Page 107 of Unspoken Promises

My throat constricts holding back the jagged sob that builds there. It can’t be true. My code led to those hacks at GhostEye?

Father stares out of the large, glassless window into the night. “As if I wasn’t already pleased enough to have made a breach of any sort, to finally make progress on my years-long vendetta, my luck just kept on giving when that contest opened. It was the perfect opportunity.”

Despite my soul begging me not to, I let my gaze land on Anton. That’s why he was sent with me. To keep me under lock and key because I never broke free. I was allowed to go to GhostEye. He knew exactly what I did in all those hours in the library. A tear escapes. Anton’s betrayal crushes me. It might even hurt more than my mother’s because she never showed me so much affection as Anton did.

Nothing can hold me back screaming. “Enzo never did anything to you. All he did was defend his cousin. Who you killed!”

Father rushes to me and grabs me by the neck, squeezing until it’s hard to breathe. His breath is labored, struggling for control. “That’s where you’re wrong. Enzo stole mylife.”

Spit showers me as he speaks with venom.

“I lost my reputation, my family… my home…” He trembles with rage, and his nails bite at my skin. “And now I’m going to steal everything he cares about. Bit by bit…”

I dart my gaze over to Anton whose muscles are so taut he shakes.

Father lets go of me sharply and smooths his shirt as if regaining some sort of decency. He’s the ugliest person I have ever seen. And he’s mindless, too. Enzowillfind him.

“Enzo will take you down.” It’s my turn to let out a maniacal laugh. “You’re so done and you can’t even see it.”

He stares back out into space, his breath now steady, and he speaks as though he didn’t hear a word I said.

“Now you have everything I need to take down GhostEye.” He hums to himself, satisfied. “It would have been enough for you to help me ruin his company. It would destroy Enzo and give me the ultimate influence over my peers. They’ll all need me to continue doing business. But this is going to be even more fun than I thought. After GhostEye, I planned to take his precious family, just like he did to me. One by one.”

Flashes of those wonderful men back at the ranch go through my mind. Father has to be stopped.

“I couldn’t have known he’d fall for you.” His wicked gaze lands on me again. “It’s such a bonus for him to agonize over your departure.”

He comes to my side again and threads his fingers through my hair. He lowers his lips toward mine but then tugs so hard my head yanks back.

“You turned out so pretty once I started caring for you. Maybe I won’t kill you when I’m done with your boyfriend. Maybe you’ll serve a second purpose in my bedroom.”

“You’re a monster.” My voice is furious. Another tear burns my cheek.

He crouches again so he is face to face and takes the sides of my head in his hands. “There, there.” He kisses my wet cheek

Just then a cell beeps, and Father slides my phone out of his pocket. He puts it in front of my face. “Say cheese…” He swipes up to look at the text, mumbling to himself. “Amazing face recognition doesn’t need your eyes open to work. A flaw if you ask me.”

He opens my messages and arches an eyebrow. He shows me the phone.

ENZO

I’m here now, Sánchez. You got what you wanted.

A sinister smile smears across Father’s lips. “I’ve got a special delivery.”

My heart falls into my stomach with an ache so deep. It’s both beautiful and tragic Enzo wouldn’t let me go because he’s walking right into this man’s grasp. I’m sure Father would have brought men to surround the place. I have to believe Enzo knows what he’s doing. I have to believe I’ll see his face again and get a chance to tell him—I love him and he’s the only pure thing I’ve ever known in this world.

33

Dread soaksevery inch of my skin. I’m drowning. This can’t be. The world around me becomes smaller and smaller with every question I ask myself. What does Juan Sánchez want me?

Rio breaks me out of the spell I’m under.

“Zo?”

My whole body feels made of stone. I tell him what I found. “The man who has Ava is Diego’s killer.”

At first, my brother is too stunned to process. “Are you sure?”

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