No. No, I’m not. I’m not worth dying for.
But I couldn’t say it. The guard’s arm held me silent.
“Enough.”
Dresner’s single word carried absolute authority.
The guard released me. I gasped for air, throat burning, face throbbing with each heartbeat.
“As you can hear, she’s quite determined to protect you.”
Dresner’s attention returned to the phone.
“If you touch her again...” Xavier’s voice went cold. Lethal. Nothing human in it. “I will make you beg for death.”
Dresner was utterly unfazed. “Threats are unproductive. Here are the terms: You come alone, right now. The location will be sent to this device. Perhaps we can discuss her release.”
“I want to talk to her again. Now.”
Dresner looked at me. “Any final words, Ms. Bolton?”
I met his eyes. Then looked at the phone like I could see Xavier through it.
“I love you.” My voice broke. One last try to reach him. “Don’t come. Please. I’m not worth...”
The call ended.
The sudden silence was deafening.
Dresner pocketed the phone, smile satisfied. Like a scientist whose experiment had confirmed his hypothesis.
I stared at where the phone had disappeared. My face was throbbing. Blood dripped from my split lip onto the table. My heart was breaking because Xavier was coming and it was a trap and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
“Fascinating. You genuinely tried to protect him.”
Dresner studied me with clinical interest.
His tone was almost admiring. Like observing an interesting specimen.
“The bond is stronger than I anticipated.”
I glared at him through tears and pain. “He won’t fall for it.”
“He already has.”
Dresner’s smile widened.
He moved closer, hands clasped behind his back.
“He heard you in pain. He heard you beg him not to come.” He paused, letting the words sink in. “That only makes him more determined.”
Horror crawled up my spine because he was right. I knew he was right. I’d just made everything worse.
“Rest, Ms. Bolton. You’ll need your strength.”
Dresner turned toward the door.
“For what?”
