“Tala, is my daughter’s life in danger?”
Cassius’s voice cracked as it carried through the phone. His usually steady tone was unrecognizable—weighted down by panic.
Tala tightened her grip on the device, pressing it against her ear as though sheer force might bridge the distance between them. “Yes, Uncle. And we need to act fast before it’s too late.”
There was silence for a moment, the sound of Cassius’s shallow breathing on the other end. When he finally spoke, resolve steadied his voice. “I will speak to someone and plan a way out for you both.”
Relief and fear twisted together in Tala’s chest. “Okay, Uncle. I’ll be waiting for your call.”
“Thank you, Tala.” The sincerity in his words almost broke her.
“Thank you, Uncle. Goodbye.”
The line went dead. Tala lowered the phone, slipp
