Meanwhile, Rosella and her daughter, Tala, were cruising down the expressway, en route to work, when her phone buzzed with an incoming call from a restricted number.
Thinking it was the assassin she'd hired the previous night, Rosella answered without hesitation, her tone dropping to a low, guarded whisper.
"I told you never to call me on this line. I..." She was still speaking when a deep and terrifying masculine voice cut her off, causing the words to freeze in her throat.
"Do you feel it, Rosella?"
"Huh… feel what?" Her brow furrowed in confusion as an icy shiver crept down her spine.
"That cold slithering up your spine?" The voice echoed, low and menacing, like a whisper through steel. "You're fighting a losing war, Rosella."
Her heartbeat slammed widely against her chest as she tore the phone from her ear and switched to speaker, her pulse thundering in her veins.
"Who is this?" she snapped, voice trembling with restrained rage.
