Chapter 18
The stairwell went silent.
Evelyn’s heartbeat thundered painfully in her ears as Lucas’ words echoed through the darkness below them.
They made Sophia choose.
Rain battered the building outside while emergency lights flickered red across the concrete walls, casting shadows that made everything feel unreal.
Damian’s hand tightened slightly around the gun.
“Lucas,” he called evenly, “come up slowly.”
Footsteps echoed again.
Uneven.
Dragging.
Then Lucas finally appeared around the stairwell turn below them.
Evelyn’s breath caught sharply.
He looked terrible.
Blood stained the side of his white shirt beneath his coat, his face bruised, dark hair damp with sweat and rain. One eye was beginning to swell purple.
And somehow the sight of him still hurt her chest.
Lucas lo
