#spring steel wire

[dpwires1998]

Top Steel Wire Manufacturers and Suppliers in India - Dp Wires

Dp Wires proudly stands as one of the top Steel Wire Manufacturers and suppliers in India, renowned for setting industry standards for reliability and quality. We not only lead the industry in the production of steel wires, but we also excel at providing a large selection of single-strand stainless steel wires.

Our products, which are carefully packaged in bundles or drums weighing 20 to 250 kg, are used in a wide range of industries, including the chemical, oil and gas, textile, machinery and pumping industries. Dp Wires guarantees excellent quality with finishes ranging from dull to bright drawn and shiny, making us the go-to option among those looking for dependable steel wire solutions in India.

For more information, Visit our site - Https://www.dpwires.co.in

[cxsteelwirerope]

Steel Wire,Galvanized wire,Stainless Steel Wire,Oile Temper Wire Nantong chenxiang China Factory

https://cxsteelwirerope.com

Nantong Chenxiang New Materials Co., Ltd.

[dh5ryxhgbctgr]

Global Sedan And Hatchback Oil Tempered Spring Steel Wire Market Analysis and Future Scenario Report 2024 - 2031

The global market for oil tempered spring steel wire, specifically for sedans and hatchbacks, is evolving due to advancements in automotive manufacturing and increasing demand for lightweight, durable materials. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the market dynamics, trends, challenges, and future prospects.

Overview of the Oil Tempered Spring Steel Wire Market

The global oil tempered spring steel wire market for sedans and hatchbacks is poised for growth, supported by advancements in automotive technology and a focus on performance. While challenges such as raw material price volatility

What is Oil Tempered Spring Steel Wire?

Oil tempered spring steel wire is a high-carbon steel wire that has been processed through oil tempering, a heat treatment process that enhances its strength, flexibility, and fatigue resistance. This type of wire is commonly used in the automotive industry, particularly for manufacturing suspension springs, which are critical for vehicle performance and safety.

Historical Context

The use of spring steel wire in automotive applications dates back to the early days of vehicle manufacturing. With advancements in metallurgical processes and engineering, oil tempered spring steel wire has become a preferred choice for modern vehicles, offering superior performance compared to conventional materials.

Market Dynamics

Key Drivers

Growing Automotive Industry: The increasing production of sedans and hatchbacks globally is driving demand for high-quality spring steel wire. As more consumers opt for these vehicle types, manufacturers are focusing on optimizing performance components.

Technological Advancements: Innovations in steel manufacturing processes have led to the development of more efficient and resilient oil tempered spring steel wire, making it more appealing to automotive manufacturers.

Focus on Lightweight Materials: The automotive industry is increasingly focused on reducing vehicle weight to improve fuel efficiency and performance. Oil tempered spring steel wire offers a lightweight yet strong solution, making it a popular choice.

Challenges

Volatility in Raw Material Prices: The prices of raw materials used in the production of spring steel wire, such as iron and carbon, can be volatile, affecting overall production costs.

Competition from Alternative Materials: The market faces competition from alternative materials like composite springs and aluminum, which may offer specific advantages in certain applications.

Regulatory Compliance: Stringent regulations regarding automotive safety and environmental standards can pose challenges for manufacturers, requiring ongoing investment in compliance measures.

Market Segmentation

By Vehicle Type

Sedans: The sedan segment is a major contributor to the oil tempered spring steel wire market, as these vehicles require robust suspension systems to ensure ride comfort and safety.

Hatchbacks: With increasing popularity among consumers, hatchbacks are also driving demand for high-quality spring steel wire, particularly in urban markets.

By Application

Suspension Springs: The primary application of oil tempered spring steel wire is in the manufacturing of suspension springs, essential for vehicle stability and comfort.

Other Automotive Components: Beyond suspension springs, oil tempered spring steel wire is used in various automotive components, including seat frames and tensioning devices.

By Region

North America: The North American market is characterized by a strong automotive industry and high demand for sedans and hatchbacks, driving the need for quality spring steel wire.

Europe: Europe is home to several leading automotive manufacturers, making it a significant market for oil tempered spring steel wire, particularly in the premium vehicle segment.

Asia-Pacific: Rapid urbanization and increasing vehicle ownership in countries like China and India are propelling growth in the Asia-Pacific region, making it a key market for spring steel wire.

Competitive Landscape

Key Players

United States Steel Corporation: A leading manufacturer of steel products, U.S. Steel produces a range of oil tempered spring steel wires for automotive applications.

KISWIRE Ltd.: Based in South Korea, KISWIRE is a prominent player in the spring steel wire market, known for its high-quality products and innovative manufacturing processes.

Spring Wire Company: This company specializes in the production of various types of spring wire, including oil tempered options, catering to diverse automotive needs.

Recent Developments

The oil tempered spring steel wire market is witnessing innovations aimed at enhancing product performance. Manufacturers are investing in research and development to improve the properties of spring steel wire, focusing on factors such as corrosion resistance and tensile strength.

Future Outlook

Growth Projections

The global oil tempered spring steel wire market for sedans and hatchbacks is expected to experience steady growth over the next few years. The increasing production of vehicles and the push for lightweight materials will continue to drive demand.

Emerging Trends

Sustainability Initiatives: As the automotive industry shifts towards more sustainable practices, manufacturers of oil tempered spring steel wire are likely to adopt eco-friendly production methods and materials.

Integration of Smart Technologies: The incorporation of smart technologies in vehicles is anticipated to influence the design and manufacturing processes of automotive components, including springs.

Customization and Performance Optimization: The trend towards custom vehicle designs may lead to increased demand for specialized oil tempered spring steel wire tailored to specific performance requirements.

Conclusion

The global oil tempered spring steel wire market for sedans and hatchbacks is poised for growth, supported by advancements in automotive technology and a focus on performance. While challenges such as raw material price volatility and competition from alternative materials exist, the overall outlook remains positive. As the industry continues to evolve, the demand for high-quality, durable, and lightweight spring steel wire will likely increase, shaping the future of automotive manufacturing.

[julang-company]

The 25th China (Guangzhou) Int'l Spring Industry Exhibition which is primarily concerned with the various types of spring products, spring materials, wire forming machines, spring equipment and accessories, spring testing instruments.Guangzhou international spring industry exhibition is a very famous event which has increasing popularity every year. The exhibitors and visitors numbers are increasing rapidly in event. The exhibitors will be mainly presenting the advanced equipment and latest technologies on spring and wire products and materials. This event is a very lucrative ground for the exhibitors to expand their business.

[mcneilinstruments]

Best Spring Steel HCHT Wire Mesh Manufacturer, Supplier and Exporter in India - Mcneil Instrument

The best spring steel HCHT Wire Mesh Manufacturer, Supplier and Exporter in India is Mcneil Instrument. Made with international quality standards and raw materials, Spring Steel Wire Mesh is largely used for separating, sizing, filtering, crushing, grading, metallurgy, mining, ceramic and civil engineering industries. It comes quite handy for making protective covers for the machines since the welding points remain intact even when the mesh is cut into parts. It i usually made using Galvanized Steel Wire. All our products are designed and developed using high-grade raw material and latest technology to ensure that final output meets with international quality norms & standards. Moreover, we check all products on various parameters to assure zero defect. Contact McNeil Instrument today to discuss your Spring Steel HCHT Wire Mesh requirements. Let us be your trusted partner in delivering quality solutions that elevate your projects to new heights.

[jonejasteel]

Steel Bar Manufacturers in Delhi, india

Bright Bars and Wires: Cold Drawn Bars, Peeled Bars, Ground Bars, Shaped Profile Bars, CHQ Wires. Shapes Wires & profile, Spring Steel Wires. HB/HHB Wires, Stainless Steel Fine Wires,

Hydraulic Cylinders: Hydraulic Lift Cylinder, Loader Hydraulic Cylinders, Welded Hydraulic Cylinders, Tie Rod Hydraulic Cylinder, Single & Double Acting Hydraulic Cylinder,

Precision Auto Components: Precision Turned Components, Forged Components, Fasteners, Dowel Pins, Spacers, FIP Components, Retainers, Coupling Assembly, Equalizer Shaft and Balancer Shafts, Hydraulic & Pneumatic Parts, Stainless Steel Fittings, Stainless Steel Bars, Aluminium Cup Washers, Aluminium Parts, Sheet Metal Parts, Wheel Nuts& Bolts, Slave Nuts and Bolts, Nozzle Nuts and many more Precision Components as per customer’s drawing.

At JSG we manufactures diversified range of Cold Drawn Bright Steel Bars classified according to various sizes and tolerances, in round, flat, square, hexagonal and octagonal varieties.

For us the quality of Surface Finish, Toughness, Straightness, and Packing are paramount. By way of meeting the customer specific requirements, our bar products offer good formability, machine-ability and weld-ability.

JSG also has offline Ultrasonic Inspection System for detecting the sub surface defects with crack detection in the final process application , we improvise and modernize our processes and product technology continuously.

[wire-smith-crafts]

IT SPINS! Handmade electric motor! Entirely out of wire! They said it couldn't be done, but I have proven -- it merely shouldn't be done!

Photos don't really capture how ridiculously complicated this thing was to build, so I managed to film myself assembling the components too! Very proud of that.

In total, I've been working on this project on and off for roughly two years. This motor is my third version, though I went through something like seven designs of the commutator section (not counting how many failures it took to build a working example of a given design). I'm very proud of getting this to work at all.

Some close-up photos of all the components:

Six-way commutator. As the motor spins, this delivers electricity to only the correct pair of magnets at a time, leaving the other four off.

Magnet coils. I wound these by hand from very thin insulated wire. The center is a spiral of thicker insulated wire (darker orange) that protects the thin stands from the steel core and then wraps around the outside to hold everything in place.

Spring-loaded arms. These deliver electricity from the stationary frame into the rotating axle. They also have to hinge up out of the way or else there's no room to fit the rotor in place during assembly.

All the components laid out together before assembly.

And the full motor in all its glory!

[jaysteels]

Nickel 200 Wire Mesh Supplier in India Jay Steel Corporation

We are a genuine supplier of Nickel 200 Wire Mesh. Click to see our ready stock of Nickel 200 Wire Mesh at lowest possible price. Wire Mesh, Hexagonal Wiremesh, Welding Wiremesh, Netting Wiremesh, Woven Wiremesh, Spring Steel Wire mesh, Fencing Wiremesh.  Visit our website to know more.  Nickel 200 wire mesh ready stock in India.

[banarswalawirecrafts-blog]

We started our journey in the year 2004. When we were at startup level we learned very early what will make us a successful. Today the recipe is still the same and ever since we have always remained in that stage. Ever evolving. It has been a wonderful journey of manufacturing & supplying Perforated Sheets, SS Wire Mesh, Vibrating screen, Woven Wiremesh and a wide range of screen cloth demister pads, expanded metal sheets. We thank all who have patronized us in our early stages.

http://www.banaraswalawirecrafts.com/

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1930 Ford Highboy Coupe

There’s always lots of detail work with any build and this ’30 Ford highboy coupe is no exception. Look closely and you will find Craftworks Fabrication handmade steel motor mounts. The license plate and valve covers were painted by Jeremy Seanor of Luckystrike Designs. He also painted all the accompanying engine and tranny parts. The powdercoat was handled by Pittsburgh Powder Coat while the chrome plating was conducted by Jon Wright’s Custom Chrome Plating.

The chassis is comprised of a Roadster Shop custom frame that was stepped, stretched, and features contoured ’32 Ford-style framerails. It was also then boxed, capped, and has hole punch flared front framehorns. From here the frame is outfitted with a Super Bell 4-inch drop, drilled and plated I-beam axle, low-profile monoleaf spring with Ridetech tubular shocks paired to custom-made drilled billet radius rods from Johnson’s Hot Rod Shop. Steering falls to the Flaming River box and a LimeWorks Hot Rod column topped with a four-spoke Billet Specialties Sprint Car–style leather-wrapped wheel. In back there’s a Currie 9-inch rearend outfitted with 3.70 gears, 31-spline axles, QA1 coilovers, a Pete & Jakes Panhard bar, and a parallel four-link setup. Braking is a combination of disc/drum front to rear. The forward braking dark gray–painted Wilwood Dynalite calipers are neatly hidden behind the Pete & Jakes finned backing plates. While in back the 9-inch is outfitted with 11-inch brakes, this time hidden beneath the SO-CAL Speed Shop finned drums all the while the chassis rides on a full set of 16-inch Dayton wire wheels wrapped with Coker/Excelsior rubber measuring 5.50R16 in front and 7.00R18 in the back.

All hot rods have something fun settled between the ’rails and beneath the hood (well if they have a hood). In the case of our ’30 Ford highboy coupe it sure appears to be a vintage Ford Y-block but after more than a cursory look we begin to see the telltale signs that there’s something more. Indeed, while it may look like a Ford it truly is a 376-inch LSX iron block, with aluminum heads and ARP studs, plus adapter-equipped small-block Ford (Windsor) valve covers all from Don Hardy Race Cars and then assembled by Talik and Marc Mullin. The intake is an Edelbrock LS dual quad with a pair of Thunder AVS EnduraShine carbs dressed in OTB air cleaners. Delivering the gas from the Tanks stainless reservoir is an Earl’s Performance billet fuel pump. More engine accessories include an MSD 6AL box to go along with the MSD billet Ford small-block distributor that functions through a timing cover adapter from Chevrolet Performance all the while using an MSD coil and Lokar vintage plug wires. Powermaster also supplied the alternator and starter, the battery is an XS Power AGM, and a Wegner Motorsports water pump is used as well as a Wegner front accessory drive unit. This 500-plus hp V-8 utilizes custom headers made at Craftworks Fabrication based on Ultimate Headers LS header flanges. The pseudo-Ford small-block is backed up to a TCI StreetFighter 700-R4 with a 2,800-stall speed converter operated by a Lokar shifter. The trans cooler comes by way of Derale Performance and moves the power through a 3-inch-diameter custom-made driveshaft.

[dpwires1998]

Discover the Best steel wire manufacturers - DP Wire

Discover unparalleled quality and reliability with DP Wire, one of the leading steel wire manufacturers in the industry. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, DP Wire stands out as a trusted name in providing high-quality steel wire products for a diverse range of applications. As one of the best steel wire manufacturers, DP Wire employs cutting-edge technology and stringent quality control measures to ensure that every product meets the highest standards of performance and durability. For more information, click on the given link - https://www.dpwires.co.in/understanding-lrpc-strands-a-comprehensive-overview-with-dp-wires/

[fab-bladesmith]

A Sidesword, in a late XVth century style.

This one draws most of its inspiration from the artwork of Luca Signorelli in the years 1494-1498, though the grip wrap was suggested by a fresco in the San Donnino church in the parish of Villamagna in Bagno a Ripoli, near Florence.

Spring steel blade, with etched and gold-plated ricasso and fuller, and gold plated crossguard and pommel - the latter being hollow. The grip is leather over a wooden core, with gold-plated copper wire on top.

Inscriptions in the fullers read " AVE MARIA REGINA" on one side, and "MORIOR CAEDO MALUM" on the other - those who know will know.

The style of the etchings was inspired by the Boar Sword of Philip the Fair kept at the Kunsthistorischesmuseum

It is 997 mm long, with a 864 mm long, 32 mm wide blade, 4.5 mm thick at one base. The cross span is 268 mm. Weight is a mere 729 grams, with a point of balance 16 cm from the cross that still gives it a nice authority in the cut and in the bind.

Currently at forty one hundred units in the European system.

[breelandwalker]

Witchcraft Exercise - Spring Cleaning

There’s a marked tradition of cleaning and airing out the house in the springtime when the weather warms. As you’re dusting and tidying and getting rid of winter stagnation, take some time to do the same with your craft.

Clean and organize your workspace. If you have an altar space or a shelf where you keep bottles and jars and the like, remove everything from the surface and give it a good dusting. Take the opportunity to rearrange things or swap out pieces if it suits you. If you have ritual tools that don’t often get cleaned, check them for signs or rust or wear and give them a bit of love. Repair things that need fixing, if you can. If you have an iron cauldron that you use for fire magic, get a wire brush or some steel wool and gently remove any burnt residue left inside.

Sort through your supplies. If you have lots of candles and crystals and small items laying about, consider getting some small totes or craft organizers to keep things tidy. Divided storage boxes for beads or scrapbooking supplies are great for small items, and shoebox-sized caddies are perfect for taper, chime, and votive candles. Organizing things will make your space easier to navigate and also gives you a proper idea of what you have on hand. Which might help you resist impulse purchases the next time you’re out shopping for witchcraft supplies. While you’re tidying, be sure to discard any rubbish, candle stubs, wax blobs, herb scraps, bits of string, incense bases, and so forth that might be cluttering up the place. 

Discard things that are too old or worn to be useful. Dried plants and seasonings can usually be kept for 1-3 years if they remain in sealed containers. If they have no scent anymore or smell musty or mildewy, discard them and sanitize the container. If you’re using supermarket spices, you can use the expiration date on the container as a guide. Powdered material will likely last longer than whole herbs or cut-and-sifted material. One helpful tip is to put a purchase date on packets or bags of herbs when you buy them, or to put a little date sticker on your jars of herbs when you refill them. (Anyone who’s worked in food service will probably be familiar with the concept of container dating or day-dotting.)

If you make oils or tinctures or suchlike in your practice, check on these as well. Make sure nothing has gone off or lost its’ potency. Day-dotting your potion containers will help with this as well. A simple sticker with the name of the brew and the date it was bottled will help you keep track of your supplies and know when something needs to be tossed and replaced. (You can also print labels with the ingredients and purpose of the brew if you’re feeling super organized.)

Reorganize your books and resources. Review what's there and see if there are any materials that need to be weeded out, donated, or discarded. Remember that as you grow and progress, some things will become obsolete or may show themselves to be unhelpful or inaccurate. It's okay to remove things from your resource library that no longer serve you if you want to make some space on the shelves.

You can also cleanse your workspace and/or components while you’re tidying if you wish. It doesn’t have to be a full clean-slate-everything-must-go cleansing, but it can be helpful to just clear out stagnation or bring in some freshness and vitality.

Happy Witching! 🧼

Want more witchcraft exercises? Check out the masterpost here and visit my shop for spell kits, books, magical powders, and more!

(If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, tune in to my monthly show Hex Positive on your favorite podcast app, or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

[julang-company]

2025 China(Guangzhou) Int'l Platemetal, Bar, Wire, Metal Processing &Setting Equipment Exhibition will be held during to 10-12 May 2025 at the China import & export fair Pazhou complex.A lot of valuable products might be displayed. Such as Wire rod, stainless steel wire rod, spring wire rod,color steel plate,galvanization plate,coat plate,sheet metal,Steel mesh,Board cutting equipment,Machinery for metal processing,testing machine for metal materials,related products and equipment.

[coldresolve]

Moneymakers, pt.li // Risk

Previous / AO3 / Wattpad / Masterlist / Next

Conrad jolts awake when the door he’s propped up against pops open, sliding away from him. He leans sideways until the cuffs grate harshly against bruises, letting out a groan. Left and right are hard to differentiate as Davin crouches down next to him, looking uncharacteristically exhausted.

“Shit took a turn, hm? Sorry to keep you waiting.”

As if Conrad has a clue how long it’s been. He finds it hard not to grimace when Davin brings the knife to his hands, even if he knows it’s just to cut the zip ties. His voice is still distant, rough. “Is he…?”

“Renee?”

Conrad nods.

Davin shrugs a shoulder. “He’s still got most of his organs. Decent start, all things considered.”

Once the ties are cut, he unlocks the cuffs, one after the other. Pocketing steel as he turns Conrad’s hands over to gauge the abrasions in his skin. Whatever heat remained in the car is quick to seep out, making the air icy. Davin ushers him forward, and he follows along with sluggish, unsteady movements, finds himself already exhausted by the time he swings his legs out the door.

“Do you think you can walk? We’re not in a rush this time.”

Conrad shakes his head, blinking hazily at the concrete floor.

Maybe it’s obvious, because Davin pauses to look at him, then touches his cheek and forehead with a hand that feels painfully cold. A line appears by his nose when he shakes his head. “It just keeps getting better.”

The garage is foreign, but it connects to a narrow hallway he vaguely recognizes. It’s a colorful home, almost cozy if you disregard the strong smell of disinfectant hanging in the air. Pain is constant in Davin’s arms, something Conrad has to bite to avoid making noises about – the arm pressing into the bruises on his back makes it hard to breathe, or think.

He doesn’t get more than a glimpse of the first room, but it imprints itself in his mind. All spent tissues, thin metal tools discarded, clear tubes hanging disconnected from IV stands. There’s blood on the floor. A lot of it, or maybe it just looks like that because shoeprints have smeared it around. It looks like something horrific happened, but Davin doesn’t even pause. Instead he silently pushes the second door open with his back

Conrad’s eyes are drawn by memory to the wallpapers first, thin vertical stripes of red, white and yellow. A bed lines either side of the room: one he remembers lying in, while the other isn’t more than a mattress on a foldable frame, a couple feet closer to the ground than the other.

Renee is lying on his back, unconscious and naked apart from a cloth that covers his crotch. Part of his face is obscured by blue plastic connecting the hose of a machine to a thick tube that disappears between his teeth. An IV in his left hand and the crook of the elbow, sticky pads on his chest, an armband of gray nylon, and a clamp on his finger all connect wires to different devices held by . A set of clear tubes have been sewn into the skin of his stomach, draining blood into two bottles at his side. Apart from bruising, old and new, those are the only visible injuries on his abdomen; the rest is covered with white gauze, folded and taped down on an area that covers far more than the wound Conrad saw in the car.

A man stands leaning over one of Renee’s hands, dark fingers carefully running over one side of his palm, feeling out the bones underneath. His profile is vaguely familiar, as is the diligence in the way he moves. He doesn’t look up when Davin carries Conrad to the opposite bed, just nods in the direction of one of the displays. “Already fighting the vent, though I don’t reckon he’ll be back until tonight.”

Davin sighs. “Late shift, hm?”

“Should’ve timed it better,” the man chuckles.

The mattress is thin enough that Conrad feels the springs underneath. The smell of detergent blooms from the covers. As he gets settled, body aching, he draws his legs up, wrapping his hands around his ankles.

His focus is drawn to Renee compulsively, deadlocked.

The mechanical, even rise and fall of his chest, the stillness of his face, not just unnatural for him, but unnatural, period. His hand isn’t clenched or shaking, but is instead limply steered by the man lining up a fracture. No sign of pain even at that. No grin, no sneer, no frown. Just closed eyes and pale, scratched skin. Someone must’ve cleaned him up, but missed a spot behind his ear, a patch of either dirt or dried blood about the size of a quarter.

It doesn’t feel fair to picture him as a ticking bomb threatening to explode the moment he goes back to normal, even if Conrad can’t shake that feeling. Renee doesn’t look like a torturer right now. He just looks injured, and it messes with Conrad’s head, like a tapestry flipped to expose the knots that allow it to be.

Davin taps his shoulder with a glass of water. His other hand is cupped, obscuring its contents.

“Wh…?”

“Painkillers,” Davin says. “If you want them, anyway.”

Conrad is still for a moment before he reaches out, letting Davin pour the pills into his cupped hand. He tilts them all into his mouth in one go, taking the glass as the film begins to dissolve. He drinks all of it, although it doesn’t fully wash away the bitter taste.

The dark-skinned man has turned to watch him. He hesitates before offering a careful smile. “Do you remember me?”

Conrad moves his tongue in his mouth, eyes faltering to the ground. “I don’t remember your name.”

“That’s alright. I’m Shaun.”

He shifts. Different thoughts float around his head, things he might’ve said if he weren’t too fatigued to make an attempt at confrontation. Instead he murmurs out a half-hearted, “Okay,” and leaves it at that.

Shaun doesn’t ask his name in return. He doesn’t say anything, in fact, just nods and eventually returns to strapping two of Renee’s fingers to a splint. 

The silence resettles. Davin sinks into a chair by the wall, sitting for a long time with his elbows on his knees as if thinking, before he leans back, head against the wall, closing his eyes. Quietly, Shaun works on lesser injuries, a couple lacerations here and there too deep to leave alone.

And Conrad watches that perfectly even rate of each inhale and exhale, listens to the rhythmic hiss of the machine pushing air into paralyzed lungs.

It has occurred to him that Renee might’ve been broken long before that first night, but being presented with it this brazenly following another night of terror at his hands is nauseating in a way he can’t fully put words to. It’s cosmic. It expands beyond everything that has happened between the two of them, touches at some universal fact Conrad isn’t entirely sure he has the stomach to grapple with. That maybe the only thing separating their suffering is the degree of complicity.

Maybe the only real question is how far back one could trace Renee’s self-destruction, how many lies he might conceivably have told himself before the cracks began to form.

Closed eyes, mechanical breathing.

In the beginning, Renee would order him to beg – only to lash out in anger whenever he finally did.

Conrad feels faint.

He’s been so wrapped up in the spiral of thoughts that he hasn’t noticed a third person entering the room. A woman has walked past Davin to a low side table near the foot of Renee’s bed. Her back is turned as she filters through a basket of different vials in search of something specific, tight curls wrapped in a low ponytail, a beige cardigan swaying when she moves.

Something happens when she turns around, and Conrad’s only warning is the subtly sharp look Davin has levelled at her. She lets out a small gasp when her gaze locks with Conrad’s.

“Oh, dear,” she breathes.

From Renee’s side, Shaun reaches out as if to stop her, but she has already crossed the room, crouching down in front of Conrad. He catches the silent grimace on Shaun’s face when he closes his hand around empty air.

“I didn’t know we had someone else coming in,” the woman murmurs. Conrad stiffens when she brushes a curl from his forehead, taking in the injuries to his face. “You poor thing, you look so sad. What h—”

When she takes his hand, he instinctively reels back a little, and it makes her look. He follows her gaze to nail beds that have calloused in the absence, and the scar on the back of his hand that dips in. Half hidden by his sleeve are the abrasions on his wrists, scabs formed across the thin skin. Weeks of metal wearing it down.

“Imani,” Shaun says gently.

Conrad mirrors the woman’s wide eyes, the same uncertainty. She looks up, and this time, she tilts his head to get a better look at the side of his face that isn’t bruised and swollen. Lips parted, she takes a deep breath, as if steeling herself. “Shaun, this is the boy they’ve been talking about.”

Picking dirt from his nails, Davin glances up without raising his head. “Who?”

Imani braces a hand on the mattress to look over her shoulder. “How is he here?” she asks. “Why in the world would he be with you?”

Davin narrows his eyes. “I’m not sure I understand the question.”

“Are you toying with me?” She lets out an incredulous breath. With a light squeeze to Conrad’s hand, she gets to her feet to face Davin, crossing her arms. “Tell me what’s going on.”

He snorts. “What happened to client discretion, hm?”

“You’re more than a client and you know it,” she says, voice low, but there’s a hint of frustration in it now.

Maybe Conrad is reading too much into it, but she stands between him and Davin with her feet apart, like a barrier, a shield, and it makes his throat tighten.

“Don’t you dare act like I’m being unreasonable, Kit. Answer my question.”

“Imani,” Shaun says again.

“No, look at him!” she hisses. “Look at him, Shaun, look at his hands. Don’t tell me you can’t see what that is.”

Through a vision rapidly blurring, Conrad can discern the accusatory note not just in her voice, but in the way she gestures – pointing, feet apart, chin up.

“Was he here the last time? Did you know?”

Shaun winces. “Imani, we can’t.”

Shaking her head, Imani rubs her shoulder. She nods at Renee’s bed. “Is he involved in it, too?”

As the first trace of wetness rolls down Conrad’s face, he shudders. He can barely breathe, let alone squeeze words out without his voice breaking. It’s barely audible, even to himself. “H-he—”

“Maybe you’re right.”

Davin speaks up evenly, catching Imani’s gaze as her attention snaps back to him.

“That I’m not just a client, I mean. If that’s the case, all I can ask is for you to trust me to the same extent I trusted you and your husband by coming here. Twice, in his case. You share some risk simply by us being here, and I’m sorry to have put you in this situation, but my partner was dying, and I had nowhere else to go.” His eyes drift toward Conrad, as if by chance, before his focus returns to Imani and his tone drops. “This is just not the sort of thing you want to insert yourself into.”

As Conrad grits his teeth to suppress a whine, Imani shakes her head again, slower this time. “Are you behind this? Did you…?”

“I’m not going to answer your questions, Imani.”

Shaun clears his throat, carefully putting his hand on her shoulder. “Maybe it’s a good idea if you and I talked in private,” he mutters low.

She takes a deep breath, still looking at Davin. “I can’t just leave him with you if I don’t know...”

“I understand your concern,” Davin says. “I do, trust me. If it’s any consolation, his torturer is currently incapacitated.”

Imani’s shoulders drop. She looks at Renee’s bed again. Hesitates, perhaps having the same trouble visualizing his unconscious body as anything but wounded, in the same way Conrad just did.

He’s struggling to stay present again, fighting the draw of feeling nothing. The room slips in and out of focus.

“C’mon, honey, he’s upset. We’ll talk, alright?”

As Shaun gently guides his wife toward the door, the word wait tries to push its way past Conrad’s throat, but all that comes out is a low huff. He uncoils himself, leaning toward them, hands clawing at the bedsheets.

Imani says something, but he doesn’t hear it.

“Please, wait—”

The door is already closing when he finally manages to breathe the words out, and the only person who hears it is Davin.

Despite his captor’s lack of expression, when their eyes meet across the room, the meaning is clear.

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