“As far as I understand, you couldn’t get it on your own for over two decades. And now, magically, you’re going to what? March right into your father’s arms? Beg for it? Didn’t you need our help because—” She points at my chest sharply. “—youcouldn’t do it alone?”
Her words hit me like slaps, and I can’t deny a single one.
But I can’t wait around. If they won’t help me get it, I’ll lose my mind. Diana will die if I don’t act.
Our eyes lock. And only then does it hit me—she isn’t furious. She isn’t disgusted. She’s…worried.About me?
“I—I’m sorry,” I say, my voice barely steady. “But if you don’t get me that medicine, I’ll be a liability here. You won’t even be able to use me for whatever you want from me. If I lose it like my mother, I’ll be as good as dead to my father.”
Chris’s gaze softens.
Then I hear another sharp breath, and I tilt my head to Luca. His hands are shoved into his suit pockets, his posture just like my father’s—that poised, cold readiness.
I swallow, not daring to even breathe.
“She won’t give you the drug,” Luca finally says, his voice calm but heavy. “Because, believe it or not, it’s going to make your ‘illness’ worse. Much worse.” The wordillnessrolls off his tongue like a mockery, sharp enough to slice through me.
I let out the breath I’d been holding.
“But if it’ll make you feel better… I think Matteo found Diana’s whereabouts,” Chris cuts in before Luca can continue.
I gasp, grabbing her arm.
“You found her? Where? Are you bringing her here?” A flood of words spills out, but she shakes her head and looks at Luca, probably for approval.
He steps forward. “Do you know about your family’s warehouses? The biggest one—”
“The Red Dock,” I choke out.
“He wouldn’t—”
No. No. He’s a fucking monster, but he wouldn’t…
“He already did,” Mariano finishes instead of him. “She’s there. We traced some of Fedor’s men's messages.”
My legs give out, and seconds before I hit the floor, Chris catches me. The backpack drops from her hand with a clang.
“But we don’t have a precise location. We never bothered with their area before—unless they crossed into ours. So if you know anything, now is the time to speak.”
I can’t even register that they’re asking me for intel. Me—a woman. The enemy’s daughter.
“I don’t know,” my voice is a broken whisper. “All I know is they changed the place after Solas killed your—”
My head tilts up, meeting Luca’s piercing gaze when I realize what I said.
My heart slams against my ribs.
“I—I’m sorry for your loss,” I manage.
Luca inhales sharply through his nose. “I’m not sorry for yours.”
My heart stutters. Is he talking about Solas?
“Believe it or not, I know Solas deserved it. They all do.”
My voice is so small, I can barely hear it myself.
Silence. One second. Two. Three.
