Chapter 33%
I threw my phone onto the chair beside me. They were tearing everything apart.
I turned back to Darius and gripped his hand. “Do you hear this?” My voice trembled with anger. “They’re turning on you. On everything you built.I
Nothing.
Damn it.
Ronan’s voice was tight. “We need a plan, Valeria.”
Before I could respond, the door slammed open.
Lorenzo stormed in, his face thunderous. “Are you out of your fucking mind?” His sharp gaze locked onto me. “You just had a medical emergency, and you’re wandering around like you’re invincible?”
“I don’t have time for this.”
“Like hell, you don’t!” His jaw tensed. “You almost-” He stopped himself, raking a hand through his hair before exhaling sharply. “Damn it, Valenia. I
I met his glare without flinching. “Help me one last time.”
Lorenzo stilled. His sharp eyes studied me, reading between the lines.
“What are you asking me to do?” His voice was quieter this time
“Help me take down Rafael and Miranda.”
Lorenzo watched me for a long moment. His expression was unreadable. Then, to my surprise, he smiled.
“Then let’s burn them to the fucking ground.”!
Lorenzo smirked. “Now you’re speaking my language.”
The dim light overhead flickered as I sat across from Lorenzo and Ronan, maps and documents spread out on the table between us. We were deep in discussion, our voices low, our focus sharp. Every detail had to be precise. One wrong move, and we would all be dead. “Hexgon East is strong, but they’re not invincible,” Lorenzo muttered, tracing a finger along one of the routes on the map. “If we cut off their supply chains first, it’ll weaken their influence, slow down their operations, and force them into a defensive position. That gives us the upper hand “%
The vibration of my phone against the wooden surface interrupted him.
I glanced at the screen, my stomach twisting the moment I saw Miranda’s number2
1 hesitated for a moment before picking up the phone.
A video file popped up in my messages, and my breath hitched as dread curled inside my chest S
Ronan noticed the change in my expression. “What is it?”
“Give me a moment.” I pushed back my chair, stood up, and walked away. My steps were quick, almost frantic, as I made my way to the restroom. The moment I stepped inside, I locked the door behind me, my hands trembling as I tapped on the video.}
The screen lit up, and my blood turned ice–cold.
Penelope. Amara 2
She forcefully kneeling on the cold floor, her small body covered in bruises. Blood dripped from her lip, and one of her eyes
s was swollen
shut
My pulse pounded so hard I could barely hear my own breath!!
“No” My voice cracked, my fingers gripping the phone so tightly I thought I might break it.
Then Miranda stepped into the frame. Her smirk was sharp, her eyes filled with sick amusement as hair and yanked her head back E
s she
grabbed a fistful of Penelope’s
“Why did you betray my trust, Penelope?” Her voice was sweet, almost affectionate, but the cruelty behind it was unmistakable. “Why did you tell that fucking bitch about the bugs? Hmm?”
My stomach twisted into painful knots.
Penelope whimpered, her little body shaking, but she didn’t answer.
Miranda let out a slow sigh before tilting her head. “I’m the only one who’s your mother. Not that worthless whore Valeria.”
Then, without warning, she raised her rod and whipped Penelope across her small body.
The impact was so strong that the child’s body jolted to the side, a sharp cry escaping her lips.
Tears blurred my vision as I choked on my own breath. “Stop My voice came out broken, desperte, filled with rage and helplessness
Miranda turned to the camera, her lips curling in satisfaction.
“Valeria, Valeria what should I do with this disobedient child?” Her fingernail trailed down Penelope’s tear–streaked cheek, making the little girl flinch. “You want to save her? Then come get her.”
The screen went black.
I stood frozen, my heart hammering against my ribs, my breath stuck in my throat.
Then my phone rang
1,birale hard time to rester what was hanneninn hefore my fingers moved on their own answering the call as my arin on the device
tightened.
To register what was happening before my fingers moved on their own, answering the call as my grip on the device
“Did you like my little gift?” Miranda’s voice slithered through the receiver, sickly sweet and taunting.
“You psychotic bitch,” I spat, my hands shaking as fury crawled up my spine.
She only laughed. “Oh, sweetheart, you sound so desperate. It’s adorable”
“Where is she?” My voice was sharp, demanding, but the panic underneath it was impossible to hide.
“Patience, Valena.” Her tone was light, playful, as if we were discussing something trivial “I’ll send you the location. But let’s get one thing straight-
The amusement drained from her voice, replaced by something dark and threatening
“Come alone.
My breath caught in my throat.
“If you bring anyone else, she dies.”
“Miranda-
“And don’t you dare bring Lorenzo.” She cut me off before I could say another word, her tone almost amused again. “He doesn’t know that Penelope is his daughter. Let’s keep it that way, shall we?
A suffocating silence stretched between us.
My chest tightened.
“If I find even a shadow of Lorenzo or Ronan anywhere near my place, Penelope will be at the bottom of the sea before you even step through the door.”
“I swear to God, Miranda-“W
“Tick tock, Valeria.” She hummed,
The line went dead.“!
the sou
sound light, almost melodic. “She doesn’t have much time.“}
I stood there, gripping the phone so tightly my nails dug into my palm, my pulse roaring in my ears. Then another message came through.
A location. A single address that sealed my fate.ll
There was no time to think. No time to hesitate. Penelope didn’t have time.
I had to go. Alone.
