o

he first t

that brushed against

tling into my bones like

, my vision struggling to adj

the faint smell of metal and som

s a c

e back in pieces. The drink, the d

the sharp pull around

ropes digging into my skin just enough to remind m

t random. This was planned. A

d with frustration.

ove this fast," Marcus said,

ew. It was sharper and colde

yes barely open as I listened. "They

t the leverag

d. Killed. Not

t, pushing past the shock, past the confusion

he has it," Marcus went on

't, then what? We

t, irritated exhale. "No. I'l

but the sound of his footsteps e

ys wake up faste

tood a few feet away, his phone stil

like the man I

me cracked but I

pite the ropes cutting into

dy. Marcus tilted his head slightl

it was going

lt worse. "You

d faintly, but h

tepping closer, "it was never going to

y it," I snapped, the an

there and act like this

ps. "Betrayal?" he echoed. "T

. "What is that s

laugh, but there

do you?" he said, runnin

end I didn't know who you were, to pretend I didn't see

nd then there was him." My che

me made something unea

uieter now. "I watched you try to build someth

t's

t in sharply.

was heavy and uncomfortable. "You ca

t ni

eath

ce?" he continued. "You

chest but it was quick

me," I shot back. "You don

at that. Like he was thinking

d to happen like thi

supposed to happe

that told me everything. My stom

my voice

he air between us. For a m

breath. "That's the pro

ed painfully. "I wasn't sup

job. A way in. A

ed onto mine.

soften anything.

it changes anything," I said q

d again. "I didn

"There's always a choice." Not in

followed felt hea

d closer. "Whe

n't r

ing about," he added, h

The password. The key t

in line. "I don't know wh

rrowed. "Do

peated. The lie sat

I would never give it

ad expected that answer. Then he

footsteps followed. My chest tightened

They were my father's men. The

od guard at tha

me went cold. "Mo

eny it. "Last c

er I had once felt for him

iet but final.

get hit, you'll know w

e and then, the f

ugh to snap my h

, but I didn't make a sound.

y body rocked with the force, the cha

d on the ropes, on the p

ents my father had drilled

Nyra. Control your mind,

red the sting, ignored

for a second, then

p and dangerous settled in

and then the

sitate. The moment the next man

his wrist, twisting shar

is grip, and I caught

hen a third. The sound echoed th

ilence

ven try. He just stood there, s

ed slowly, the gun steady in

y body ached. But my mind

until I stood righ

as I aimed directly at his ch