“If you want him back, then bring James to me.”
The phrases burned themselves into my brain, encircling my thoughts with a hangman's noose.
Ethan was kidn*pped by Victor.
I held the phone in my white knuckles, my breathing too fast, too shallow. My body was frozen as if I took a breath if I released it, it would make this dream come true.
But it was real.
James stood next to me, silent. His face was blank, but his hands—his hands were fists at his sides.
I lashed out at him, words slicing. “You knew this would happen.”
His teeth clenched. "No."
"You warned me about him—" I lost my voice, but I forced myself on. "You knew he was dangerous, but you went on and let this happen anyway."
James slowly breathed out, as though he was barely restraining himself. “We don’t have time for th
