Page 184 of BounBound By Scars

I gave him nothing.

He gave me fists.

Every second he didn’t get answers felt like a small victory.

But my body was giving out. My ribs screamed with every breath. My vision tilted. Everything felt too loud and too far away.

Still,I stayed awake.

Then—bang.

The door behind me burst open.

It hit the floor with a heavy thud.

I flinched.

Ling did too.

The guards?

Didn’t move an inch.

For a second—just a second—hope surged.

Blackthorn.

Had to be.

Boots crunched over broken wood. Slow. Deliberate. Each step echoing like a countdown.

Ling held up a hand to signal his guards.

“Deal with it,” he barked. “Now!”

But they didn’t move.

My brows furrowed. Something was off.

The figure walked behind me, circling until he came into view.

Black tactical gear.

Black gloves.

Black mask.

Non-descript.

Not Blackthorn.

Notours.

I blinked through the haze. My heart thudded once, hard.

Ling’s voice pitched higher now—panic cutting through his accent.

“Protect me!” he shouted. “Do your job!”

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