d like acid on Te

ou've done. A

t. Just eight words that fel

her knuckles turned pale. The sunlight that had poured into the penthouse moments ag

round to know it. She could feel the heat of his stare,

lower this time, more cau

ered the phone slightly. "

id calmly, stepping

ng far more dangerous, controlled. Like he already knew the

face him slowly,

he said, barely able to push the words out. "It says

ut she saw the subtle flicker behi

ow

t, read the message silently, then tapped the screen a few times. No traceable nam

s come throug

st

nd you're sure you don'

this," she said, the

s met hers, and she could tell, he wasn't just thinking about who had s

y, "what exactly did you

uestion had struck her. Her

ark. I left my life.

don't get cryptic texts like this because you changed

The truth sat like

o things I didn't know about. Shady investments. Ga

"And they think y

know anything until it was too late. When I tried to leave, I starte

ning would solve it?

aring in her chest. "My parents were furious. Everyone I

into the room like broken g

tared

time since she met him, she saw something flicker in his express

d finally. "We

peated, her

ot alone

king down the property. Security was doubled at every entrance. Tessa wasn't allowed to leave the penthouse. Her phone wa

the bed, watching the

llow me here," she whispered

he said simply. "They foun

ply. She just nodded, tryin

, his shoulder ba

said. "They use fear. They test how far you'

me for you?" she ask

tant. "They won't

a beat o

now who it is yet

ow what they are. And I

way he said it. A darkness s

s stretching endlessly below. She could barely think. Could

room behind her

d?" she ask

behind h

ppoin

N

y to face him, h

ou feeling right

her, stopping

ve," he s

blin

ust about a runaway bride. Someone doesn't want you to disappear q

s voice hit somethi

hy you're defending me

ed a reason

his forehead resting

ne now," h

moment stretched,

cut through

through the inter

have a si

sed. "Wh

ugh the perimeter

blood

appened at once. He turned, storming toward the hallw

leapt into her

as alrea

the penthouse wa