Page 205 of Inferno

“Our daughter,” Declan corrects, softly.

The way Conan’s mouth drops open would be funny if this weren’t life and death.

Enzo sighs. “This just got complicated.”

“Are you sure she’s yours?” Finn asks Declan, his voice tight.

“Yes.”

Enzo turns to Declan. “Do you have Drago’s contact?”

Declan slides over his phone.

“What time?”

“Now.”

“I’ll speak to him,” Mikhail says, reaching out.

I look him dead in the eyes, pulse racing. The next words out of my mouth might blow up everything.

Chapter 79

DECLAN

“I’m sorry, Charlotte. Say that again.” My voice is gravel, low and laced with disbelief.

No. I must’ve misheard.

Because the words she just said… they don’t make sense.

“The only way to ensure Isabella’s safety is to offer me over to Vlad. A swap.”

She says it calm and casual, like she’s ordering coffee.

“I know how that man’s sick brain works. He’ll want to punish me. He won’t be able to turn that down.”

My blood turns to fire. The room tilts. Charlotte, my Charlotte, offering herself to the monster that shattered her.

“No.” The word claws out of me like a beast.

Mikhail shifts, scratching his jaw through his mask. Silent. Watching. But all I see is her.

My fists clench so tight I feel bone grind. My chest is a pressure cooker.

“Not fucking happening.” The finality in my tone doesn’t even make her blink.

“Declan, it’s an option,” Enzo says, and I turn on him like I could kill.

“You think I’d risk her?” I growl.

“This isn’t about me,” Charlotte cuts in, firm. “It’s about Isabella. My life for hers? That’s an easy deal. No one else gets hurt.”

She won’t even meet my gaze. Good. Because if she saw the hellstorm in my eyes, she’d know I’m two seconds from burning the world down.

“You think she thrives without a mother?”

That lands. She jerks, spine straightening like I slapped her. “Don’t you dare.”

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