The timer continued counting down.
23:59:12
23:59:11
No one in the room moved.
No one even breathed.
Finally, Damien spoke.
“It’s a trap.”
“Obviously.”
Victor muttered.
“But that doesn’t mean we can ignore it.”
I stared at the coordinates on the screen.
Twenty-four hours.
Somewhere out there…
Serena was waiting.
Possibly terrified.
Possibly alone.
And maybe believing no one would come for her.
“I have to go.”
Lucien immediately turned toward me.
“No.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
“No.”
His voice was firm.
“Absolutely not.”
⸻
Anger flared inside me.
“She’s my sister!”
“And you’re my wife.”
The room fell silent.
Even Lucien seemed surprised he’d said it.
But he didn’t take it back.
His eyes remained locked on mine.
“I am not letting you walk into a trap.”
Tears
