(Matthew's point of view)
I slowly let out a breath as I stood in the middle of the room, still holding the phone call in my hands. I couldn't breathe or think straight because the world seemed to be closing in on me. Every syllable of what my father said hit me like a hammer on an anvil. "You don't have a choice." Not if you want her to be safe.
Esther's voice cut through the storm in my head. "Matthew, who was that?" she asked, her voice shaking but steady. She had a good reason to be scared, but I couldn't tell her everything. Not yet. For now, I had to keep the truth hidden.
I turned to look at her. Her eyes were wide and full of an emotion I couldn't quite put my finger on. They were locked on mine. She knew something wasn't right. She always did. "Just someone from inside the comp
