The echo of Knox’s heavy footsteps fading into the darkness leaves behind a silence that feels heavier than the freezing air.
I keep my eyes closed for a long moment, breathing slowly through my nose, forcing my heart rate to settle.
The revelation of Willow’s betrayal still sits in my chest like a shard of broken glass, but I can't afford to bleed over it now. Every ounce of energy I possess has to be reserved for survival.
A heavy metal door near the far loading bay creaks open on rusted hinges.
The sharp, rhythmic clicking of high heels against the concrete floor cuts through the quiet.
"Look at this," a high-pitched, mocking voice says, dripping with exaggerated pity. "The golden girl of the Grinning Skulls, tied to a folding chair in a dirty old warehouse. How the mighty have fal
