While Brooke is still near the door that she has almost closed, she is as if paralyzed and unable to move.
BROOKE : You realize that I would only have to scream for someone to arrive Owen...
OWEN : Go ahead, please... I even dare you to do it...
His cynical response freezes Brooke's blood, she looks at him suspiciously, narrowing her eyes and still hesitating to act.
OWEN : It would be much easier to run away, you are still quite close to the door. Run, Brooke, again...
BROOKE : My instinct tells me, that once again, it is not a good idea if you advise me to do it... Except that this time I made the decision to listen to you... My instinct has betrayed me for too long.
OWEN : I guess you're doing the right thing, this time. Because if you were to change your mind and leave me... I would really be forced and constrained to fall back on your father... for my revenge plans.
Brooke's throat tightens so much that it even hurts. She decides to take two steps towards Owen.
OWEN : Good. That's more reasonable... I see you better now, by the way. It's funny how I feel like it's been days since we last saw each other, you and I...
BROOKE : You really do have a short memory!
As his only response, Owen laughs sarcastically at the joke she threw at him. He approaches Brooke, smiling...
OWEN : I'd rather say it's because we've changed a lot, you and I, in such a short time...
BROOKE : Because you became a philosopher in twenty-four hours?
OWEN : Don't be sarcastic, it still suits you very well, but it's part of the old Brooke...
BROOKE : And what's the new version of me, then?
OWEN : This is just my very personal opinion but I would say that although you are still as hot as ever, I have to admit... You are paradoxically not as sexy as before because you reek of betrayal, weakness and ingratitude...
BROOKE : I am delighted to know that I no longer have an effect on you! I am even relieved!
Owen grits his teeth and his jaw clenches. It's his turn to narrow his piercing and threatening eyes. Despite the fear that eats away at Brooke, she doesn't move an inch. On the contrary, she keeps her gaze on his.
OWEN : That's what I'm saying, an ungrateful girl who quickly forgot where she came from.
And as Owen gets a little closer, he starts to circle Brooke.
BROOKE : Refresh my memory... Where exactly do I come from?
That's when Brooke sees the reflection of a silver blade shining in Owen's right hand.
OWEN : Kill it, darling, you were nothing before me. I initiated you, I offered you a life filled with adrenaline and intensity... And you... Is this how you thank me? By betraying me and cheating on me with the first person who comes along...?
Her hand rises and Owen brings the metal blade up to Brooke's eye level... She shivers without showing anything. Smiling with an almost demonic grin, Owen caresses the edge of the tear with his thumb. Brooke holds her breath and courageously maintains the visual contact even if she liquefies from the inside. But she can't help but jump when the cold metal comes into contact with her skin and rests under her neck.
OWEN : Don't move, honey, you might hurt yourself... That's not part of my plan! But I see that a part of you still enjoys the danger, the thrill and the dizziness of a certain exaltation...
It's at this moment that the doorknob of the room turns slowly and silently. Finally! But when the door opens a crack, Owen is already behind Brooke and tightens his grip by bringing the blade closer to her throat. When Lucas looks up, his face goes pale in a half-second but his eyes are fixed on Brooke's, worried.
LUCAS : ...
OWEN : Close that door immediately! Lock it!
LUCAS : And you, let go of it right now!
OWEN : I don't think you're in a position to negotiate, Father. Shut that lock and lower your voice when you speak!
Lucas clenches his fists in anger but complies, all too aware of the danger he's exposing Brooke to if he doesn't obey.
LUCAS : Even with the door locked from the inside, you have no chance of getting out of this, you little shit...
OWEN : Well, that depends on your point of view... At least things are finally getting a little interesting... I could hurt Brooke so much that your instinct to save will make you run to her when I run away.
The atmosphere is heavy and suffocating, although Brooke trusts Lucas, she fears the final outcome.
LUCAS : That's what I thought...
OWEN : Enlighten us, Father... What did you think?
LUCAS : That you were just a coward who preferred to attack women rather than face an opponent of his height!
Owen reacts to Lucas' provocation, he crushes Brooke a little more with his forearm against him, furious.
OWEN : You hear that, sweetheart, your new guy underestimates you... Soon he'll say that you're a defenseless little thing... You'll admit that he doesn't know you well, baby...
His hot breath warms Brooke's neck but this sensation and his contact on her skin disgust her and paralyze her. Brooke feels her pulse beating in her jugular and she tries to control the unconscious movements of her ribcage. Owen, already very close to her, brings his nose a little closer to her skin. Brooke is no longer able to fight.
OWEN : Mmmmmh, I almost forgot how good you smell. Isn't it, Father, that she smells good...?
LUCAS : ...
Brooke decides to slightly shift her neck to clear access for him, Owen takes the opportunity to inhale more deeply. Suddenly, and without thinking too much, she violently headbutts him with the back of her skull. The noise that accompanies the shock freezes Brooke's blood and the pain in the back of her head is not long in making itself felt. Owen, surprised, pulls away by reflex and Brooke knew she had to act as quickly as possible. He still holds his weapon.
OWEN : You bitch!
With a new blow filled with anger and despair, Brooke hits his stomach with her elbow, with all her strength.
BROOKE : You're the one who underestimates me, Owen!
They have to act quickly, Lucas joins Brooke in no time. Owen is slightly bent but not yet on the ground... Lucas' first reflex is to drop the bladed weapon on the ground by hitting his hand with a powerful kick. Caught in a hurry, Owen is already pointing his fist at Lucas when he kicks the knife as far as possible with his foot. Lucas moves to avoid the strike and takes the opportunity to grab the wrist of Owen's outstretched arm intended to hit him. With his other hand, Lucas grabs the shoulder of Brooke's ex and squeezes his strong fingers hard on his shoulder blades. It is then that loud knocks are heard at the door, then Mr. Davis' voice echoes behind it.
MR DAVIS : Brooke! Open up! What's going on?
In a quick and almost easy movement despite Owen's resistance, Lucas pivots and spins Owen with him.
BROOKE : Nothing, Dad! Everything's fine! Go away!
MR DAVIS : No way! I won't leave until I see with my own eyes that you're okay!
Owen, still furious but unable to effectively counter Lucas' confident gestures, finds himself with his back against Lucas. The two men are in the same position as the one in which Owen was holding Brooke prisoner just before. Lucas nods to Brooke not to open the door to her father. She understands why... For her safety on the one hand. But also because she would be forced to tell her father everything... Lucas would lose his cover and would be in big trouble.
This time, it's Lucas' arm around Owen's neck that blocks his chest, almost preventing him from moving. Lucas tightens the pressure, forcing Owen to tilt backwards. Owen raises both hands to try to free himself. Lucas' second arm wedges itself between his chin and the bottom of Owen's neck, thus avoiding his attempted blows. Lucas pushes his arm forward, which makes Owen's neck lean towards his own chest. Brooke watches them, paralyzed.
LUCAS : I strongly advise you to avoid moving because if I tighten my grip again, I could paralyze you for life...
Brooke watches Lucas more particularly, speechless. The mobster in front of her has bulging eyes with anger. She begins to panic, especially since her father's calls have stopped... Where did he go? Find help?
Although he has his opponent completely under control, Lucas still seems unsure of what to do with him.
BROOKE : What are you going to do with him, Lucas?
LUCAS : If I decide to apply more pressure, the blood flow to his brain will start to decrease... Either I put him to sleep and he'll be unconscious, or I kill him, Brooke.
BROOKE : Don't kill him! You promised me you weren't... Not a murderer anymore, Lucas. And I trust you. Don't break that trust and don't ruin your life for him, or mine at the same time...
Lucas seems to hesitate, Owen moans in pain in his arms but more and more weakly.
LUCAS : But he will never be able to hurt you again at least...
BROOKE : But if you kill him, you and I will have no chance of being together... Definitely.
Slowly, Lucas finally releases Owen and without delay, he collapses limply on the floor.
LUCAS : Shit, Brooke, you're hurt!
Her eyes fixed on the base of her neck, Brooke brought her fingers closer and came into contact with the viscous substance. She hadn't felt anything yet, so much adrenaline and stupor had kept her anesthetized. Suddenly, the shock of the injury and the throbbing pain at the back of her skull hit Brooke full force. She fainted, also unconscious... The last thing she heard was Lucas' voice...
LUCAS : Brooke! Brooke! Stay with me, damn it!