lla

artment, the heavy curtains drawn until the r

the bed, my hands wrappe

inside me. It did not feel like a m

ne back on, the screen flare

calls. Ninety-three

rom P

apologies. But as the hours passe

sage had arrived

right? Do not make a mis

threw the phone across the b

at frozen in the wait

lentlessly above my head, castin

could feel the dampness seeping

y glass doors of t

n inside, ga

s a mess, and her eyes were re

the corner, and rushed over, her m

," she pleaded, her voice c

ere?" I asked, a cold weig

digging painfully into my skin. "He told me

my chair. "Please, Stella. Do not u

her, a cold dread

n her eyes-a primal fear that had no

manded, my voice dropping t

next to me, burying her tear-stained face

e choked out. "The Syndicate withdrew their protection. Th

e facing ruin, Stella. The Commission is demanding a

ic felt as though they were closing

. "I need to use the restro

he front desk and pushed through the heavy metal

ng cold and smelled of d

tiff to bend properly. I had to press three times before I final

on the ver

ur tantrum?" his deep, smooth v

father's business?" I gritted ou

wed by the faint, distinct sni

s smo

e fire door, felt bloodless. Preston only eve

eplied, his tone infuriatingly calm. "You made it very clear you wante

tears of rage blurring my vision. "You

corrected softly. "Keep the child. St

that, and I will dispatch my men right now to secure your fathe

ay no?" my

returning to his tone, "I have no obligation to prot

e will face the Commission alone. And you k

, staring up at the harsh light bulb on the stairwell

I choked out, the words

ing silence stret

ction," Preston finally said, hi

g my forehead against th

d out of me, leaving behind not

er be tortured and murd

t word was spoken, I knew I could

you,

at, my voice shaking wi

ur world," he said smoothly, unfazed by my hatred. "Go home. My sol

ne wen

stinctively to cradle my stomach, its

stretched across my fac

d handle Serena. He

n cage settled over me, one da

ce mentioned th

at stairwell, I realized-he wa

er even co