“We ran facial recognition. It’s a 94% match.”
That’s enough for me.
“He has her,” I say, low and cold.
Kai looks at the clock. “Thirty minutes until the next ping. If he stays in one place, we’ll have her exact location.”
I exhale once. “If he hurt her in any way, I’ll fucking end him.”
Chapter thirty-nine
Ava
Thebulbabovemehums, swinging slightly. I’ve lost track of time—how long it’s been since Henry left me here. Hours? Longer? My mouth is dry, my limbs ache, and the stale air is wearing me thin. The dampness on the walls is seeping into my bones.
The door slams open without warning.
I jolt upright, the chain on my ankle clinking as I scramble backward against the wall.
Henry.
His frame fills the doorway, a paper bag in one hand and a plastic bottle of water in the other. His eyes are lighter, blue,maybe gray—but it's like they don’t have anything human in them.
“Brought you something,” he says casually, stepping in like he owns the place. “Figured you might be hungry.”
He tosses the bag onto the bed beside me. A sandwich. Ham, maybe. Cheap bread. The water bottle follows, landing at my feet with a dull thud.
I stare at both without touching them. He watches me, head tilted.
“What, not hungry?” he says, voice tinged with fake concern.
I don’t answer. I don’t move.
“Suit yourself,” he mutters, but doesn’t leave. Just stands there, taking up space. Waiting.
I reach out slowly, wrapping my fingers around the sandwich. His eyes follow every movement, a glint behind them like he thinks this is progress. Like I’m softening.
Then I hurl it into his face.
It hits with a wet slap. He jerks back, stunned—but only for a second.
His expression twists into something dark and he lunges.
“You little—”
His hand slams into my throat, shoving me back against the wall. I choke, both hands gripping his wrist, kicking wildly, but the chain on my ankle holds me back. He squeezes harder.
“You think this is a game?” he snarls, face inches from mine, spit flying, breath sour. “You think you get tochoose?”
His other hand grabs a fistful of my blouse, yanking hard.
Buttons pop. Cold air hits my skin.
“I said you belong tome,” he growls. “I’ll have you—whether you want it or not.”
His hand jerks down.
Then—
