this wasn’t about her freedom. It was about them .
“I’m not leaving without you,” Sir said, his tone leaving no room for argument. He moved toward her, slowly, cautiously. “You’ve spent enough time running. You’ve spent enough time pretending you don’t want this. But I know you better than anyone. And I won’t let you go again.”
The air in the room was thick with tension as Sir stepped closer to Gabi. He could see the way her chest rose and fell with shallow breaths, the way her eyes darted between him and Keith. But he was done with all of this . Done with waiting for her to come around , to understand.
She would come with him. He would make sure of it.
And this time, there would be no turning back.