Laila's pov
The darkness lingered, thick and suffocating. My mind raced as the stranger's words echoed in the blackness — every choice has a price. And the clock is ticking.
A slow, deliberate step sounded close to me. Then another.
He didn't speak immediately.
When the lights finally flickered back on, the room was no longer empty. The stranger stood just a few feet away, his face finally revealed.
And it was someone I never expected to see again.
"Dante Blackwood," I whispered, shock making my voice barely audible.
His dark eyes met mine, sharp and unforgiving.
"Surprised?" he asked, a cruel smile touching his lips. "I thought you'd learned by now — the past never stays buried."
Memories flooded back — whispers of broken promises, dangerous deals, and a secret we both had tried to escape.
"Why are you here?" I demanded, fighting the sudden wave of dread.
"Because your choices have consequences," Dante said, stepping closer. "Adrian Voss, your brother's debts, this whole mess — it's bigger than you think. And you, Laila, are the key to everything."
I shook my head, disbelief and fear swirling inside me. "What do you want from me?"
Dante's gaze hardened. "Your loyalty. Your silence. And your obedience."
A chill ran down my spine. The game I thought I was in had just become a nightmare I couldn't wake from.