bChapter /bb121 /b

    ra’s bPOV /b

    “Are you sure about this?” ask, ncing at Andie, still slung across Thorne’s back. We can’t just walk into the ce this’s too risky–too much attention. Not something I want right now.

    bWe’re /bat the back of the building, crouched low. I wait. The minutes stretch, the air heavy, until the window creaks open. Thorne’s head then his body follows. He looks down at me, relief flickering in his eyes.

    “Just a second,” he mutters.

    Appears first.

    He rolls out a coil of rope, climbs up, and drapes Andre over his shoulders as though he weight nothing. I can’t help but admire the ease with which Thorne moves, like he’s done this a thousand times. It takes no effort. He’s smooth, silent–nothing but fluid motion.

    I steady myself “Go ahead,” I whisper, eyes scanning the area. “I cover you

    He nods once, no hesitation. Then, stepping bback/b, Thome takes a run, hits the wall, and in a swift movement, grabs the windowsill, his body climbing upward with precision. Not ba /bsound, not a shift in the air. As if he’s part of the shadows.

    I wait until he’s inside. Then, making sure the coast is clear, I follow. I’m not foolish enough to think this will be easy, but I’m determined. Every step is calcted. No room for error.

    Once I’m inside, the suite feels colder than I expected. Andre’s breathing is shallow, his face twisted in what seems like pain even in sleep. He looks too young for all this chaos, too fragile to bbe /bmixed up in this kind of mess. But he’s part of it now. There’s no turning back for any of us

    I sit next to his bed, watching his furrowed brows, trying to bignore /bthe worry gnawing bat /bmy gut.

    “Is he going to be okay?” bI /bask quietly, turning to Thome.

    “Yeah,” he says, his tone surprisingly soft. “He’s just running a light fever. Get him cleaned up, and he’ll be fine.”

    I don’t question it. I’m already moving toward Andre, my hands reaching for his shirt.

    Before I can do anything. Thorne’s hand mps around my wrist, a sharp grip that makes me stop in my tracks.

    “What do you think you’re doing?” he asks, his voice low, dangerous,

    I blink, momentarily confused. “I’m wiping him down, like you said.”

    “You think Till let you to

    touch another man’s body?” he growls, his gaze cold and calcting.

    I freeze. Embarrassment floods my cheeks. Thorne’s possessiveness isn’t ba /bsurprise, but it still gets to me, every time. He doesn’t make room for anyone

    else.

    “I–Thorne, it’s just a kid,” I mutter, pulling my wrist away.

    “Doesn’t matter.” His voice is hard, unyielding. “I’m an envious man.”

    His thumb bbrushes /bmy chin, his touch unexpectedry tender as he forces my eyes to meet his. “Don’t make me bjealous/b.”

    Thold

    my breath. His grip softens, but the tension doesn’t ease. We’re in one of those moments where words don’t seem to cut it, and it’s better to stay quiet than risk anything more.

    I finally exhale, my voice barely audible. “Fine. You do it. But you better notin about the work.

    With a sharp nud

    on my shoulder, he motions toward the door. “Go wait in the living room

    Chapter b121 /b

    I walk out, my steps heavy with exhaustion. I sink into the couch, but nty mind’s still running at full speed. So much bhas /bhappened to Wasn’t in the n.

    We’d brought Andre bark–an unexpected move, but it worked in our favour. Now we have more time. Time to convince him to join us, te

    But the guards… They’ll be looking for him soon. They won’t find us, though no one saw ources. We’re sate for now. But I’m not bstupid/bb, /bDanton Egure it out eventually.”

    I get lost in my thoughts, too wired to rx, but the sudden sound from the bedroom jolts me out of my stupor

    I’m on my feet before even think. I dash toward the room, my heart pounding in my chest. When I push the door open, Andre’s sitting on the bedb, /blooking like he’s been through hell. His eyes are bloodshot, his face twisted in anger.

    “Why the hell did you bring me back?” His voice cracks, band /bhe yanks at the bedsheet, his hands shaking with rage. “I told you to leave me aloner Why can’t you just mind your own businessb?/b|”

    I fool the tension snap like a thread, but before I can respond, Thorne’s voice cuts through the air, cold and sharp. “Shut up.”

    Andre freezes, his whole body btensing /bunder Thorne’s re.

    “You think you can pull the wool over my eyes, huh?” Thorne sneers. “You’re not as stupid as you look.”

    Andre res at him, a challenge in his eyes. “I know what you’re after. You don’t bcare /bbabout /bme. You just want something from me

    “You’re not wrong Thorne admits, but his tone doesn’t soften. “But it’s not what you think.”

    Thorne steps forward, his arms crossed, his voice t. “Look, I don’t have all night. You hate Dantonb. /bWe get it. You want out, we’re the only ones who can give it to you.

    I can see the wheels turning in Andre’s head, the hesitation creeping into his beyes/bb. /bFinally, after a long pause, Thome lowers his voice, taking ba /bmore

    measured tone.

    you to help us. You know the city. You know what’s going on. Help us take down Danton, and we’ll get you out. Free. No strings attached.”

    “We want you

    Andre’s expression softens, just for a moment, but he quickly masks it. “You think I help you?” He lets out a hollowugh, the bitterness clear in his voice. “What do you want from me?”

    bI /bstep forward, speaking before Thorne bcan/b. “We want to know how your father died.”

    Andre’s bface /bhardens, his lips curling into a sneer. “So you can use the same method to kill Lance?”

    I don’t answer directlyb, /b“We’ll deal with Lanceter. Right now, we’re focused on you.”

    Thorne steps in again, his patience thinning “The point is, we can help you bget /baway from all this. But you bhave /bto trust us”

    Andre shakes his head, almost pitying us. “You can’t help me. This city is my father’s legacy. I’m not running away”

    I’m done trying to breason /bwith him. “Then we’re back to square one,” I bsay/b, frustrationcing my words.

    but deab: /b