Melissa’s phone slipped from her trembling hands as Alec’s voice cut through her like a sharpened blade.
“You gave me twenty-four hours, Melissa,” his deep, measured tone drawled, “and now…I’m giving you twenty-four minutes. And yes, I forgot to mention—” his voice dipped into a taunting, almost playful register, “—I’m only twenty-four steps away from my dear father-in-law.”
Melissa’s heart slammed against her ribs.
“If you can stop me, just do it,” Alec continued, his words unhurried, deliberate, like each syllable was designed to slice her open. “Because later, I don’t want to hear that I didn’t give you a chance.”
He paused for a fraction of a second—just enough for the cold dread to settle deep in her bones—before adding, “Your time starts now, Melissa Kane.”
He didn’t call her Me
