Page 544 of Coal Hearts

With all my strength, I hurled the cufflinks over the wall.

Victor’s satellite probably covered this entire island.

The cufflinks would most likely never send out their coordinates.

But if there was a chance.

A minuscule, microscopic chance.

I needed to try.

Because...I’m done.

Come find us, brother.

Save her.

Kill me.

Find us both...

Dropping to my knees, I sucked in gulps of moonlight.

My final act on this earth would be to get Ily the fuck out of here.

And then...I could die and finally be free.

Chapter Nineteen

...............................

Ily

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VICTOR ARRIVED FOUR DAYS LATER.

The friends he’d permitted to return flew in before him—as if they couldn’t tolerate being away for so long. They behaved themselves and didn’t cause any issues. They didn’t even play with any jewels, preferring to decompress by the pools and drink long into the night.

I managed to meet Peter, Faiza, Mollie, and Rachel one more time before we all decided it would be too risky with a full house once again.

We had our tasks. We had our timeframe.

We would continue gathering supplies, making presents, and hiding them around the castle where no one would find them until it was too late. Faiza had recruited three other cleaners who helped smuggle Mollie’s gifts under loads of laundry and trolleys full of fresh sheets and towels. They had instructions to ensure every Master’s room had at least one explosive hidden inside.

Everything seemed to be going as smoothly as it could.

Apart from Henri.

I touched my lips where I sat by our bedroom window, looking down at the gardens below.

That nightmare a few nights ago had been the worst one yet. He’d often woken me thrashing and tossing, but this was the first time he’d screamed.

His voice had cracked.

His hands had grabbed at shadows.

Pure despair poured from him, and I couldn’t let him stay in such misery.