My breath caught.
His lips pressed gently to my forehead.
Soft. Lingering.
Reverent in a way that made no sense.
My entire body froze.
Every nerve went still.
“I’ll make the world remember your sacrifice,” he murmured against my skin.
“Every year, Violet and I will stand at your grave, lay flowers, and remember you.”
The words sank into me like something heavy.
“That much, I promise.”
Then—he pulled back.
Straightened.
As if nothing had just happened.
As if he hadn’t just kissed me like that.
As if I hadn’t just begged him not to kill me.
“Take her to the lab.”
His voice shifted instantly—back to that cold, commanding tone.
“Bind her hands and feet. Make sure she cannot move... or resist... when the surgery begins.”
He stepped back. Creating distance.
Ending everything.
The six men moved immediately.
Rough. Impatient.
Hands gripping my arms as they hauled me up, my body dragging awkwardly between them as my feet struggled to keep up with their pace.
My shoes scraped against the concrete, catching, slipping, scraping again.
Pain pulsed through my knees with every step.
“Vincenzo!” I screamed, my voice shattering almost immediately.
“Look at me—please! Don’t do this—Vincenzo, remember... the cave, the promises you made to protect me... please—have mercy! I am not my father... please—”
My voice cracked into something desperate.
“Please!”
Again.
