Lila was not a woman who accepted defeat gracefully. She sat in the back of her new car, arm still bandaged from the explosion, staring at her phone with narrowed eyes. She had tried every number she could find for Elena, old contacts, burner apps, even routing through university channels. Nothing went through. Voicemail. Blocked. Dead ends. Damien had clearly cut off every direct line.
“Smart boy,” she muttered under her breath, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. “But not smart enough.”
Direct contact with Elena was impossible for now. The girl was locked away in the penthouse with Damien, completely isolated. Lila needed a new vector. Someone who could reach Elena’s heart and mind. Someone whose words would actually land.
Sofia Reyes.
The loyal best friend. The one person Elena trus
