Page 28 of Throttle All the Way

“What I am saying is that he has tried, and this is probably payback for my rejection. Or maybe he’s found her and is pushing me to give up Mila’s location. Either way I don’t know where she is and I need my girls protected.”

The tension in the room thickened as Sabrina’s words hung in the air. Her gaze shifted back to the window, the rain outsidecasting jagged shadows across her face. She looked untouchable, yet the tremor in her voice hinted at a deeper fear.

“Sheneeds to be protected,” Sabrina continued, her tone firm but laced with urgency. “If Yulian gets his hands on Mila, it won’t just be her life at stake. He’ll use her to send a message, one drenched in blood.”

I leaned forward, resting my forearms on the cold steel of her desk. The urge to shove past her words and pull the truth from her lips clawed at me, but I held back, forcing control into my voice. “If Mila’s safety is at risk, we need to know everything. No omissions. No half-truths. What exactly does Yulian want with her?”

Her sharp eyes pinned me, calculating whether I was someone she could trust—or just another threat to her carefully constructed empire. “He wants what he always wants—power, submission, control. Mila’s father was a powerful man, one who stood in Yulian’s way. His death didn’t end that grudge. If anything, it gave Yulian leverage.”

“And Mila’s his pawn,” Aiyana murmured, her voice quiet but cutting. “He’s using her to erase the last trace of her father’s legacy.”

Sabrina nodded, a small, reluctant movement. “Mila’s not just a pawn; she’s the prize. She’s strong, though. That girl’s been through hell and still managed to keep fighting. But that’s also what makes her dangerous—to herself and to anyone around her.”

I pressed, my voice dropping into a growl. “Why drag her into your world? Why use her?”

For a moment, Sabrina’s carefully maintained mask slipped. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and her fingers curled into fists against the desk. “I owe her father my life. He saved me when I was nothing more than a scared girl trying to survive. Hiding Mila was my way of repaying that debt. But even I couldn’t keepher safe forever, stubborn girl, not if Yulian keeps coming. She’s a beacon to him, and he’ll never stop.”

The storm outside raged harder, the thunder echoing through the sterile office. I met Sabrina’s gaze head-on, letting the weight of my words sink into her. “Then help us stop him. Give us what we need to find Yulian and end this.”

For the first time since we’d entered the room, Sabrina’s control wavered entirely. Her shoulders sagged, and the edge of vulnerability in her expression struck harder than any words could. “I don’t know where he is, if that’s what you’re asking. No one does. And even if they did, they’ll never tell you because their life matters more than your investigation. But I will tell you this, Detective. Yulian isn’t just a man you can kill. He’s a force. You cut off one head, and ten more grow back in its place. But I’ll tell you this—if you want to protect Mila, you’ll need to become the monster he fears.”

The silence that followed was suffocating, broken only by the steady patter of rain against the window. Sabrina’s final words hung like a noose around my neck, a promise of the darkness I’d have to embrace to keep Mila safe.

I stood, fists clenched, my mind already racing. Aiyana rose with me, her expression as grim as my own. As we turned to leave, Sabrina called out, her voice low but resolute. “Find her before he does. And Detective… don’t let him take her alive.”

Back in the truck,Aiyana glanced at me. “You know where she is, don’t you?”

I stared ahead, not responding.

Aiyana sighed. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Cipher.”

“I’ve been playing dangerous games my whole life,” I said, gripping the wheel.

“Bulldog is…”

“Bulldog has gone through enough with this shit. I don’t want his name being dragged into this again.” I glanced over at her. “And I trust you won’t tell him anything until we get this contained.”

“Is she really worth all this? Your patch?”

“Normally I’d tell you nothing is worth my patch. But this woman? This woman’s worth is beyond my patch. She’s worth my own life.”

The road stretched out before us, dark and endless, but my thoughts remained on Mila. I’d protect her, even if it meant burning everything else to the ground.

CIPHER

Mila had been pacing the small room like a caged animal, her movements sharp, restless. But the moment I stepped through the door, she froze, her eyes narrowing on me as if I were the enemy. Maybe she wasn’t wrong.

“Please, don’t stop on my account,” I said, leaning casually against the doorframe. My tone was light, but my guard was firmly up.

“I’m tired, Cipher,” she snapped, her voice low but carrying the weight of her frustration. “How long do I have to stay here?”

“As long as he’s out there, you stay put,” I replied evenly, knowing full well it wasn’t what she wanted to hear.

Her hands curled into fists at her sides before she took a deep breath, forcing herself to soften. “Can’t I just… walk the grounds? Please, Cipher,” she pleaded, stepping closer and grabbing my jacket. “Please don’t keep me locked up like he did.”

The crack in her voice hit me harder than I expected, but I held my ground. “I can’t trust that you won’t run away again.”

Her expression twisted with a mix of hurt and rebelliousness. “People are probably looking for me.”

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