Darius sat in silence, the throbbing ache at the base of his skull serving as a constant reminder of the bomb now embedded in his brain. His body still felt weak, but it was nothing compared to the turmoil in his mind. The thought of defying Alvaro had always burned within him, but now it was impossible. One misstep, one rebellious thought, and he was dead. Worse, his sister would be left to the mercy of this cruel man.
Alvaro watched him carefully, as if savoring Darius’s inner torment. "Now that we’ve reached an understanding," Alvaro said, his voice smooth and calculated, "let’s discuss your first assignment."
Darius clenched his fists, the skin stretching tight over his knuckles as he fought to keep his composure. "What do you want me to do?"
"You’re going to help us complete Projec
