Page 91 of Scarred in Silence

The door creaks.

Lucien slips back in, gaze sweeping the room like a scanner. “Time.”

Evelyn straightens, but her eyes stay on me.

“She knows.”

Lucien’s attention swivels, unleashing winter.

“What, exactly, does she know?”

Evelyn opens her mouth, but I stand. “Enough.”

Lucien’s nostrils flare. He addresses Dante—materializing behind his wife like the grim reaper.

“Control her.”

Dante’s jaw flexes. He closes a hand around Evelyn’s elbow. She flinches, but her stare remains locked on me.

“Remember what I said,” she pleads. “Don’t let him rewrite the story.”

Lucien’s eyes flick to me. Something volatile flickers—hurt or fury or both. He steps aside as Dante escorts Evelyn out of the room. She pulls free long enough to press a small flash drive into my palm. Our fingers brush. The weight of it feels nuclear.

Then she’s gone. Door slams. Lock clicks.

Silence.

Lucien’s gaze drops to my fist around the drive. “What’s that?”

“Insurance.” I pocket it.

“Astra—”

“Did you do it?” I whisper.

He doesn’t askwhat. He knows.

He exhales. “I set contingencies. Money in the right hands. Eyes diverted. I intended to intervene before harm came to you.”

“But harmdidcome.” My voice climbs. “They drugged me, Lucien. Miles touched me. Nicolette changed me. I was fucking sold like cattle. You call that controlled?”

His jaw clenches. “They escalated faster than expected. Victor was never supposed to buy you.”

“So you expectedsometorture? Who the fuck was supposed to buy me?”

“I expected bruises that would heal. Not bones. Varek was supposed to win. Victor outbid him. Varek never even tried.” He drags a hand through his hair, desperate. “I miscalculated. One misstep, and you paid the price. I have lived every second sincein Hell.”

“Your Hell is optional.” I laugh, brittle. “Mine is a tattoo.”

He steps closer, reaching his hand out. “Let me—”

I backpedal. My shoulder brushes a side table; the lamp rattles. The flash drive burns in my pocket. “Harmony, where is she?” I hiss. “Where is she?”

He freezes. “I’m sure she is safe.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“Off-grid.”