Dysis’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes darted between Vee, who whimpered weakly in the guard’s grasp, and Max, whose expression was calm but deadly.
“You wouldn’t,” she whispered, though her voice lacked conviction.
“Try me,” Max said, his tone sharp. “I have nothing to lose, I’ve already done far worse, Dysis. Don’t test how much further I’m willing to go.”
Tears welled in the corners of her eyes as she absorbed the impact of his words. Her thoughts raced, seeking an escape, a passage out of this nightmare. However, regardless of the direction she faced, she sensed confinement.
“You’re running out of time,” Max said, holding the contract and a pen out to her. “Sign it, and I’ll let her live. Refuse, and she dies right here, right now.”
Dysis’s hands trembled as she reached fo
