Page 115 of Lord of the Dark

But he wouldn’t get it.

I would rather have died in that moment than make a single sound.

"Say. Hello." He repeated, slower, as if trying to force the words out of me.

I stayed silent. Unyielding.

Then he hit me again. Harder this time. My head snapped to the side, the impact stealing my breath. Blood gushed from my nose so fast my white T-shirt turned crimson in seconds. I spat it out without flinching. Pain throbbed through my face, but I clenched my jaw so hard my teeth creaked.

A click echoed through the line. The sound of someone hanging up.

The emptiness that followed was devastating. It felt like someone had blown a gaping hole through my ribs. I would have given anything to hear his voice. One word. One syllable. Something to give me strength.

But all I got was his silence.

And yet—it told me he was there. That he knew. And that he would come. I clung to that hope with everything I had left. It was my only lifeline.

The man in front of me leaned in, his gaze drilling into mine. "You're strong," he finally said. "But it won’t save you." He leaned back, smiling darkly. "You could’ve drawn any other card. But fate wasn’t kind to you. I have unfinished business with Russo—and now chance has blown you right here. Into my hands. Like a gift."

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