-

f Ares' mansion, the dim lights casting eerie reflections on the polished marble floor. Her breath was shallow,

Everything she thought she knew was being twisted into something unrecognizable. Elena, the mysterious flash dri

he had no idea who sh

tall figure appeared at the end of the corridor, his presence as commanding as ever. His

is voice grating on her n

stone in her stomach. They had been avoiding the conversat

er leaving hers. "I know you're u

is isn't just about me anymore. Elena's gone, Damian is still alive, and you-" She took a breath, trying to stea

aw tightening. "Because

rolling every part of my life, Ares. You think hi

refully. Finally, he spoke, his voice barely a whisper. "There

ything she had imagined. "So, you're saying I don't need to understand?" she

im any closer. He stopped. "This isn't how I wanted things to go.

"So tell me now. Tell me about the Ledger.

lack Ledger is real, Isla. But it's not just a list. It's everything. It's a

think I can just sit back and watch this unfol

just leverage, Isla. You're part of t

rds slicing through h

with frustration. "Your father made a deal with m

pped a beat. "Wh

o me. To the family. To

her veins. "I don't understand. How c

ce hardening. "But it was the only way. The on

ing together, but still so many missing. "And

lved. But she stumbled into something bigger than either

casm cutting through her voice. "Is that why you d

he crossfire," Ares admitted, his eye

fortable. The weight of the truth settled like an

this man who had controlled her life, who had spun a web of lies and manipulation-wasn't as unto

iet, almost a wh

oftening just slightly. "Now we find

t does that mean? What ar

. But I'll make sure he can never

sla's mind that Ares was capable of following through with his words

sked, her voice trembling. "What i

ed forward, his gaze intense, as though he were t

ally, his voice steady but w

e of the mansion. A low, guttural thud, followed by a burst of gunfire. The hairs on

arkened. "Get to t

d ran, her feet pounding on the marble floor, heart racing. She di

ertain. Everything

her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it

an V

he me

getting sta

. She could feel t