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"In the shadows where fear and silence reign, the heart beats wild, a captive in pain."
-anonymous

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The man stood in front of the grave, his figure silhouetted against the gray, overcast sky. His breath misted in the chilly air as he bent down, brushing aside the brittle leaves that had settled on the gravestone. A sad smile, tinged with regret, softened his stern features as he laid a bouquet of red roses upon the grave. The flowers, vibrant in their deep crimson hue, stood in stark contrast to the cold, lifeless stone beneath them.

"I'm sorry for not visiting sooner," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. He lingered, as if waiting for an answer from the silent stone. But the only response was the whisper of the wind through the trees, rustling the leaves at his feet.

He sighed heavily, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I've been searching for August. I swear to you, I'll find her, and when I do, I won't let anyone hurt her again. I'm ashamed of myself... ashamed that I didn't act sooner. I should have protected her better."

His voice cracked as he spoke, the weight of his guilt pressing down on him. The memories of her—of their time together, of the promises he'd made and failed to keep—haunted him.

I miss you... so much," he whispered, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "And August... she misses you too. She's been so lost without you. But I'll bring her back. I'll make things right."

He straightened up, the cold air biting at his face as he turned to leave. "I'll visit you again soon," he promised, though the words felt hollow. He knew nothing could ever truly make up for his absence, but it was all he could offer

As he walked away, the sound of his footsteps crunching on the gravel seemed to echo in the stillness of the graveyard. The man reached his car and was about to open the door when his phone rang, shattering the fragile peace that had settled around him. He quickly pulled the phone from his pocket, his heart pounding in his chest as he saw the detective's name flash on the screen.

"Speak?" His voice was tense, the anxiety he'd been trying to suppress suddenly flaring up.

The detective's voice crackled through the line, urgent and laced with tension. "We found her, sir. We've got a lead on August's whereabouts."

Relief washed over him like a wave, his shoulders sagging as he leaned against the car for support. "Thank God," he breathed, closing his eyes for a moment. But the relief was short-lived, turning swiftly into shock as the detective continued.

"We obtained some CCTV footage from a few nights ago. It shows August with a child, boarding a flight to Germany."

The man's grip tightened on the phone, his knuckles turning white. "Germany?" he repeated, his mind racing. Why would she go there? What could possibly be in Germany that she needed to escape to?

His thoughts were a chaotic jumble, each one more troubling than the last. "Send a team to Germany immediately," he ordered, his voice sharp with urgency. "I want them found and brought back to me, no matter what it takes."

He ended the call abruptly, staring down at the phone in his hand. "Why would you go to Germany, August?" he whispered to himself, the question hanging heavy in the air. Worry creased his brow as he thought of her, alone in a foreign country, possibly frightened out of her mind. All he wanted was for her to be safe... to bring her back into his arms, where she belonged.

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August gently kissed Aiden's forehead as she tucked him into bed. Aiden's small hand reached out, gripping her fingers tightly, his eyes wide and pleading.

August smiled down at him, her heart aching at the sight of his fear. "I'm just going to get some water, sweetheart. The jug is empty, but I'll be right back, I promise."

Aiden's grip tightened for a moment, his silent plea clear in the way his eyes shimmered with worry. August leaned down, pressing a reassuring kiss to his temple before carefully pulling her hand free.

"I'll be quick," she promised, miming the action of pouring water. Aiden reluctantly let her go, his gaze never leaving her as she slipped out of the room.

As she made her way to the kitchen, August's mind was a whirl of thoughts. She filled the jug with water, the sound of the tap echoing in the stillness of the night. But as she turned to head back to Aiden's room, she heard a commotion coming from the living room.

Curious—and more than a little cautious—she tiptoed towards the noise, peering around the corner. She saw the three brothers, Alexander, Lucian and Elijah, huddled together, their faces alight with excitement.

"Now no one will ever find her," Elijah said, a smug grin spreading across his face as he looked at his brothers.

August's heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat.

Are they talking about me?

It seemed unlikely—after all, who would be looking for her now? But then a thought struck her like a bolt of lightning. Could it be Max?

Max had been Noah's best friend, a guardian to Aiden in Noah's absence. She cursed herself for not thinking of him sooner. If anyone could find her, it would be Max. And if he was looking for her, she needed to get in touch with him—quickly.

A determined expression crossed her face as she hurried back to Aiden's room.

"Aidy, Do you remember your uncle Max's number?" she asked.

Aiden nodded, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. His small hand reached for the pen and paper she held out to him, and he carefully wrote down the number. His writing was a bit wobbly from sleepiness, but it was clear enough.

August took the paper, memorizing the digits before quickly tearing it up and flushing it down the toilet. She couldn't risk anyone finding it.

A new sense of hope blossomed in her chest, fragile but growing stronger with each passing moment. But she knew she had to be careful—if the brothers found out what she was planning, the consequences would be dire.

A small, determined smile curved her lips as she returned to Aiden's side. All she needed now was a cellphone, and they could contact Max. They would be safe. She could feel it in her bones.

She laid down beside Aiden, her heart racing with anticipation. Tomorrow might just bring the dawn that would finally chase away the darkness that had been suffocating her and Aiden for so long.

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A few hours later, as she drifted in and out of sleep, she felt herself being lifted, cradled in a strong, warm embrace. Too exhausted to open her eyes, she instinctively snuggled closer, seeking out the comforting warmth.

"Let me have you all to myself tonight, dove," a deep voice murmured, sending a shiver down her spine.

She barely registered the soft mattress beneath her as she was laid down, the sudden loss of warmth making her whimper in her sleep. But then, just as quickly, the warmth returned, wrapping around her like a shield.

August's mind drifted as she fell deeper into sleep, her thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind.

Elijah's fingers lightly brushed a stray strand of hair away from August's face, his touch lingering as he traced the curve of her cheek and jawline. His hand moved slowly, almost methodically, toward her neck, his touch both intimate and invasive.

"Fuck, dove" he groaned as he sniffed her neck, drowning himself into her scent.

August stirred slightly, a faint ticklish sensation drawing her closer to wakefulness, but exhaustion kept her in a half-asleep state.

Elijah's hand continued its journey, sliding the strap of her nightdress off her shoulder, exposing her skin to the cool air. His other hand cradled her head, holding her in place as he let his fingers drift lower, skimming along her side before moving even lower almost reaching her ass.

His touch found its way to the waistband of her nightdress, lingering there with an intention that made her skin crawl. He pressed his hand against her ass, squeezing as if she were a possession to be claimed rather than a person to be respected.

The discomfort roused August from her sleep, her groggy eyes blinking open to a world that quickly sharpened into horror. She couldn't immediately process what was happening, but when she did, fear gripped her with an intensity that nearly paralyzed her.

Elijah's face loomed above her, a smug smirk playing on his lips as his hand slid inside her panty and his finger touched her core

"Oh, you're awake," Elijah murmured, his voice a low, mocking drawl. "Better. This will be more fun now."

A wave of nausea surged through August as her mind raced to catch up with her situation.

"So wet for your daddy already huh, you naughty little girl" elijah chuckled sinisterly and moved his thumb on her clit with a deliberate slowness, as if savoring her terror.

"Fuckkk, so tight " The moment his fingers touched slipped into her vagina, she snapped fully into consciousness.

Panic took over as she realized the danger she was in. She tried to push him away, but he was too strong, his body pressing down on hers, trapping her in place. Elijah's hand continued its violation, while his other arm wrapped tightly around her, pinning her in a cage of muscle and malice.

Tears of fear and shame blurred her vision as she struggled, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. The sound of Elijah's voice, taunting her, admiring her, made her skin crawl with revulsion. "So fucking soft..." he whispered, his tone laced with sickening pleasure.

Desperation fueled August's movements as she fought against him with everything she had. Summoning all her strength, she lifted her knee and drove it into his groin, hard. Elijah's smug expression twisted into one of agony as he let out a guttural scream, the pain forcing him to loosen his grip.

Seizing the opportunity, August scrambled out of bed, her heart pounding so loudly she could hardly think. Her eyes darted around the room, landing on Elijah's phone lying on the table. Without a second thought, she grabbed it and bolted from the room, her breath hitching in her throat as she ran.

Panic clouded her mind as she frantically tried to unlock the phone, her trembling fingers fumbling with the screen. But in her terror, she didn't even see that it was a highly secured phone, one that only Elijah could unlock.

As she ran blindly, her feet barely touched the ground as she fled, driven by pure instinct to escape. She didn't see the figure ahead of her until it was too late. The collision sent her reeling, the phone slipping from her grasp and clattering to the floor.

"Where are you running off to, little one?" a deep voice rumbled above her, dripping with condescension.

August's heart stopped as she looked up, realizing she had run straight into another threat. The phone lay forgotten on the ground as she backed away, terror consuming her as she found herself trapped once again.

Define the brothers in one word 🧟‍♀️

ALEXANDER

LUCIAN

ELIJAH

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