Chapter 177

• Lucia's POV
• Claire’s video call lit up the cracked phone screen in the dim motel room, and there was Sofia.. tied to a metal chair in some sterile broker lab, cheeks streaked with tears but chin high. My heart cracked wide open. “Lucia,” Claire purred, voice sweet poison, “bring me Mateo by dawn, or your sister loses fingers one by one.” Sofia shook her head hard. “Don’t do it!” she yelled, voice cracking. I gripped the phone so tight my knuckles went white. Rage and terror slammed together.. I’d burn the world for Sofia, but hand over my baby? Never. “You touch her, Claire, and I swear I’ll end you slow,” I hissed. Claire just laughed, tilting the camera so I saw the knife glint. The call cut dead. I screamed, phone flying across the room, shattering against the wall.
• Ryan caught me before I hit the floor, his fever finally down but eyes still red. “We’re getting her back,” he said, voice rough. Guilt poured off him.. he’d trusted Claire once, and it ate him alive. I buried my face in his neck, breathing him in, sweat and cheap soap and Ryan. “Together,” I whispered. He kissed me hard, desperate, hands sliding under my shirt like he needed to feel I was real. Tears mixed with the kiss, salty and hot. “I let this happen,” he muttered against my lips. “No,” I said, pulling back just enough to look at him. “We fix it. You and me.” Another kiss, slower, deeper, like we were stealing strength from each other. God, I loved this man.