The sharp tang of alcohol burned my throat as I downed another glass of whiskey. The room was dark, except for the low-burning embers in the fireplace. Riley and Darwin sat opposite me, their faces set in grim lines. The tension in the air was palpable, thick enough to choke on.
Today's event kept on playing in my head, and I couldn't help but frown at the thought of having a second judgment on Isla's case. She did wrong, and she needs to be punished-was the lies I tell myself to believe that I am right.
I swirled the liquid in my glass, staring into its depths as though it held the answers to the problems weighing upon my shoulders. "This battle," I started, low and laced with frustration, "is no longer going well for us. We must change our strategy entirely.”
Riley leaned forward, r
